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 49
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August 17, 1872, Mr. Anderson married Emma, daughter of John Snader, and they have one child, a daughter, Daisy Adelaide. For three years Mr. Anderson has been Warden of the Trinity Luth- eran Church, to which he and his family belong. Fraternally he is a member of Monterey Lodge No. 242, 1. O. O. F .; Inland City Lodge No. 88, K. of P .: Shitler Couneil; Junior Order of United
American Mechanics and of the encampment. He is entitled to great credit for the success he has made in life, for he has accomplished this unaided and entirely on the strength of his inherent quali- ties of industry and perseverance in everything he undertakes.
II WILLIAM HAYES GRIER. Superintend- ent of Publie Printing for the state, and publisher of the Independent, a weekly newspaper of Columbia, was born in Me- Ewensville, Pa .. in the year 1841. His grandfather. Rev. John Hayes Grier, was a native of Bucks County, this state, and was born in 1788. He was graduated from Dickinson College with President James Buchanan, and after entering the ministry was placed in charge of the Great Island and Jer- sey Shore Circuit. This was in 1814, and he re- mained in that section until 1854, when he re- tired. after having been a minister of the Gospel for a period of fifty-six years. He departed this life in New Jersey Shore, in February, 1880, at the advanced age of ninety-two years.
The father of our subject, John Hayes Grier. M. D., was born in Brandywine Manor, Chester County. this state. in 1813, and when attaining mature years was graduated from Jefferson Medi- cal College. He practiced first in MeEwensville for fifteen yenis. and in 1855 we find him located in Jersey Shore, whence in 1859 be removed to Nippenose Valley, five miles from' Jersey Shore, where he still lives.
Our subject, who is the eldest son of the Doctor, received his primary education in the public schools, after which he attended the academy in McEwensville, which was presided over by Prof. C. L. Rynierson. After spending four years in that institution, Mr. Grier, October 20, 1856, was apprenticed to learn the art of printing in the of- fice of the Jersey Shore Vidette. He remained with that paper until 1858, when he accepted a position
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to teach school in Clinton County for a term of four months at $25 per month.
In the year 1859, after closing his school, young Grier removed to Akron, Ohio, where he found employment on the Akron Democrat, and remained there until 1861, when, owing to the impending war, he returned to ,Jersey Shore, and again began working on the Vidette. He remained there until Ft. Sumter was fired upon, when he enlisted as a private in the Jersey Shore Rifles, which was known as Company A, Fifth Pennsylvania Regiment. They were assigned to the Army of the Potomac. and passed through all the battles of that division from Dranesville to Cold Harbor, with the excep- tion of Chancellorsville. June 27, 1862, our sub- jeet was wounded in the leg at the battle of Gaines Mills, Va., and was confined for six weeks in Ascension Church Hospital, in Washington, D. C. When sufficiently recovered, he rejoined his regiment and participated in the second battle of Bull Run, and in March, 1863, was promoted to First Sergeant, and June 1. 1864, was com- missioned Second Lieutenant.
Mr. Grier returned home in the year 1864, on the expiration of his term of culistment, and became foreman of the printing department and associate editor of the Columbia Spy, remaming with that paper until October, 1866, at which time he was nominated by his party for the State Senate against his old Colonel. Joseph W. Fisher, but was defeated, owing to the fact that his party was in the minority. Our subject after- ward founded the Columbia Herald, printing the first copy on a hand press. He continued thus until the year 1870, when he was appointed traveling agent for the Columbia Mutual Fire In- surance Company. After six months' experience in this line Mr. Grier resigned, and until 1873 successfully conducted a job printing office in the city. That year he purchased the Herald, and was employed in its publication until January, 1885, when he sold out his enterprise.
In political life Mr. Grier has long been active, serving his party repeatedly in county and sena- torial conventions, and was a delegate to the national convention which nominated Samuel J. Tilden. He served as a member of the state com-
mittee for a number of years, and for a period of eigliteen years was on the county committee, and was chairman of that body through the im- portant campaign of 1874. Residing in a county where his party is in the minority, he has done much to preserve its organization. In securing candidates to make the hopeless fight, he was obliged in 1878 to again sacrifice himself when running for the senatorship.
In 1883 William Hayes Grier was a candidate for Auditor General, when many distinguished men were brought forward, and on the second ballot Mr. Grier received the second highest vote. The first political office which our subject held was Assistant Assessor of Internal Revenue, to which he was appointed in 1866 by President John- son. He was subsequently Clerk of the Council for two years, was Tax Collector, and was appointed by Gen. William MeCandless, Secretary of Internal affairs in 1875, as Secretary of Bureau of Statis- ties. Mr. Grier has frequently served his fellow- men in many minor offices, and in 1876 was elected School Director of his distriet for a term of three years. In 1881 he was Justice of the Peace, and in 1883 was appointed Superintendent of Public Printing by Governor Pattison to fill a vacancy. On the expiration of the term he was re-appointed for a full term, from July 1, 1885, to July 1, 1889, which he served. In 1887 he was tendered the office of Chief of the Southern Division of the Pension Bureau, but dechned.
The lady to whom Mr. Grier was married in 1865 was Miss Mary E. White, who died in 1884, leaving two daughters, the elder of whom is mar- ried, and the younger is attending school. Our subjeet is a Mason, and has taken both the blue lodge and royal arch degrees. Hle belongs to Orion Lodge, I. O. O. F., and was the first Noble Grand of the lodge instituted in 1874. lle is an active member of the Grand Army of the Republic, in which he has been Past Commander and repre- sentative in both state and national encampments. He has been a member of the State Editorial As- sociation since its organization in 1869. and in 1888 was President of the same.
The lady to whom our subject was married for bis second wife, in 1890, was Miss Annie, daugh-
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ter of Gen. William Patton, whose sketch may be found on another page in this volume. Mr. Grier was appointed to his present position as Superin- tendent of Public Printing in April, 1892.
APT. ELIAS M. MELLEN, one of the best known citizens of Lancaster, is the most prominent and successful bridge builder in Lancaster County. Ilis paternal grandfather, Robert MeMellen, was a native of the North of Ire- land, and emigrated to this country before the Revolutionary War, and took an active part in the struggle. Ile settled in Lancaster County, Pa., and was engaged in farming. Joseph, a son of Robert MeMellen, was a stone mason by trade, and married Barbara, a daughter of John and Barbara (Iless) Derredinger, both of whom were natives of Lancaster County, and of German descent. Capt. Elias MeMellen, the son of Joseph and Barbara (Derredinger) MeMellen, was born in Conestoga Township, Lancaster County, Pa., November 23, 1838; his mother was left a widow soon after his birth, his father dying in 1841, at the early age of thirty-one and leaving no estate whatever. Captain MeMellen, like many another American youth, was the architect of his own future, and he was equipped for the battle of life only by such ordinary common school education as the outlying districts of his day afforded, but he carried into the struggle what no amount of academic training could supply of indomitable pluck, tireless energy and a determination to succeed. These qualities he evinced early in life and the circumscribed con- ditions of his home being unsuited to their devel- opment, he, at the age of fourteen, started into life on his own responsibility, being apprenticed to learn the carpenter's trade. In the spring of 1853 he removed to Lancaster, where he worked for some time in a sash factory, and subsequently as a journeyman carpenter at bridge building, and then started on his successful career. At the age of
twenty he received the contract and erected a bridge over the Chickies Creek at Snavely's Mill and continued bridge building until September, 1861, when he enlisted as a private in Company K. Seventy-ninth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volun- teers, which was assigned to General Negley's bri- gade, and become a part of the Western army. He participated in the battles of Bowling Green, Nash- ville, the move on Chattanooga, and the engage- ments of that campaign. After General Buell took command of the Western army he was with his regiment on Buell's famous retrograde movement through Tennessee and Kentucky to Perryville, where a fierce battle was fought between the two armies, after which, on account of ill health from exposure in line of duty, he was sent home on fur- lough. In the winter of 1862 he was subsequently mustered out of the Seventy-ninth Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers as Second Sergeant on the surgeon's certificate. In the spring of 1863 he was commissioned First Lieutenant of Company C, Twenty-first Pennsylvania Cavalry, which was a six months' regiment, and assigned to duty in the Shenandoah Valley, Va. At the expiration of the six months' service, and on the re-organization of the regiment at Chambersburg for three years' ser- vice, he was authorized by Governor Curtin to re- eruit a company and was commissioned Captain of Company 1, this being the color company of the regiment. During the re-organization of the regi- ment he was appointed recruiting officer with of- fices at Lancaster and Harrisburg. After return- ing with the regiment to the army of the Poto. mac, he participated in the battles of the Wilder- ness, Cold Harbor, James River, and at the siege of Petersburg. At the battle of Cold Harbor Com- pany I lost two color bearers.
In August, 1864, his regiment was assigned to General Gregg's Cavalry Division, Sheridan's Corps. In the battle of Boynton Plank Road, Va., on the 27th of October, 1864, he was shot in the left leg; after recovering he returned to his regi- ment at Petersburg. Ile was also wounded at Black Water Swamp in the arm, and at Dinwiddie Court House by a piece of shell in the hip, but did not leave his command. lle participated in the last charge made by the army of the Potomac on
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the morning of Lee's surrender to General Grant at Appomattox, Va. After the surrender the regi- ment was ordered to Lynchburg, Va., from where Captain MeMellen was sent with Companies I and G to Campbell Court House, where he acted as Provost Marshal for some time, when he was or- dered to rejoin his command at Lynchburg, where the regiment was mustered out of service July 8, 1865.
Returning to Lancaster after the war he resumed his busmess as contractor and builder, and at the present time, 1891, is successfully carrying on the business. He has erected both iron and wooden bridges in Lancaster and adjoining counties, and is one of the most successful bridge builders in eastern Pennsylvania. In 1876 he purchased the Exchange Hotel, East King and Christian Streets, and in 1888 enlarged and entirely remodeled the building, since which he has been proprietor. Ilis private residence, one of the handsomest in the city, is at No. 28 East Vine Street.
Politically Captain MeMellen is an ardent Re- publican. In 1869 he was elected a member of Se- leet Commeil and served continuously until 1879, when he was elected Prothonotary of Lancaster County, and served with acceptance for one term of three years. He has been a delegate to state and county conventions on several occasions. In 1880 he was sent as an alternate from Laneaster County to the Chicago convention that nomin- ated James A. Garfield for the Presidency. In 1892 he was re-elected a member of Select Council and agam in 1891; he is on the street and several other important committees. Hle belongs to George II. Thomas Post No. 84. G. A. R., and is a member of the Twenty-first Pennsylvania Cavalry Asso- ciation, and of the Junior Order United American Mechanics.
When the Lancaster Street Railway was organ- ized he was one of the first promoters, and was a member of the first Board of Directors; he also is a stockholder in the Lancaster Traction Com- pany, and has been identified with many local in- dustries.
Captain MeMellen married. September 21, 1865, Annie E., daughter of Christian and Ehzabeth (Markley) Wenditz, of Lancaster, who was born at
Chestnut Level, November 13, 1811; her father was born August 25, 1810, at Strasburg, Lancaster County. Pa. Their children were Ellie Minerva, Sarah Elizabeth, Joseph Charles, Walter Elias and James Donald. The surviving ones are Sarah E., married to Maurice M. Denlinger, a practicing physician of Lancaster County, and James Donald.
In 1850 the mother of Captain MeMellen mar- ried John Kneezel, of Montgomery County, Pa. After the death of Mr. Kneezel, the Captain's mother made her home with him at the Exchange Hotel, where she died January 7, 1894, at the ad- vaneed age of eighty-two.
M ARTIN D. KENDIG, of Manor Township, owns and operates a good farm, compris- ing fifty acres, where he makes a speci- alty of raising tobacco, and keeps a fine grade of stock. For eight years he has been Secretary of the Lancaster County Agricultural Society, and for a period of ten years was Treasurer of the same organization. He is a very progressive farmer, holding advanced ideas on the subject of agriculture, and for many years was a member of the Tobacco Growers' Association, of which he was President, and is still a member of the Hortieult- ural Society. Great eredit is due to Mr. Kendig for the success he has made in life. Ilis father dying when he was quite young, he was early thrown upon his own resources and obliged to abandon his studies except as he could pursue them by himself. He made the most of his oppor- tunities, however, and became very well informed, and at one time studied medicine with a view to becoming a practitioner, but on account of poor health, abandoned the idea to follow a more active life.
The parents of our subject were Martin and Elizabeth ( Mellinger) Kendig. His birth occurred February 5, 1833, on the farm where he still re- sides, and that of his father took place May 1, 1799, in Manor Township, near Creswell. The
HENRY GERHART.
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latter was a farmer, owning about seventy acres, which he engaged in cultivating until his early death, March 30, 1846. Ile was a member of the Mennonite Church, and was a Republican. Ilis family comprised three sons and seven daughters, Mary, Elizabeth, Susan, Fannie, Martin D., John, Anna. Sarah, Isaiah and Elizabeth. Five of the number have passed away, and the mother, who was born March 1, 1806, died when in her eighty-sixth year.
Martin D. Kendig received a common school education, and for a short time attended the Mill- ersville Normal and the Stasburg Academy. In 1846 his studies were mterrupted by his father's death, and he returned to assist in carrying on the homestead, which, as previously mentioned. he now owns. Ile is interested in educational affairs, and has served as School Director of Manor Township. and politically is a Republican. November 19, 1885, he married Fannie, daughter of Martin and Elizabeth (Ilerr) Dambach, a farmer near Colum- bia, who had a family of seven sons and five daughters, and it is worthy of note that this fam- ily cirele is still unbroken. In order of birth they are as follows: Mary, Susan, John, Fannie, Martin, Henry, Joseph, Catherine, Amos, Adam, David and Lizzie. The mother of these children, who is still living, is a member of the Mennonite Church, but her husband departed this life November 12, 1875, when sixty-two years, one month and twen- ty-one days old.
H ENRY GERHART. one of the sterling business men of Lancaster, has been longer steadily engaged in his calling, that of merchant tailoring, than any other in the city. Ile is a thorough and trustworthy tailor, and endeavors to please his customers, and carries a large and well selected stock of the most fash- ionable and durable goods on the market. He was born November 22, 1835, in Ilessc-Darmstadt, his parents being Daniel and Elizabeth (Thies) Ger-
hart. The former, who was a merchant, died when his son Henry was only about a year old, and on the mother devolved the care of his bringing up. This worthy lady is still living, being a resident of Lancaster.
The boyhood of Henry Gerhart was passed in his native land, where he secured a fair general education, and was apprenticed to learn the tail- or's trade. In 1850 he concluded he would try his fortunes in the New World, and took passage in a sailing-vessel. going by way of London, and arriving in New York City in the fall of the year. After working for a time as an apprentice to S. K. Y. Young, he continued in his employ for a time and later did journeyman work until 1865.
At that time Mr. Gerhart embarked in business for himself. opening a shop in the same block where he is now situated. Year by year he num- hered more and more of the best citizens of the place among his customers. for his workmanship is of the best and he carries out to the letter all con- tracts. For a number of years he has been located at No. 46 North Queen Street, where he occupies a fine store 22x130 feet in dimensions. He carries in stock all grades and qualities used in the trade, and he may always be depended upon in whatever he says in regard to the durability and qualities of lis goods.
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Mr. Gerhart is a stockholder and Director in the Maennerchor Ilall Association, of which he is now President, and was one of the original foun- ders. Ile is also a Director in the Home Building & Loan Association, and has been active in every- thing pertaining to the welfare of his fellow-citi- zen- and the development of the best interests of the community in which he dwells.
The pleasant home of our subject, which is lo- cated on West Orange Street, was erected by him in modern style and a substantial manner. His marriage was celebrated in 1866, with Miss Mar- garet Wittlinger, who was born and reared in this city, and who was called from this life in Novem- ber, 1893; she left one child, Henry, to mourn her loss. Her father, John Wittlinger, was in former years engaged in the brewery business in Laneaster. The son, Henry, Jr., an enterprising and active young business man, is a thorough
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master of the tailor's trade, and is now in business with his father.
Our subject is a charter member and past officer of llebel Lodge No. 599, I. O. O. F., and was one of the organizers and former officers of the Seven Wise Men's Society. Politically he uses his intlu- ence and casts his vote in favor of Democratic nominees. In Zion's Lutheran Church of this city he has long held membership, and is now an Ekler in the organization. llis pleasant and genial way of dealing with his customers and all others who may come in contact with him, is the means of his securing many sincere friends.
F MMANUEL LANDIS SNYDER, instructor of music in the city of Lancaster, is organ- ist and choir master in the Moravian Church and Jewish synagogue. He is rapidly mounting to the top of the ladder in his profes- sion, and ranks among the finest musicians in this section. Mr. Snyder was born in Lancaster, De- cember 21, 1869, and is the son of Martin Snyder. a native of Baden, Germany, where also his grand- father, George M. Snyder, was born and served as a soldier in the German army.
When emigrating to America, the grandfather located with his family near Laneaster, and there made his home until his decease. Martm Snyder was educated in the city schools, and later em- barked in the manufacture of cigars, which he followed for some time, and then abandoned it in order to engage in the hotel business. Prior to this he was a farmer. Ile is now residing in Mid- dletown, where he is running the Farmers' Hotel with fair success. He is a strong Republican in polities, and a man prominent in his community.
Mrs. Amanda (Landis) Snyder, the mother of onr subject, was born in this eounty, and was the daughter of Emmanuel Landis; the latter was formerly a prominent and early settler of Lan- caster County, and here he carried on farm pur-
suits. The parental family included six ehil- dren, of whom three are living. Emmanuel L. was reared in his native county. attending first the common, and later the high school, and was graduated from the latter in 1888, at Manheim. tins county. Ile then took a course in the Lan- easter Business College, and for a short time filled a position as bookkeeper. Young Snyder then decided to devote his time and attention to the study of music, and engaged to take lessons from Professor Bausman, later from Professor Benkert, and afterward from E. Wesley Pyne. It was his ambition to make of music a profession, and in 1893 he commenced giving instructions in instru- mental music, having his studio located at No. 26 South Prince Street. In addition to this he makes a specialty of directing choirs and choruses, and in this department, as in instrumental music, he has been very successful.
Socially Mr. Snyder is a prominent Mason, be- longing to the lodge at Manheim. He is con- neeted with the Oratorio Society of Lancaster, which he is serving as Librarian. In religious af- fairs he is a devoted member of the Episcopal Church, and is a Vestryman of St. Paul's Church, at Manheim.
HRISTIAN GAST, who is now living re- tired from active business in Lancaster, has been very successful in his enterprises, and is justly numbered among the leading citi- zens. In 1835 he started a boot and shoe manu- factory in the location now occupied by Martin Bros., and conducted his large trade until 1868, when, having secured ample means for his remain- ing years, he left his business career and has since passed his time in the quiet of his home.
His father, Frederick Gast. was a native of Prussia, and with his family emigrated to the United States when his son, Christian, was a lad of ten years, this being in October, 1819. lle was a farmer both in the Fatherland and after his ar-
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rival in this locality. In addition to this he suc- cessfully conducted a shop where baskets were manufactured. Ile was first a Democrat and later a Republican, and in the work of the Reformed Church was a leading man and an Elder in this city. His death occurred at the age of eighty- three years, and that of his wife in 1852. By his marriage with Susan Schmidt he had seven chil- dren : Ilenry, Christian, Margaret, Conrad, Philip, Elizabeth and Frederick. These are all deceased with the exception of our subject and the young- est of the family.
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Christian Gast was born in Prussia, December 2, ' ( Eckert) Gast, was born June 4, 1841, in this city, 1808, and received a common school education. After landing in Lancaster he was bound out for - a long period to learn the shoe-making trade, and worked for a year and a-half in Philadelphia. Re- turning then to this city, he worked at his trade until his marriage, after which, in 1835, he started a boot and shoe manufactory and conducted a merchant business. In 1868, after many years of successful trade, his third son succeeded him and is now carrying on the business. For three years Mr. Gast was a Prison Inspector, and for two years was Treasurer of the Board. For ten years he served as Treasurer of the Poor Board; for three decades occupied a similar position in the Mechan- ies' Library, and for many years was Treasurer of the Lancaster Cemetery Association. Always inter- ested in educational affairs. he was one of the first Trustees of Franklin and Marshall College, which he was instrumental in uniting in 1852, and under the new organization continued as a Trustee a number of years.
October 14, 1830, Christian Gast married Maria Eckert, and the following named children grace their union: Emanuel S., Catherine, Frederick A., Albert C., William II., Anna, Mary Ellen, Samuel D., Charles, and Marja, who married William Wel- chans, a brother of the noted Dr. Welchans. Anna became the wife of Jacob Martin, and Mary Ellen and Samuel D. died in infancy.
Mr. Gast is a member of St. Paul's Reformed Church, and has served as Deacon and Elder in the old congregation, and since the organization of the church with which he is now identified has also been an Elder in the same. Having joined 1
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