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 46
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Margarey V. Matlack, who was born in Wood- bury. N. J., and they have one child, John M. Mrs. Iloch, who is a cultured and educated lady, is a member of the Episcopal Church, but our sub- ject is identified with the Moravian denomination. Fraternally he belongs to Lamberton Lodge No. 476, F. & A. M .. in which he has passed all the chairs. In his political affiliations he is a Repub- lican and is devoted to the best interests of his party. Ile is public spirited and in favor of everything which will promote the welfare of his fellow-citizen. and his influence is always directed toward this end.
OHN PONTZ, who in former years was Chief of Police in Lancaster, is one of her success- ful business men, being proprietor of a bot- tling works. Ile was one of the boys in blue who went to the defense of the Union in 1862, when he was only a lad. A very active worker in the ranks of the Democratic party, he has been for years a member of the Democratic Committee from the Eighth Ward, and in everything that has tended toward the progress and development of Lancas- ter he has been greatly interested. The sixth of a family of fourteen children, our subject was born in this county near the city of Lancaster. August 27, 1845, and is the youngest of tive brothers, who were in the Civil War. Mention of his father, George Pontz, will be found in the sketch of his brother, Jacob, which is published in this volume. The boyhood of our subject was passed in this city, where he attended the public schools for a short time. Ile was only twelve years old when he was apprenticed to George Vogt, now of Harrisburg, to learn the cigar-maker's trade. Ile worked for that gentleman and for .I. L. Frey, of West King Street, until 1862, when he enlisted on the state call for aid in the defense of Antietam and was then out for abont a month. In 1864, after the rebels had burned Chambersburg, he joined the
Lancaster mounted troops organized by Captain Ilebbel, and went to guard the crossroads on ac- count of the frequent raids of the enemy in that vicinity. At the end of one hundred days he was mustered out, and in February, 1865. on the last call for volunteers, became a member of Company K, of the Seventy-seventh Regiment, in which his brothers, Adam and Jacob, had been from the start. Ele joined the regiment near Strawberry Plain and served continuously with them until mustered out in Victoria. Tex., in December of the same year. Returning to Philadelphia, he was paid off and finally discharged, January 16, 1866. For the next few years he was employed as a cigar-maker in different parts of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Connec- ticut, Massachusetts, Michigan, and one winter was In Toronto, Canada. Embarking in business for himself in 1870 as a member of the firm of Pontz & Borger, he engaged in the manufacture of and re- tail trade in cigars on Center Square, in this city. On the expiration of six years the partnership was dissolved and Mr. Pontz engaged in business alone on Iligh Street. In 1877 he was appointed Chief of Police by Mayor McGonigle and officiated in that capacity until February. 1880, when he re- signed. His duties as Chief were not particu- larly agreeable, as he had a great many factions to contend with, and he finds more pleasure and in- terest in attending to his own private enterprises. Resuming his former occupation, he opened a man- ufactory on Dorbert Street, where he remained for a time. Ile laler embarked in the hotel business, as proprietor of a house on Dorbert Street, one on West King Street, and for a year operated a hotel at Mt. Joy, in this county.
In April, 1892, Mr. Pontz started a bottling works at Nos. 524-528 Manor Street, where he owns two buildings, with a frontage of sixty-two feet and extending back to La Fayette Street, a distance of two hundred and forty-five fect. In this plant are bottled all kinds of beer, porter, and soft drinks, and two wagons are kept con- stantly running in order to supply customers' de- mands.
In Lancaster Mr. Pontz was married in 1869 to Margaret Wolpert, who was born and grew to womanhood in this place. Iler father, Peter Wol-
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pert, who was a manufacturer prior to the war, en- listed in the First Pennsylvania Reserves; he was wounded at the battle of Antietam and died on the field. Four children grace the union of our subject and wife: Harry, who is in business with his father; Annie E .. wife of Charles Feagley, of Jersey City; and Florence A. and Daisy M., who live at home. In his business undertakings Mr. Pontz has displayed good executive ability and has been very success- ful. Both he and his estimable wife have hosts of sincere friends, who hold them in the highest esteem.
EORGE B. BRESSLER. of Lancaster, is of I German descent and one of the best known citizens of this place, being at the present time an Alderman from the Fifth Ward. In the spring of 1892 he was nominated and elected to this position on the Republican ticket and was commissioned by Governor Pattison in the follow- ing May to serve for a term of five years. He at once established his office at No. 329 West King Street.
The great-great-grandfather of George B. Bress- ler was a native of Germany, who came to the I'mited States, settling in Lancaster County. The grandfather, who bore the Christian name of George, was born at Strasburg and was reared to agricultural pursuits. Quite carly in life he aban- doned farming and became interested in the iron industry. Settling in Mill Hall, Clinton County, l'a., he operated furnaces, manufacturing pig iron extensively until the war came on, when he re- tired, his death occurring in 1863. The father of our subject, C. HI. Bressler, was born in Mill Hall, Clinton County, Pa., and received a good elemen- tary education. Being strongly inclined toward the medical profession he began his studies in that direction and graduated from Jefferson Medical College with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. From 1839 to 1849 he was a practicing physician in Lancaster, during a part of which time he was
associated with Ely Parry, who was a practical den- tist. There he became proficient in dentistry, after which he devoted his time to the practice of dentistry and surgery, then removing to Centre County. In 1854 he went to York, making a specialty of denistry and surgical cases for the re- mainder of his business career. When seventy-four years of age, he suffered from a stroke of paralysis which resulted in his death. In former years he was a Whig and on the organization of the Re- publican party became one of its stanch adherents. At one time he was a candidate for Congress from his district and afterward was a candidate for Con- gressman-at-large. In 1866 he was appointed and commissioned by Governor Curtin as Sheriff of York to fill a vacancy caused by the death of the Sheriff. In the work of the Methodist Episcopal Church he was very active and was a man of such worthy qualities that he was highly respected by every one. llis wife, Sarah A., was a daughter of Rev. John N. Tonner, a minister in the Method- ist Episcopal Church, who died at Canton, Ohio. Mrs. Bressler was born in Bellefonte, and became the mother of eight children, all but one of whom are living. She departed this life in 1868, when in her thirty-ninth year ..
George B. Bressler was next to the eldest in his father's family, and was born in Bellefonte, Centre County, Pa., April 23, 1867. His early education was obtained in the schools of York, Pa. Af- terwards he entered an academy where he re- mained a short time, and at the age of seventeen years entered the office of the "True Democrat," as an apprentice to the printer's trade. There he remained until June, 1869, when, coming to Lan- caster, he entered the employ of Messrs. Piersol & Geist on the Evening Express. He continued act- tively engaged as a printer until 1874, when he entered the Postoffice service as a clerk under Mrs. E. Il. Ilager. later acting as letter carrier. His time was devoted to this work until September, 1885, when there occurred a change in administra- tion. Ilis next employment was in the watch fac- tory as a jeweler, and then until the spring of 1892 he was agent for a steam laundry.
On the 13th of August, 1874, George B. Bressler married Miss Ella N. Henry, whose birth occurred
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in Lancaster. Iler father, Benjamin Henry, is an old and respected early settler of this place. To our subject and his wife have been born three elnldren: Elenor, Charles Il. and Anna L. Mrs. Bressler, who was reared and educated in this eity, is a lady of many amiable and pleasing qualities and is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
R OBERT M. MORROW. Many of the best public buildings and private residences m Lancaster give evidence of the skill and ability of this gentleman, who is one of the lead- ing contractors and builders in the place. IIon- orable and upright in whatever he undertakes to do, he merits and has received the confidence of those who know him, and has built up a good reputation in his business. On his own account le has erected several residences and disposed of them to good advantage, and year by year has not only made a good living for himself and family, but by industry and persistence has accumulated a competency.
Born in Centre Mills, Perry County, Pa., June 17, 1823, our subject is a son of Robert Morrow, whose birth occurred in Franklin County, of this state, and who in turn was a son of James Morrow; the latter, a native of the Keystone State, came of an old family here, being of Scotch-Irish descent. The grandfather was a successful agriculturist in Franklin County, near the village of Concord, and there he resided until his demise. The senior Robert Morrow was a tanner and currier by occu- pation. Near Concord he was for some time en- gaged in running a mill, which burned down, and after that event he became foreman in the mill in Perry County. Afterwards he was foreman in a tannery at Landisburg, Perry County. At odd times he taught school, being a man of good edu- cation and general culture. Ihis death occurred in Landisville when he had attained the good old age
of eighty years. In religious faith he was iden- tified with the Methodist Episcopal denomination. Politieally he was first a Whig and later a Re- publican. Ilis wife, Mary ( Moore) Morrow, a na- tive of the Emerald Isle, came to America when a child with her parents, who made a settlement in C'oneord. She became the mother of four daugh- ters and two sons, of whom Robert is the young- est, and now the only survivor. The mother was called from this life in 1854, when about sixty-four years of age.
The early years of our subject passed unevent- fully in Perry County, his time being spent on the farm and in the tanyard, and a portion of the year in the common school. In 1812 he was ap- prenticed to a carpenter for two years, after which he did journeyman work for a year, and in 1845 went to Philadelphia. On the expiration of a year he returned home, where he continued until 1847, and in the spring of the following year went to Reading, where he was busily engaged at his chosen vocation for about five years. March 30, 1853, Mr. Morrow came to Lancaster and be- gan his contract work, taking in a partner, the firm being known as Swartzweilder & Morrow. They also started a sash factory on South Water Street, and for twenty-five years this firm continued to gain steadily in the confidence and good will of the public. At the end of that period their con- nection was dissolved and Mr. Morrow has since continued alone. They built the Children's Home, the main building at Millersville Normal, the Lan- easter High School, R. E. Fahnestock's building, and those of John I. Hartman and John R. Dif- fenbachs, besides many others well known.
In Reading Mr. Morrow was married March 12, 1850, to Miss Sabina Amanda Swartzwelder, whose birth occurred in the Reaqua Valley, this county, and who was called from this life in 1854. The sec- ond marriage of Mr. Morrow occurred March 10, 1857, his wife being Miss Mary, daughter of Henry Flick, an old settler of this city. The latter was a carpenter and contractor, and a very prominent man. Mr. Morrow has a family of three children living, one having passed away. Ella is now the wife of Jacob S. Bitner, of this city; Lillie M. is the second in order of birth, and Bertha, wife of
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B. A. Spindler, of Canton, Ohio, completes the number. The residence of the family is at No. 131 East Lemon Street.
For many years Mr. Morrow has been President of the Board of Trustees of Duke Street Methodist Episcopal Church, and superintended the building of that edifice. Also much interested in the Sun- day-school work, he was for a long time Superin- tendent. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and for several termis was a member of the Com- mon Council, serving on different committees, and being President of the Board for one term. A member of the Odd Fellows' society, he belongs to Laneaster Lodge No. 67, of which he is Past Otti- cer, and is a member of Washington Encampment No. 11.
II GILLIAM O. FRAILEY. This promi- nent and much esteemed citizen of Lancaster, is Secretary of the Home Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and is also pro- prietor of a well equipped drug store. Ile was born in this city August 14, 1859, and is the son of llenry L. Frailey, also a native of Lancaster, while his father, whose name was Jacob, was born in Schuylkill County. The latter fought as a soldier in the War of 1812, and spent the remaining years of his life in this city. The great-grand- lather of our subject, Hon. Peter Frailey, was born, lived and died in Schuylkill County. He served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War and was elected to the State Legislature from his county in an early day.
In early life Ilenry L. Frailey was a school teacher, and after abandoning that occupation was a dealer in mineral water, and subsequently en- gaged in the real-estate business. He was for many years general solicitor and inspector for the Lancaster Home Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and during his active life was City Assessor for three terms. He departed this life April 9. 1890, when in the sixty-third year of his age. In re-
ligious affairs he was a member of the Church of God, and in polities always voted for Republican candidates. His wife prior to her marriage was known as Frances Steinecke, and was born in Sax- ony, Germany. She accompanied her parents to America when only six years of age and is still living in this city, having passed her sixty-sixth birthday.
Of the parental family of seven children, four are now living, of whom our subject is the third in order of birth. Ile received his education in the common and high schools of his native city, and in 1876 apprenticed himself to learn the drug business under William T. Wylie, with whom he remained for four years, and then going to the Quaker City, entered the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, from which he was graduated in 1882. After receiving his diploma as a druggist he re- turned to Lancaster and for three years clerked in the store of J. R. Kaufman. In 1885 he he- gan in business for himself, buying the stock of goods belonging to F. J. Burger, and three years later purchased the property. Ile has since remod- eled the store, which is located on the corner of East King and Sippen Streets, and now has one of the best establishments in the city. The build- ing is three stories in height, and the store has full length plate glass windows, in which be dis- plays his goods to advantage. He has an elegant soda fountain, and besides the various medicines keeps on hand a varied stock of trusses, fancy and leather goods, fishing tackle, etc. lle manufac- tures his own tinctures, and has a preparation of wine of iron of his own make, which sells readily.
In 1890, on the death of his father, our subject was appomted to fill the vacancy and has been elected to the position of Secretary of the insur- ance company each succeeding year. The com- pany was organized in 1861, and the charter was granted by a special enactment of the Legislature. Since 1893 Mr. Frailey has filled the positions of Secretary and Treasurer of Washington National Building and Loan Association, which is one of the reliable institutions of the city.
In 1881 occurred the marriage of our subject with Miss Lizzie, a daughter of llenry Strobel, a native of Tyrol, Austria, who after coming to
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America was a brewer in Lancaster. To Mr. and Mrs. Frailey have been born the following named eliildren: Henry E., William O., Jr., Frances M. E., Virginia Edna and Charles Joseph. Socially our subject is an Odd Fellow, belonging to Lancaster Lodge No. 67, in which he has passed all the chairs. He is a devoted member of the First Presbyterian Church, and being a good musician, sings in the church choir. For a number of years Mrs. Frailey was organist at St. Mary's Church of this city. In polities he is a believer in Republican principles and never fails to cast a vote for the candidates of that party. He is a member of the Pennsyl- vania State Pharmaceutical Association, in which he takes an active interest.
A MOS CORNELIU'S ROTE, a veteran of the late war, and one of the most worthy citi- zens of Lancaster, has long been engaged in the undertaking business in this city. He is identified with all movements relating to the gen- eral good of the public. He comes from one of the old families of Lancaster County, his ancestors having been of English descent and Moravians mn religious faith. Ilis great-great-grandfather on the paternal side lived on the old factory road and operated the first cotton mill in the county, and Grandfather Rote followed agricultural pursuits.
The father of A. C. Rote, George F., was born in this city and learned the chair-maker's trade. Later he started a shop of his own on South Queen Street and in time became one of the largest man- ufacturers of furniture in the city, having for a branch of his trade the undertaking business. lle served as a School Director and as a member of the City Council. Like his forefathers, he was a member of the Moravian Church, and at the time of his death, in 1872, was in his seventieth year. His wife, who was before her marriage Ann Finke- bind, was born in this county and was also brought up in the creed of the Moravian denomination.
Their marriage occurred December 4, 1834. Her death occurred in 1881, when she was about sev- enty-one years of age. Of their eight children only five are living. William, who died in Nash- ville, Tenn., in 1879, was a soldier in the late war. Rebecca is deceased; George, who was wounded at the battle of Chancellorsville and who was a Ser- geant of Company A, of the One Hundred and Twenty-second Pennsylvania Infantry, died at Philadelphia; Louisa ( Mrs. Miller) lives in Lan- caster; Amos C. is next; Joseph T. makes his home in Cleveland, Ohio; James B. is a resident of C'an- ton, Ohio. Jacob is a photographer in this city.
The education of our subject was obtained in the common schools of this city, where his birth occurred December 23, 1846. He was still pursu- ing his studies when the war broke out, and in August, 1862, became a member of Company B, One Hundred and Twenty-second Pennsylvania Infantry, enlisting for nine months. He took part in the second battle of Bull Run and the bloody battles of the Rappahannock, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. The term of his service having expired, he was mustered out, but in the fall of 1863 agam offered himself for six months and was placed in Company C, Twenty-first Pennsylvania Cavalry. He was Orderly Sergeant on General Kantz' staff until he was mustered ont July 11, 1864. Once more the valiant soldier returned to the defense of the flag, re-enlisting in Company E. One Hundred and Ninety-seventh Infantry, and was sent to Rock Island, IN., where he remained until November, 1861, and was finally mustered out in Philadelphia. On his return home he rested for a time from his labors, and in the spring of 1865 he was about to offer his services again, when Richmond was taken and it did not seem necessary.
The father of our subject having retired from the manufacturing business, our subject continued the same until his father's death, when the four brothers went into partnership. Amos is now the only remaining one in the firm, as two of his brothers are deceased. and the other one resides in the west. Since about 1884 Mr. Rote has been lo- cated on the corner of South Queen and German Streets, His rooms are 22x40 feet in dimensions,
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and he carries a full line of caskets and coffins and everything pertaining to the business, He is a practical undertaker and embalmer.
In this city Mr. Rote was first married to Anne E. Hubert, a native of this city. She died leay- ing two children. John Franklin and Harry Corne- lius, who are in business with their father; and Elizabeth R .. the eldest, died at the age of twenty- three years. The present Mrs. Rote was formerly Mrs. Mary (Carpenter) Roy, whose buth took place in Lancaster.
A Republican of the truest stamp, Mr. Rote is greatly interested in the welfare of his party and is a member of Admiral Reynolds Post No. 405, G. A. R., of which he is a charter member. Besides he is associated with the Knights of Pythias and the Order of Red Men. A man of sterling worth and upright character, he is one of the pillars of the Moravian Church.
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WILLIAM L. STORMFELTZ, a practical carpenter and builder, is a member of the firm of JJ. P. Stormfeltz & Son, of Lancaster, and is numbered among the enterpris- ing young business men of this city. He was born April 12. 1866. in Lancaster. being the son of J. P. and Sarah Elizabeth (Sener) Stormfeltz. The family is well known in this county, in which members of it have resided for over a century. The paternal grandfather of W. L., whose given name was Peter, was a native of this county, born in 1799, and died in 1886, in his eighty-eighth year. Ile was a wagonmaker by trade. following his calling on the Harrisburg Pike, near the city limits, and during his last years retired from ac- tive eares, making his home in Laneaster, where he resided for fourteen years. Ile was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and politically was a Democrat. He was the father of three sons and
four daughters, and was a man who merited the respect of all.
J. P. Stormfeltz was born in this county Novem- ber 5. 1829, and learned the carpenter's trade in Lancaster, which occupation he has followed dur- ing his life long residence in this place. For a number of years he engaged in making building supplies on a small scale. In 1868 he started the planing mill on Water street; this was consumed by fire two years later, and was an entire loss, as there was no insurance upon it. A year later he purchased the site where his present sash, door and blind factory is located. This is a substantial building of briek, two stories in height and 45x70 feet in dimensions. and his business in this line has constantly grown until he often employs as many as twenty-four men. In 1886 he branched into the coal business. employing three teams and five men, and in these varied enterprises he has met with good success. A stanch Republican, he has served as a member of the City Council a num- ber of terms, and also on the select Council. lle and his family are members of the Trinity Luth- eran Church, which he has served as Deacon for several years, and at one time he was a member of the Masonic order. His first marriage was with Miss Tressler, ard by his union with Sarah Sener he had three children: Clarence, who died at the age of twenty-eight years: William L. and Emma. The parents reside at No. 224 North Prince Street and are respected citizens of the place.
The early years of W. L. Stormfeltz were passed in the public schools of this city, which he attended until seventeen years old. lle then commenced as- sisting his father and learned the carpenter's trade, working at the business for five years. Subse- quently he went to California, where he learned stair construction, and was employed in that line for five years. It was on account of failing health that our subject went to the Golden State and there he soon recovered. Owing to his brother's death he was obliged to return to help his father in business, and was immediately admitted as a partner in the firm. They are doing an extensive and rapidly increasing business. their customers being scattered through all parts of the county.
On the 15th of November, 1892, W. L. Storm-
LEVI SENSENIG.
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feltz married Miss Alvira F. Keffer, and they have a little son, Richard K. The lady is a daughter of Prof. Washington Keffer, a music teacher of this city. The pleasant home of the family is a brick residence located at No. 507 West Walnut Street. In his political affiliations our subject is a loyal Republican, and in religious belief is connected with the Trinity Lutheran Church.
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