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 47
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88
EVI SENSENIG. This name is a very fa- miliar one in Lancaster County, as mem- bers of the family have been identified with the upbuilding of this part of the state since the pioneer days. Three brothers took up large tracts of land, for which they received deeds from William Penn, their property being situated near New Holland, and in that locality their descend- ants, with few exceptions, have lingered ever since. The subject of this sketch is a resident of Lancas- ter, having for many years been engaged in whole- sale dealing in cattle, his business sometimes bay- ing reached nearly 81,000,000 per annum. At the present time his trade is the largest in Lancaster, and he owns extensive stock yards in the city lim- its, and is engaged in the construction of an ice manufacturing plant at Reichart's Landing, which will cost upwards of $25,000.
John Sensenig, the grandfather of our subject, was reared and lived all his life with his father in East Earl Township. He was a farmer and owned a mill in addition to his two farms, being very successful and accumulating considerable wealth. In politics he was a Whig, and his descendants have usually adhered to that party and to its suc- cessor, the Republican organization. The great- grandfather of our subject on his mother's side was a commissioned officer in the War of the Rev- olution, and religiously held membership with the Mennonite Church. Of his eight children, Martin, the grandfather of Levi, died May 25. 1863. aged seventy-one years.
Christian Sensenig, the father of our subject, was a miller, which occupation he followed all his
life, and became quite well-to-do by his dealings in grain. Ile at different times leased various mills, and in later years bought the Gable Mills on Con- estoga Creek near Hinkletown. His death occurred in May, 1863. By his marriage with Susan Rutt, he had fifteen children: John. Levi. Daniel, Henry, George, Isaac, Christian, Christian (the second), David, Susannah, Maria, Mattie, Elizabeth, Lydia and one who died before receiving a name. Maria became the wife of John K. Snyder; Mattie mar- ried Martin, a brother of Professor Sensenig, and Elizabeth became the wife of Samuel Martin, who was at one time County Treasurer. The parents of this family were members of the Mennonite Church. Our subjeet's father was first a Whig and later a Republican, being a warm friend of Thad Stevens.
The birth of our subject occurred August 27, 1834, at Martin's Mills, in this county. Ilis early education was obtained in the district schools of the township, but owing to his earnest desire to embark in commercial pursuits, he left his studies at the age of fourteen years, and entering his fa- ther's mill, remained there until nearly reaching his majority. Later he started in business for him- self, and when his father died, purchased the mill property, which he operated for one year, and at the end of five years disposed of it. Subsequently he carried on the butcher's business until April, 1867, when he took charge of the County Prison as Steward, holding the office for four years. At that time this was one of the best paying positions in the county. In polities he has always been very active, being one of the leaders in the ranks of the Republicans of the county.
A few years after the close of the war Mr. Sen- senig engaged in the stock business, and has sold as many as ninety-six car-loads of cattle in one week, doing as large a business in stock as any man in this portion of the state. Ile attends the New York, Philadelphia and Pittsburg markets, and also has agents in Chicago and western points. In his new ice manufacturing plant twenty tons of first class ice can be made every twenty-four hours, and this product will be of great use in his business. Ile is interested in realestate, owning valuable property in this city, and also in the surround-
16
392
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ing country. Among his possessions we mention the Leopard Hotel, the stock yards, the property on which his ice plant is situated, three residences in New Holland, besides a hotel and store, and many others on Wills Street and in other points.
In 1855 Mr. Sensenig married Catherine Snyder, who passed away at the end of a year. Later our subject married Emma Hull, and they have had five children : Daniel, an attorney of this city; Christ, who assists his father in his large business; Harry, who died in 1894, aged twenty-three years; Edwin, whose death occurred when in his seventh year, and Lillie G .. at home. Damel Hull, the fa- ther of Mrs. Sensenig, is a prosperous farmer of Earl Township, where her girlhood days were passed.
Starting in life without a dollar, Mr. Sensenig is a thoroughly self-made man, and while still a boy manifested his commercial spirit, first invest- ing his money in chickens and later in stock, and in this manner drifted into his present business. At one time he had ten buyers out on the road selecting cattle and investing for him, and his business has increased year by year at a most mar- velous rate. Socially he has belonged to a num- ber of eivie societies, among them the Order of Red Men and the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, but of late years has not been as active in the fraternities as formerly.
--
HARLES S. MURRAY has for several years been prominent in railroad circles and is considered one of the most faithful em- ployes of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Since 1880 he has been freight and passenger agent at Colum- bia, and has under his supervision in both the de- partments some thirty-four employes. Mr. Mur- ray was born at Carlisle, Pa., October 15, 1839. being a son of Charles G. and Margaret ( Blair) Murray. The family is of English origin, one William Murray having come to the United States
from the British Isle and settled at Ft. Du Quesne, where Pittsburg now stands, prior to the Revolu- tionary War. Our subjeet's grandfather was born at that place and was given the Christian name of George. For many years he followed the trade of a blacksmith in Carlisle, and lived to attain the extreme old age of ninety-four years. In politics he was a Whig, and was a very sineere member of the Presbyterian Church. By his marriage with Polly Denny, he had five children: William B., George L., Charles G. Joseph A. and Priscilla.
Charles G. Murray, the father of our subject, was born at Carlisle, Pa., October 14, 1810, and attended the schools of his birthplace, where he received a good education. Hle learned the trade of plastering, which he followed for some time, but later in life engaged in the real estate business. His death occurred at Carlisle, which had been his home his entire life. A worker in the ranks of the Whig and Republican parties, he held local offices on various occasions and was a good citizen and a much respected man. In church work he was much interested, and, like his father, belonged to the Presbyterian denomination. He was born in 1810, and by his marriage with Margaret Blair had two children: C. S. and Talbot C.
The subject of this sketch pursued his studies in the public schools of Carlisle and also under pri- vate instruction. On leaving school he turned his attention to the dental profession and practiced for a time in Mexico, Mo. Returning east, he was located for about five years in Newport, Pa., and finally, in 1870, embarked in railroading. For about two years he was agent of the Pennsylvania Rail- road at Christiana, and was then transferred to Middleton, where he served in the same capacity for eight years. In 1880 Mr. Murray was made Freight Agent at Columbia, and on the expiration of a year was also given charge of the Passenger Department at this place, which is one of the large business centers of the county, the volume of trade passing through the freight department be- ing very extensive. Mr. Murray is a member of the Mutual Guarantee Building & Loan Associa- tion, and is a stockholder in many of the leading industries and enterprises of the community. Po- litically he is a Democrat, and socially holds mem-
393
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
bership with Newport Lodge No. 381, F. & A. M .; Artisans Lodge No. 20, of Columbia; the Quaker City Association of Railroad Men and the Interna- tional Association of Ticket Agents.
March 15, 1866, Charles S. Murray and Miss Anna Casey were united in marriage at the home of the bride's father. Capt. James Casey, in Harris- burg, Perry County, Pa., and one child, a son, Charles E. P., has come to bless their union. Mr. and Mrs. Murray are very entertaining and hospi- table people and make friends wherever they go.
HARLES EDGAR ZORTMAN, a brief sketch of whose life now claims the atten- tion of the reader, occupies the important position of City Regulator of Lancaster. He has ever been true to the duties and responsibilities imposed upon him in his official capacity, and is thus highly regarded by all with whom he has to do.
Our subjeet was born in Littlestown. Adams County, this state, March 2, 1871, and is the son of Jacob Zortman, a native of Dauphin County, this state. The latter was for many years engaged in railroad work, but after his marriage he re- moved to Littlestown and established a hotel busi- ness. After being thus engaged for some time he took up his abode in Gettysburg and after a stay there of two years, went to Newport, making that place his home until 1885, the date of his advent into this city. lle is still living in this eity and is engaged in keeping the railroad restaurant in the depot. He is also interested in the Ridley Park Brick Manufacturing Company of Philadel- phia, to which enterprise he gives considerable of his time.
jeet included three children, of whom he was the youngest child and only son. He completed his studies in the Lancaster High School in 1887, and passed the examination required of students desiring to enter Princeton College. In the fall of that year he began his studies in the scientific department of that institution, from which he was graduated in 1891 as a civil engineer. While there he was a member of the American Whig Literary Society, and in every department of work acquitted himself with honor.
Immediately after leaving college our subject was taken into the Assistant Engineer's office of the Delaware Division of the Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore Railroad Company at Clayton. Del., where he remained until December. 1892, when he entered the construction depart- ment of the Pennsylvania Road, with headquarters at Mitllin. Ile served as a member of the engin- eers' corps until September. 1898, when he re- turned to this city, and February 8 of the follow- ing year was elected by the Council to fill the un- expned term of Col. S. C. Slaymaker, who had died. On the expiration of the term he was re- elected. April 1, and is still the incumbent of the office. Although young in years he is thor- oughly competent to hold the responsible office and is giving perfect satisfaction.
In social affairs Mr. Zortman belongs to the Be- nevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Jumior Order of I'nited American Mechanics, and in re- ligious matters is a member in good standing of St. John's Lutheran Church. Ile is an ardent young Republican and is actively connected with the Republican Club.
The mother of our subject in her maidenhood RR EV. JAMES W. MEMINGER, A. B., B. OR., is Pastor of St. Paul's Reformed Church, and is one of the prominent elergymen of Lancaster. Ile is highly cultured, is a fine orator and lecturer, and his work in this city has been re- was Ellen E. Haines, a native of Adams Coun- ty. Her father, Cornelius B. Haines, was a prom- inent man in Gettysburg, being a school teacher, surveyor, ete. He departed this life in Laneas- ter in 1891. The parental family of our sub- . markably successful. The church is situated at
891
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
the comor of East Orange and Duke Streets, and number- @ membership of about six hundred. Every department of its work is in a very four- ishing condition. and dming the seven years of our subject's pastorate the membership has been in- creased from two hundred and seventeen to about six hundred.
Rev. Mr. Meminger was born in Iekesburg. Perry County. Pa .. November 9, 1859, and his father. James G .. was a native of the same county. The family is of Swiss and German ancestry, and our subject's great-grandfather. Theodore, was an off- cer in the War of 1812. and a resident of South Carolina. Ilis son. Theodore II .. Jr .. the next in the line of descent. was born in that state and when young came to the north. For some time he was a merchant in Philadelphia and afterwards re- moved to Perry County, where he became a large land holder, and there his death occurred in old age. James G. Meminger was a farmer in Perry County, and during the Civil War was a member of the Ninth Army Corps, receiving a slight wound at Petersburg. At different time- he held county offices, and his death occurred in the fall of 1892. His wife, Ellen. was a daughter of S. H. Rice, a contractor, builder and architect of Perry County. Mrs. Meminger is still living, and of her four daughters and two sons. our subjeet is the eldest.
The boyhood days of the latter were passed on his father's farm, and he prepared himself for col- lege in Tuscarora Academy, Juniata County. In 1881 he entered the Sophomore Class of Ursinus College. from which he graduated three years later with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then en- tered the Theological Seminary at Ursinus, and graduated therefrom in 1886, at the same time graduating from the National School of Oratory in Philadelphia, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Oratory.
In 1886 Mr. Meminger was ordained to the holy ministry in Chester County, Pa .. and for a year was pastor of the church at Vincent, July 1. 1887, he removed to his present charge, where his efforts have been crowned with great success. As a lec- turer he has been very successful. and made one of the three centennial addresses in the Academy of Musie at the last general synod, which convened
at Reading. He has frequently served as a dele- gate to conventions and synods of his church and stands well in his denomination.
In 1891 was celebrated the marriage of Rev. Mr. Meminger and Florence Hollinger. She is the daughter of Amos HI. Hollinger. a leather manu- facturer of this city. She is a graduate of Linden ITall Seminary, and has become the mother of one child, James II. In his political belief onr sub- ject is a Republican, and fraternally is identified with the Odd Fellows' society.
S AMUEL F. ROTE is a man much respected in business circles, and one who by strict morality and integrity of purpose fur- nishes an excellent example to others. He is at present engaged in the manufacture of corks in Lancaster, and understanding the business thor- oughly, is making of it a success.
Our subject was born in Lancaster Township, september 6, 1849, and is the son of Samuel Rote, also a native of this county, and a blacksmith by trade. He was engaged in the manufacture of a shovel, harrow and scraper combined. from which he reaped a good income. He is now deceased, passing away April 8. 1887. His wife. known in her maidenhood as Susan Miller. was likewise born in this county. and the daughter of samuel Miller, a farmer in this vicinity. but now living on the factory road in the city limits. Mrs. Rote is still hving and resides on the old homestead. She is a member of the Mennonite Church.
The parental family of our subject included nine children, eight of whom grew to mature years, and all are hving with one exception. Our subject, who was the eldest of the household, was reared in Lancaster and educated in the public schools. When a lad of fourteen years he began to work in a cork factory, where he remained for a time, and then worked for eighteen months at the black- smith's trade. At the end of that time, however, 1
395
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPINCAL RECORD.
he returned to the factory and has made the man- ufacture of cork his business ever since. lle was soon promoted to be overseer of the work rooms, and when only eighteen years of age, superin- tended the placing of the machinery.
In the spring of 1894. Mr. Rote began in busi- ness for himself, and being acquainted with every detail of the work, we prediet for him a suc- cessful future. He is the inventor of the automa- tie, self-feed cutting machine. in which he sold a one-half interest to Levi Landis, and after secur- ing the patent sold the right to a New York syndi- cate. Ile has also invented a device for hand eut- ting eorks, which is found to be very useful in his business. Mr. Rote manufactures a fine quality of cork, and has his place of business located at No. 116 East Vine Street.
The original of this sketch was married on Christmas Day 1873, to Miss Rachel Shaeffer. a native of this county, and to them has been granted a family of five children, namely : William, at home: Daisy, working in the caramel factory; Bessie, Walter and Blanche. Socially our subject belongs to the Order of Red Men and the Mutual Reserve Insurance Company of New York. In polities he is an ardent Republican.
R EV. PERCY J. ROBOTTOM. A. M., is Rector of St. James' Church of Lancaster. one of the oldest and most influential con- gregations in the city. He is also President of the Board of Trustees of Yeates Institute, and is Pres- ident of the Board of Trustees of the Bishop Bow- man Church Home. Under the intelligent, leving and watchful care of its pastor, every department of work in St. James' Church is in a flourishing condition, and it is felt to be a power for good in the community.
The early years of Rev. Mr. Robottom were passed in New York City, where his elementary education was obtained. Hle completed his liter-
ary studies in Hobart College of Geneva, N. Y., from which he was graduated in 1881 with the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts. The next two years he was on the force of the New York Tribune. On coneluding to enter the ministry, he pursued his studies in the General Theological Seminary of New York, where he re- mained until his graduation in 1886, On Trinity Sunday of that year he was made a Deacon in St. John's Church, Jersey City, by Thomas A. Starkey, Bishop of Newark.
The first parish of which our subject took charge was that of Tioga, Pa .. where he went in Mareh. 1887. having also under his supervision a number of missions in the surrounding country. After spending two very pleasant years there, he was called to Christ's Church in Towanda, Pa., as the successor of William E. Wright. On the 1st of April. 1890, he preached his first sermon for this congregation, succeeding Rt .- Rev. Cyrus F. Knight, D. D .. LL. D., who had officiated in this pulpit for over a decade.
St. James' Church was founded in 1744, when Rev. Richard Locke took charge of the parish, but the present title of the church was first given in 1753. Following are the names of the Rectors who have served from the organization of the par- ish up to the present time, and the dates of their accession to the charge: Rev. Richard Locke, 1744; Rev. Joseph Craig, 1751; Rev. Thomas Barton, 1759; Rev. Joseph Hutchins, 1783; Rev. Elisha Rigg, 1791; Rev. Joseph Clarkson, 1799; Rev. W. A. Muhlenberg, 1820: Rev. Levi S. Ives, 1826; Rev. Samuel Bowman, 1827; Rev. J. Isidor Mom- bert, 1861; Rev. E. S. Watson. 1869; Rev. Cyrus F. Knight. 1877; and Rev. Perey J. Robottom. 1890. The congregation comprises about five hundred members, who are all active and interested workers in the various charitable and religious in- stitutions connected with the church, as well as in its regular departments of activity. Among these outside interests are St. James' Orphan Asylum, under the supervision of Mrs. J. S. Messersmith, President of the Board of Managers; the Bishop Bowman Church Home, of which Mrs. William P. Brinton is President of the Board of Managers; St. James' Chapel. on the corner of South Lime and
396
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Locust Streets, and Yeates Institute, which has the Rev. Montgomery R. Hooper, M. A., as head mas- ter. The benevolent and spiritual work carried on in the parish by the pastor and congregation of St. James' Church is of great importance and untold benefit. The church has recently been re- modeled, and many improvements made in the in- terior arrangement.
In 1887 Mr. Robottom married Martha, the youngest daughter of J. C. Kent, a resident of Phillipsburg, N. J., who was for some time Super- intendent of the Andover Iron Works, also Presi- dent of the American Sheet Iron Company and Director and Vice-President of the First National Bank of Philadelphia. The young couple have been blessed with four children, namely: Kent, Frances, Mary and William K.
ONAS F. EBY. Lancaster has its full quota of vigorous, enterprising, thoroughgoing business men, whose popularity is based both upon their social qualities and on their well known integrity and business activity. None among these is better liked by those who have dealings with them, than the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, and who is carrying on a fine trade as wholesale commission and grain mer- chant in Lancaster in company with Mr. Eshelman.
Our subject was born in Penn Township, this county, May 1, 1853, and is the son of John N. Eby, also a native of Laneaster County, as was also his father, who bore the name of Jonas. The father of our subject was a farmer by occupation, and also dealt extensively in horses, having many fine animals on his estate. He is still living, al- though retired from active work, making his home at No. 20 East Walnut Street, this city. He served for many years as Justice of the Peace, and was ever ready to aid in benevolent work.
Mrs. Charlotte (Becker) Eby, the mother of our
subjeet, was also born in Penn Township, and reared a family of two children, of whom Jonas F. was the elder. Ilis sister, Charlotte, is now the wife of D. 11. Engle, of Mt. Joy. The original of this sketch enjoyed the privileges of obtaining a good education, and remained at home until two years after attaining his majority. He was then married, and located on the farm where his birth occurred in Penn Township. This he afterward sold. and purchased one hundred and thirty acres in Fulton Township, this county, which he later traded, and located in this city. Two years later Mr. Eby engaged in buying and selling grain, and buying out B. B. Hostter, has ever since continued shipping grain on the Pennsylvania Road. In 1892 he added feed, hay and straw to his grain business, having his establishment located at No. 211 North Queen Street. In October, 1893. he took in as partner a Mr. Eshelman. and the firm is now known as Eby & Eshelman.
The marriage of our subject occurred in 1875, at which time Miss Myra L. Weidler became his wife. She was the daughter of George Weidler, and by her union with Mr. Eby has become the mother of two children. B. Frank, who was graduated from the high school in 1892, and now a student at Yale College, and Lillie May. The family occupy a beautiful residence at No. 432 North Lime Street, and move in the best cireles of society in the city. Mr. Eby is a strong Republican in politics, and be- longs to the Philadelphia Commercial Exchange. lle is a man of strong convictions, and as an ear- nest and public-spirited citizen commands the re- gard of all his friends and neighbors.
DWARD F. FRAILEY, Superintendent of the Lansing Water Works, is engaged in the manufacture of cigars. While living in Philadelphia he was a member of the State Mil- itia for seven years, enlisting in 1873 in Company B, First Pennsylvania National Guards. The fol- lowing year they were called out to quiet disturb-
397
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
1
ances caused by a strike at Susquehanna Station. In 1877 the Molly Maguire riots occurred, and two years later the "boys" were sent to Pittsburg, at the time of the railroad riots.
Our subjeet was born in this city April 5, 1856, and is the son of William Frailey, also a native of this place, while the grandfather of our subject was born in Schuylkill County. The brother of the latter-named gentleman was State Senator from the above county, and the great-grandfather of our subject, IIon. Andrew Frailey, was Repre- sentative to the first Legislature which met in Lan- caster. He was also a soldier in the Revolution- ary War.
Grandfather Jacob Frailey was a coppersmith by trade, and served as a soldier in the War of 1812. William Frailey was a comb manufacturer, in which occupation he was engaged from the age of ten years. He has passed his entire life in his native city with the exception of one year spent in Pittsburg. He is still engaged in business, and has reached the age of seventy-four years. In polities he is a stanch Repubhean, and has voted for the candidates of that party since its organiza- tion. Hle married Miss Leah Greenawalt, a native of Manor Township, this county. and a member of Grace Lutheran Church.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.