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 62
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D FRANK KLINE, M. D., is a prominent young physician of Lancaster, who has a wide and extensive practice, and who is frequently called upon to give expert testimony on insanity cases. Ile has made a special study of various kinds of mental derangement, and has been so placed in his professional work and career that he has had fine opportunities to become conver- sant with this branch of disease. For a year he was resident physician in the Insane Asylum and Alms House of the county, and in September, 1890, was appointed Superintendent in charge of the Hospital and Insane Asylum, which position he held until New Year's Day of 1893, when he re- signed to engage in private practice. and since that time has had his office at No. 32 North Prince Street.
Dr. Kline was born in the town of Union De- posit. Dauphin County, May 23, 1863, and his fa- ther, whose Christian name was Henry, was a na- tive of Manheim, Lancaster County. His paternal grandfather, Jacob Kline, was an agriculturist of Dauphin County and also of this county. He was a member of the United Brethren Church, in the faith of which he died in 1879, aged eighty-one years. Henry Kline was a stock dealer, and was the owner of a farm in East Hanover Township, Dauphin County. He died in October, 1893, of typhoid fever, at the age of sixty-three years. In his political faith he was a Democrat, as are all his sons with the exception of our subject, who has been a Republican since casting his first vote.
The Doctor's mother bore the maiden name of Ellen L. Keller, and she was born and reared near
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I'mion Deposit, Dauphin County, being the daugh- ter of Michael Keller, who was born in the same locality, and was a farmer by occupation. Her brothers, Drs. D. C. and II. K. Keller, were prac- ticing physicians at I'nion Deposit for forty-nine and twenty-six years respectively. Mrs. Kline be- came the mother of six children, all but one of whom are still living. George E. is a teacher in Grantville, Pa .; Harry S. is a stock dealer and resi- dent of Shellsville, Pa .; Sadie, who lives in Ann- ville, this state, is the wife of Albert Imboden, and Milton C. makes his home in Palmyra. Lebanon County, in which town the mother is now living, being in her sixty-third year.
The boyhood of Dr. Kline was passed on the farm where he was born, and he received limited advantages in the common schools. From his twelfth year he was for six years a stock dealer, being almost constantly in the saddle. He then attended the Normal School at Annville for one term, after which he took an examination given by the County Superintendent at Milton, and was one of seven out of a class of seventeen that were awarded certificates. He taught school for the next three years, and during this time also took a course in penmanship at Michaels' Business Col- lege near Delaware, Ohio. Afterward he studied medicine with his two maternal uncles, and it 1886 entered Jefferson Medical College, from which two years later he received the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Ile is truly self-made, owing his education almost entirely to his perseverance and determination. He worked his own way through college, starting with a sum of $50, and great credit is due him for his enterprise. On first commeneing lus practice he was associated with Dr. Blough for six months in Elizabethtown. Lan- caster County, and then for a year was at May- town. The position of resident physician at the Lancaster County Hospital then being open, he was one of twelve applicants, and was appointed to the place in October, 1889, serving until Sep- tember of the next year, when he was made Super- intendent of the Hospital and Insane Asylum. January 1. 1893, he resigned that place to engage in general practice, and has built up a large client- age in this city. Ile belongs to the Lancaster City
and County Medical Societies, to the Pathological Society of Lancaster, of which he is a charter mem- ber, and is also identified with the State and Amer- ican Medical Associations.
November 14. 1893. Dr. Kline was married in Elizabethtown to Miss Jennie M., daughter of Dr. II. K. Blough, who at one time was a member of the State Legislature. Mrs. Kline was born in Elizabethtown, and is a member of the United Brethren Church. In the spring of 1893 Dr. Kline was appointed Health Commissioner, and is an executive officer on the Board. He belongs to the Young Men's and Citizens' Republican Clubs, and is one of the leading young men of his party in this place. He is also a member of the Junior Order United American Mechanics, and of all the Masonic bodies in the city.
S AMUEL M. SELDOMRIDGE is one of the most prominent residents of Lancaster County and is at present engaged in the mercantile business at Farmersville, of which place he is also Postmaster. He has been prominent in political cireles his entire life and the incumbent of important positions for over thirty-five years. Hle is the son of Samuel and Elizabeth C. ( Weiler) Seldomridge, and was born in what is now known as the JJacob Musser farm. near Bird in Hand, December 17, 1831.
The Seldomridges were among the original set- tlers of this county. Andrew Zeltonrich, as the name was first spelled, was one of the sturdy, lib- erty loving sons of Switzerland, and emigrated to America in 1735. Ile immediately located in Pennsylvania and took a land warrant for two hundred and fourteen and one-half acres of land lying in Earl and Leacock Townships. He died in 1760, leaving a son and daughter, George and Eve. The original Seldomridge was a member of the Reformed Church and was instrumental in the
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organization of that denomination in Earl Town- ship.
George Seldomridge, after the death of his ta- ther, continued to occupy the old homestead, and from him is descended a large number of Lancas- ter County's most thrifty and successful farmers, Members of the family are living, some in Vir- ginia. others in Ohio, Indiana and other parts of the west.
Sammel M. Seldomridge. the subject of this sketch, spent his boyhood and youth on a farm and obtained his education in the schools of the neigh- borhood. When a lad of fifteen years he left home, his only capital being strong hands and will- ingness to work. llis first employment was in the store of J. L. & L. S. Robinson, of Intercourse, re- eeiving as his salary $40 per year. In 1848, when Messrs. Robinson sold their establishment to B. F. Hall, young Seldomridge was retained as clerk, continuing in that capacity until 1856. In the above year our subject was married to Miss Sarah, daughter of Daniel Soope. a well-to-do agricultur- ist of Upper Leacock Township, and the following year purchased a store from Isaac Roland located in Earlville. This he carried on successfully for two years, when he saw a good opening in Far- mersville and removed hither, and now has one of the best equipped stores in this portion of the county and is doing a large and paying business. The store which he occupies is a three story struct- ure, 32x80 feet in dimensions, and is stocked with a full line of general merchandise, such as sells readily in both village and country homes. Ile does about $36,000 worth of business annually, and in addition to handling dry goods and grocer- jes, is an extensive packer of leaf tobacco, in which branch of business he has been engaged since 1878.
During the war, knowing that prices would ad- vance, Mr. Seldomridge invested his surplus capi- tal in a large stock of goods, such as his experi- ence taught him would be in demand, and conse- quently realized a handsome profit on his money. Ile bears the reputation of paying the highest price for country produce, which he ships direct to New York, and as an honest, upright business man, he is greatly respected in his community. Mr. Seldom- ridge is disposed to look on the bright side of life,
is jolly and good natured, and aside from partici- pating in public affairs, gives his undivided time to his business interests.
Our subject is a Republican in pohties and has represented his party on numerous occasions as a delegate to the various conventions. lle is thor- oughly trusted in every department of business and has often been called upon to settle large es- tates. In 1858 he was elected Township Clerk, which office he has filled uninterruptedly ever since. In 1859, under James Buchanan, our subject was appointed Postmaster, and as in the other office, has been the incumbent of the position to the present time. Mr. Seldomridge was elected Director of the Farmers' National Bank of Lan- easter in 1877 and was made Vice-President in 1881. Ile is the possessor of several fine farms in the county. and with his family occupies a com- fortable home opposite his store.
Samuel Seldomridge, Sr., father of our subject, was born in Leacock Township and died in 1857, at the age of sixty-three years. He was an exten- sive farmer and one of the wealthy residents of that township, where he had hosts of warm friends. lle was first a Whig in polities, but after the. or- ganization of the Republican party, joined its ranks. The Baptist Church found in him one of its most valued members, and all worthy movements could count on his support. He was twice married. By his union with Miss Sarah Clausen there were born two sons and a daughter: Jacob. George and Sarah, all deceased. His second wife, who hore the maiden name of Elizabeth C. Weiler, be- came the mother of seven children: Samuel M., of this sketch; John, Levi, Christian, Isaac (deceased), Johanna and Elizabeth. The father enlisted as a soldier in the War of 1812, but only got as far as Baltimore, Md., when he was honorably discharged. Andrew Seldomridge, grandfather of our subject, was the son of George and the grandson of the orig- inal Andrew Seldomridge. Ile too was a farmer of Leacock Township and a member of the Re- formed Church.
January 19, 1888, the original of this sketch was elected a delegate to the Republican National Convention, which met in the World's Fair City, and voted for Ilarrison first, last and all the time,
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August 25 of the same year he was made Chief Marshal of the largest county convention ever held in Lancaster County.
March 5, 1856, our subject was married to Sarah Soope. and to them were born four children: Harry C., a prosperous merchant of Rothsville, this coun- ty; Charles E., in business with his father; Mor- gan Rufus, also in the store, and Lillie M .. at home.
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J GUST ZOOK has had a very successful ca- reer since establishing himself in the tobacco business in Lancaster, and now has one of the largest establishments in the county. Hle is clever, liberal and enterprising, and is pos- sessed of good business ability. He has a good lo- cation and is undoubtedly one of the most pros- perons dealers here. Ile is also a Director in the Lancaster Trust Company, and as will be seen, is self-made both as to education and finances.
The great-grandfather of our subjeet, Moritz Zug, as the name was then spelled, emigrated from the eanton of Zug. in Switzerland. to the United States, accompanied by his two brothers, Christian and Johannas. They arrived in the city of Phila- delphia September 21. 1742, in the ship "Francis & Elizabeth." Moritz Zug was a grandson of Ilans Zug, who was an Elder in the Mennonite Church in Berne, Switzerland, where during the persecu- tion he was incarcerated. together with six other preachers. in the year 1659. They suffered untold agonies while imprisoned. which was done on ac- count of their religious faith, and were kept in confinement until 1671. when, being released. they were compelled to leave that portion of the country.
Moritz Zug first settled in Berks County, this state, but soon afterward located on the Lancaster Turnpike in West Whiteland Township, Chester County, where he passed the remainder of his life. His son, Abram, was the sixth in order of birth of the family of seven children and was born in Jan- uary, 1761, in Berks County. In 1808 he removed
to East Lampeter Township, Chester County, where his death occurred September 19, 1826. His wife, Maria ( Kurts) Zug, was born August 21. 1767. and died June 24, 1811. They had a family of eleven children. of whom Jacob. the father of our subject, was the fourth, and it was during his time that the name was changed to Zook.
Jacob Zook was born in 1797, near Eden, East Lampeter Township, this county, and followed the ocenpation of a farmer until 1861, when he moved to the city of Lancaster. where he lived retired until his death, in 1876, at the age of sev- enty-nine years. Ile was a Republican in polities, and in religion was a devoted member of the Bap- tist Church, which he served for many years as an Elder. His wife. Mrs. Christiana ( Hauck) Zook. was a native of Lancaster County. She was a sister of Col. David Ilauck, who obtained bis title during the Mexican War. Mrs. Zook departed this life in 1889, when in the seventy-ninth year of her age.
The parental family of our subject included nine children. six of whom grew to mature years, and three are now living. Margaret HI. married David Evans. late County Superintendent of Schools in this county, and died in March. 1894; Noah II. and Abraham H. went to Mississippi in the fall of 1865. and engaged in cotton growing near Vieksburg. The following year they were murdered and robbed. the younger son being found and brought home: the elder one was never found. The cause of this tragedy was the bitter feeling of the south toward northern men who came among them to engage in business. Mary A .. the next in order of birth, is the widow of W. W. Edwards, of Philadelphia; Christiana married Lem- uel MeMichael, also a resident of the Quaker City.
The subject of this sketch was born March 27. 1847. Hear Eden, East Lampeter Township, and obtained his education in the public schools. In the spring of 1863. he entered the State Normal School of Millersville, and during the invasion of Pennsylvania by the Confederates the same year enlisted as a member of Company A, Fiftieth Pennsylvania Infantry, commanded by Col. James II. Wickersham. When mustered out he returned home and began clerking in a store at Camargo,
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this county, where he remained for a twelvemonth. lle then went to New Holland, where he was simi- laily employed until January, 1865, when he again volunteered his services in defense of his country, this time joining Company B, Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania Infantry, and was mustered into service at Nashville, Tenn. With his regiment he was sent to Texas after Kirby Smith, and remained in the Lone Star State until January, 1866, when he was mustered out and returned home.
After the elose of the war young Zook took a course in the Crittenden Commercial College, of Philadelphia, after which he returned to Lancaster, and for some time conducted his studies in the Franklin and Marshall College. In 1868 he engag- ed in farming on the old homestead, but this not be- ing suited to his taste he sold out the estate and located in Lancaster in 1875. The following year he began dealing in leaf tobacco, in company with C. Augustus Bitner, which partnership existed until 1880, since which time Mr. Zook has carried on the business alone. lle owns six warehouses, whose average capacity is ten thousand cases. In addition to this enterprise our subject is one of the organizers and directors in the Lancaster Trust Company, and is also a director in a number of other companies.
The marriage of Mr. Zook and Miss Emma E. Bitner occurred in 1877. The lady was born in this city, and is the daughter of C. A. Bitner, late a prominent business man of this city. To them has been born a son, Charles B. In politics our subject is a stalwart Republican, of the Thaddeus Stevens' school, and has been tendered publie of- fiees, but on account of his immense private busi- ness was compelled to decline all publie honors.
The nativity of our subject occurred in Wurtem- berg, Germany, in March, 1844, his father, John Rieker, being a farmer in the Fatherland, where his death occurred. The wife of the latter was a na- tive of Wurtemberg, and bore the maiden name of Anna Leelileitner. Her father, Jacob, was a native of the Tyrol, Austria, of a German family, and after his settlement in Wurtemberg he engaged in the hotel and farming business. Frank A. is one of eight children who grew to maturity, and all but one of whom are living, but he is the only member of the family who has come to America. Ile lived with his parents until thirteen years of age, when he was apprenticed to learn the brewery trade, and worked for three years for his maternal uncle, a large brewer of Esblingen. For some time thereafter he traveled in France, all through Swit- zerland, Italy, Austria, Bavaria and other countries.
In the year 1863 Mr. Rieker came to the United States, leaving Hamburg, and for a year worked in New York City. Then going to Philadelphia he was there employed for the next two years, and in 1867 was made foreman in Frank's Brewery of Lancaster. a place he held for two years. For a like period of time he was in the employ of Joseph Wecker, in the same business, and then started out for himself. For a short time he operated a brew- ery in Columbia, Pa., but then returned to this point and became a partner with Sheid, Geriz & Co., in the Lion Brewery. After renting the plant in connection with Messrs. Struble & Co., for a year from the other owners, he became sole proprietor in 1875, and has since conducted the business alone. lle rebuilt and greatly enlarged the old plant until its capacity was eight thousand barrels per year. He erected his new brewery on modern principles with all the latest improvements, and well equipped with every device and improve- ment used in the business. The capacity of the establishment is forty thousand barrels per year, and the ice machines connected with the concern manufacture one hundred and fifty tons; one hun- dred tons are used for refrigerating, and a fifty ton machine is used for making ice. The brewery is a building five stories in height. located on West King, First Street and Rieker Avenue, where it
FRANK A. RIEKER is proprietor of the Star Brewery, one of the finest and most complete plants of the kind in the state of Pennsylvania. Mr. Rieker is one of the German- American citizens, who have been instrumental in the upbuilding and prosperity of Lancaster, where he has been a resident for a quarter of a century. | occupies a block in depth. There are two storage
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3699965
STAR BREWERY.
F. A. RIEKER'S STAR BREWERY, WEST KING STREET AND COLL
1
RESIDENCE
王P
2
3
G-1
OFFICE
*
WESTERN MARKET HOTEL
FATIEKER
STAREKEMER
A AND MARIETTA AVENUES, LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA.
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houses, engine and boiler room, in addition to the main building. The building was ereeted in 1892. at a cost of 895,000. Further improvements will be added to the amount of $30,000. When com- pleted the plant will cover an area of one and one- half acres. Employment is given to thirty men.
In politics Mr. Rieker is independent, and re- ligiously is a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. The only fraternity with which he is as- sociated is that of the Benevolent Order of Elks.
In 1868 Mr. Rieker married Cressentia Harmon. a native of Lancaster. and they have a pleasant home at No. 606 King Street. Mrs. Rieker is a daughter of John Harmon, and by her marriage has become the mother of six children: Frank .J .. who is a liquor dealer in Lancaster; Annie M .. wife of Robert Ramsgate. a diamond broker of New York City; Mary. Charles, Harry and Ralph, who are at home. The Western Market Hotel. Nos. 602 and 606 West King Street, is operated by Frank J. Rieker. The hostelry is a well and favorably known resort, the proprietor being a very popular young man.
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ILLIAM M'COMSEY has been more active in educational work than any man in Lancaster. having served on the School Board for thirty years, and on all the important committees of the same. Moreover, he has served in many public capacities on the Board of Health, as Jury Commissioner. City Auditor. and many others, also City Treasurer, and has held the offices of both councils. except Mayor (and that office he refused to fill), and was a mem- ber of six committees in the last year.
Our subject is of Scotch-Irish parentage, being a son of Mathias and Mary M. M'Comsey, his birth having occurred August 29. 1820. His paternal grandfather. Samuel, was also a native of this county, and followed his trade. that of a stone- mason, in addition to carrying on a farm. In
1790 he constructed a bridge, the embankments being of stone, at Conestoga, which is still in a good state of preservation. Has father was born in Scotland. and the family were early identified with the history of this vicinity.
Mathias M'Comsey was born in Manor Town- ship. this county. in 1787. and during the War of 1812 was for a short time in the service. Becom- ing the owner of land at Columbia, for which he paid 8400 an aere. he there started a distillery. which he successfully carried on until a financial depression set in. Hle died in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1833. In 1810 or 1811. he married Mary Vonderow, who was born in Virginia of German parentage, and was reared in this county. Left a widow. she kept her family together, five of these being sons and five daughters. Iler death occurred at the age of eighty-three years, on the anniversary of her birth, which event occurred in 1791. She was a faith- ful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. though she was reared in the faith of the Ger- man Reformed Church.
William M'Comsey, of this record. is one of four of his father's family now surviving, and his eldest brother. Samuel. now eighty years of age, also lives in Lancaster. When a mere child, his parents removed to what is now Providence Town- ship. and he remained on the farm until his sev- enteenth year. when he enme to Lancaster. and after a short time went to Philadelphia, arriving in the night, with only sufficient money to pay his lodging. He was without friends or influ- ence, but possessed a good constitution and was willing to do anything that presented itself by means of which he could obtain an honest liveli- hood. The next day he sought out samuel D. Orriek, the only person in the city that he knew. and on narrating his story, that gentleman ad- mired his pluck and gave him a few days' work in unloading ears, after which he secured him a po- sition on the railroad as a conductor. Mr. Orrick was in the commission business, and for a long time our subject remained with him, being in the transportation lie until 1850. At that time he became a member of the firm of Sener & Co .. of this city, which continued until 1877, when he
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withdrew. Afterward he became connected with the coal business of the late James Stewart, and was also interested in stone contracting. With that gentleman he continued until 1881, when he was elected City Treasurer, and after his term had expired he again returned to work for Mr. Stewart, finally retiring from active business.
It was in 1865 that Mr. M'Comsey was first elected to the City Council from the old North- west Ward, serving until its division into smaller wards threw him out of the position. Ile was again elected to the Council in the spring of 1890, and being thoroughly posted in the duties of the office is conscientious and trustworthy in the dis- charge of the same. In 1866 he became a mem- ber of the School Board, on which he has served up to the present time, and no member has car- ried through more measures for the improvement of the educational system than he. The city boasts the finest school edifices in the state of Pennsylvania, and in this transformation from the former dilapidated buildings he has been very much interested. About 1870 he was an active member of the Board of Trade, and was Chair- man of the Committee on General Affairs of the city. At one of the meetings he presented an im- portant report drawing attention to the necessity of opening up a number of streets to the city limits, and after wide discussion the law was passed, in 1873, which has materially added to the wealth and manufactories of the place. In 1880 he assisted in taking the census, was City Audi- tor until the office was abolished, and for three years was Jury Commissioner.
In 1860 our subject purchased the old home- stead, where he resided for three years, during which time he was an active member of the Lan- caster City Agricultural and Horticultural Society. As an active Democrat, he has been a member of county committees for years, and was Chairman of the City Committee for a long time. In 1892 the Street Committee of the City Council pre- sented him with a fine ebony gold-headed cane, and on many occasions when he was in health the various committees have met at his residence in order to have the benefit of his judgment. At the present time he is a member of the Select
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