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 63
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Council, being Chairman of the Finance, Streets and Water, and Special Water Committees, and a member of the Committees on Water Service and Police.
In 1844 our subject married Miss Mary, the daughter of Henry Dorwart, a tailor of Lancaster and of German descent. Ilis wife died in 1879, being in her fifty-ninth year. Five children graced the union of Mr. and Mrs. M'Comsey. Benjamin A. enlisted as a private when only seventeen years of age in the One Hundred and Twenty-second Infantry, and died at Berlin, Md., from exhaus- tion brought on by forced marches and exposure. Frank, who was in the employ of the Pennsyl- vania Railroad, died in Pittsburg. David D., form- erly engaged in the tobacco business, departed this life in Pittsburg, in 1882, at the age of twenty-six years. William H., whose home is with his father, is a man of forty-two years, being now engaged in the dry-goods business. Mary E., the only daughter and the eldest of the family, is the wife of John M. Conroy, who is engaged in the plate glass business in Alleghany City. The sub- stantial residence of our subject is at No. 43 West Chestnut Street, which has been his home since 1868, and besides this he owns property on Prince Street. Fraternally he is associated with Lodge No. 476, F. & A. M.
R. HENRY A. MOWERY is one of the representative citizens of Marietta, where he enjoys a large and Incrative practice. Ile is identified with the Lancaster City and Coun- ty Medical Societies and with the State and Ameri- can Medical Associations, besides Union Societies of Pennsylvania and Maryland. He is an ardent Re- publican and in the interests of education has served as School Director.
Dr. Mowery is a son of Adam and Susan (Zercher) Mowery. Ilis paternal grandfather, IIen- ry, was born in 1775 in Lampeter Township, and
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was of German ancestry. Ile never went to school, but after reaching manhood learned the rudiments of an education by his own efforts. He was a farmer, and during his last years owned and car- ried on a tract of land in Strasburg Township, on which place our subject was born. Grandfather Mowery was twice married, and by his first union had the following children: Baltzer, Susan. Ben- jamin, George, Anna, Mary and Ilenry. By his seeond wife, Anna, he had eight children. Martin, Philip, Samuel Daniel, Abraham, Adam, Jacob and Emanuel. The mother of these children died at the age of sixty-nine years as the result of an ac- cident, and her husband died when in his eighty- seventh year. He was a Republican and in relig- ion was a Lutheran.
Adam Mowery was born in West Lampeter Township near Strasburg and there received his elementary schooling. He was reared to agricul- tural duties and became the owner of a farm com- prising thirty aeres. For twelve years he has served as a School Director and is a Republican. At the present time he is a Trustee of the Stras- burg Methodist Episcopal Church, to which he belongs. Ile is the father of five children, as fol- lows: Henry A .; Anna, wife of II. G. Book, of Parksburg, Chester County, this state, and a con- veyancer of deeds; Amanda, Mrs. Lefever, of West Lampeter Township; Aldus J., a telegraph operator in Lancaster, and Adam C., whose home is in Iowa.
The Doctor, whose name heads this article, was born April 14, 1849, at Strasburg and in his boy- hood attended the district schools of that town- ship. Ilis higher studies were pursued in the Academy of Strasburg and in the Millersville State Normal School. Subsequently he taught school for eight terms in Strasburg and Lampeter Town- ship, and then for two years was a clerk in the First National Bank of Strasburg. In 1876 he took up the study of medicine under .lacob L. Mowery, a practicing physician of Manor Town- ship at this writing. This gentleman received his elementary training under the supervision of our subject, who induced him to study medicine, which advice he followed. Thus in turn he received tutelage in medieine under his former pupil. In 1881 our subject took up his medical practice at
Akron, this county, where he remained only a short time. In the fall of 1881 he came to Mari- etta, which has since been his field of work, and he has met with much encouragement and gratifying success in this place.
September 5. 1872. Dr. Mowery married Miss Bella Weaver, and they have become the parents of two children, J. Norris and Harold W. Mrs. Mowery is a daughter of Josiah G. Weaver, a plasterer and contractor and one of the representa- tive farmers of Adams County, Pa. Dr. Mowery is a member of the Presbyterian Church and fra- ternally is a Mason, belonging to Ashara Lodge No. 398 of Marietta.
P ROF. JOHN II. HALDEMAN, of Marietta, for over a quarter of a century has been prominent in educational affairs, having been connected with the Westfield ( Mass.) Nor- ma! School for about that length of time. He has also been a member of the American Institute of Instruction, for a number of years was President of the Hampton County Teachers' Association, and was President of the Alumni Association of West- field for three years. Ilis services have often been called upon in institute work, in which he has been particularly successful. In 1892 he assisted in or- ganizing the Marietta Gravity Water Company, to the Presidency of which he was at once elected, and is still acting in that capacity.
The Haldeman family have been residents of Lancaster County for two or three generations, and originated in Switzerland, as did also the Shisster family on the maternal side. Solomon Haldeman, our subject's father, was born at Locust Grove, Conoy Township. Ile was a miller by occupation. and a public spirited and very charitable man. In public schools and educational affairs he took great interest, and served as School Director for a num- ber of terms. In politics he was first a Whig and later a Republican, and at various times held local
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offices. Ile married Elizabeth Shissler, by whom he had six children; two died in infaney, and a daugh- ter, Elizabeth, has also passed away. Those living are Jolin II .; Levi, a member of the dry goods firm of Spanger, Haldeman & Co., and Mary, wife of II. C. Fahs, of Elizabethtown. Pa.
The birth of John HI. Haldeman occurred De- cember 23, 1835. in Conoy Township, this county. He was reared to manhood at Bainbridge, deriving his education from the public schools of Conoy Township, Millersville Normal and the State Nor- mal at Westfield, Mass. Prior to his graduation from the latter institution, he taught school for several terms and also learned the printer's trade at Lancaster, Pa., under Edward MePherson, who afterwards became Clerk in the House of Repre- sentatives. After finishing his studies at West- field he was offered the chair of mathematics in the same school and there remained for some time. Going to Montreal he next established a school for boys in connection with Fredric Ilaight, of that city. At the end of a year, however, he returned to his Alma Mater, Westfield Normal, being called to take charge of the School of Observation, with which he was connected for nearly twenty-five years. During this period he was foremost in the educational enterprises of the locality, and revised the "Language Lessons," published by D. C. Heath & Co. After his father-in-law's death he was made executor of his estate, this being in 1889, and for that reason he returned to Lancaster County. Much of his time for the past five years has been taken up with this work, and during the intervals of business he has perfected a number of inven- tions. Among others he has patented an automatic fire draft (for regulating the draft of a furnace or heating apparatus). which is on the market and finds ready sale. Ile is also the inventor of a self- locking bolt and nut, which is considered the finest thing of the kind ever construeted.
In November. 1876, Mr. Haldeman married Emma V. Collins. She is a daughter of Abram Collins, of Marietta, a well-to-do merchant and formerly for many years President of the First Na- tional Bank. Mrs. Haldeman is a graduate of St. Joseph's Academy at Emmetsburg, Md., and is a 1
Jady of rare culture and accomplishments. Mr.
and Mrs. Haldeman have one child, a son, Paul, who is pursuing his studies in the high school.
Politically Mr. Ilaldeman is a Republican, inter- ested in the success of his party. but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking. Ile is a member of the Masonic fraternity, being identi- fied with Mt. Moriah Lodge of Westfield, Mass. lle and his estimable wife are members of the Con- gregational Church and are active in all good works. In his early manhood Mr. Haldeman spent a year in Indiana and a similar length of time m Illinois, and during Morgan's raid his services were brought into requisition in helping to defend Indianapolis.
A BRAHAM R. MYERS. One of the suc- cessful business enterprises of Mountville is the mercantile establishment of which Mr. Myers is the owner and proprietor. Through the exercise of wise sagacity in all his dealings, as well as uniform courtesy and reliability, he has become well and favorably known among the peo- ple of this village and the surrounding country. Ile is a native of Lancaster County, and was born in Manor Township, June 18, 1850, being a son of Jacob and Anna ( Rohrer) Myers.
The family is of remote German ancestry. Our subject's great-grandfather, however, was a resi- dent of England, and came from that country to the United States shortly after the close of the Revolutionary War. Locating in the northern part of Virginia, he entered a large tract of land and devoted his attention to agriculture until his death. Ilis son, who likewise bore the name of George, left home at the age of sixteen and came to Lancaster County, where for a time he was em- ployed in a distillery. Afterward he became the owner of a large farm, situated in Manor Town- ship, and here he died at the age of forty-three years. Ilis family consisted of one son. Jacob, and three daughters, Elizabeth, Annie and Barbara, all
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of whom married. The grandmother married a second time, by that union becoming the mother of four children.
Throughout his entire life Jacob Myers was a resident of Lancaster County. to the welfare of which he was warmly devoted. His life work was that of farming, in which he engaged near Colum- bia in Manor Township. During the late war he assisted in filling the quota of men for the town- ship, and was a stalwart defender of the Union cause. In politics he was a Republican, and for nine years held the office of School Director, serv- ing in that capacity during the Rebellion. In re- ligious belief he was a Mennonite. At the time of his death he was a resident of Mountville.
The first union of Jacob Myers was with Miss Anna Rohrer, who was born in 1807, and died in ! 1855, at the age of forty-eight years. Six children were born of this union, three sons and three daughters: Daniel; Mrs. Elizabeth Shuman, of Sa- lunga; Mary, Jacob, Mrs. Anna Lehman, deceased, and Abraham R., of this sketch. After the death of our subject's mother, Jacob Myers was again married, choosing as his wife Miss Anna White, by whom he had two children. Harry and Mrs. Sarah Kauffman. The father died in 1889, at the age of seventy-eight years; his widow is still living.
In the public schools of Manor Township and the Millersville Normal School, the subject of this sketch gained a good education. He began teaching at the age of seventeen, and taught twelve terms in Manheim and Manor Townships, but finally re- tired from the profession in order to engage in the mercantile business. In 1884 he built the store that he now occupies in Mountville. In ad- dition to other interests, he is deeply engrossed in religious affairs, and gives his sympathy and active co-operation to all measures calculated to aid in the promulgation of the Gospel. In 1886 he inau- gurated a mission school, to which he gave consid- erable attention, assisting the enterprise financially and also officiating as minister. For two years he was President of the Sunday-school Association of southern Lancaster County. He is a graduate of the Chautauqua Bible Normal U'nion and United Brethren in Christ Bible Union, and recently com- pleted one year's theological reading course. Since
the organization of the Mt. Gretna Camp Meeting Association he has been a member of the Board of Directors. In the United Brethren Church he is an active worker, and is now serving on the Board of Trustees, and has officiated as its President.
In every project having for its object the pro- motion of the welfare of the people, Mr. Myers is interested. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Mountville Manufacturing Com- pany, and the present Secretary of the Board. Ile is also a Notary Public. In the National Building & Loan Association he is serving as Secretary and Treasurer of the Mountville office, the main office being in Bloomington. III. October 2, 1873, he was united in marriage with Miss Lizzie, daughter of Fred Stoner, of Manor Township. Their family consists of three children, Albert, Anna and Lizzie.
H ARRY S. KAUFFMAN is an enterprising business man of Lititz, where he is exten- sively engaged in the coal and Iumber trade. He is the son of Emanuel and Mary (Stauffer) Kauffman, and was born in the above place Novem- ber 16, 1861. The father of our subject was a native of East Hempfield Township, Lancaster County, his birth occurring september 12, 1833. In early life he was a well-to-do agriculturist, and from 1856 to 1865 followed the business of a butcher. He later, however, engaged in the coal and lumber trade, which he carried on until his decease, March 15, 1889. For a short time Emanuel Kauffman operated a brewery and was one of the prime mov- ers and directors of the first bank doing business in this place. Later he became a heavy stock- holder in the Lititz National Bank and was re- garded as one of the most enterprising and suc- cessful business men of his day.
The father of our subject started out in life a poor man, but at the time of his decease was one of the prominent men of Lititz. Ile was a strong Republican in politics and always took an active
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interest in educational affairs, serving acceptably as Director for many years. He was a prominent Mason and Odd Fellow and a consistent member of the Moravian Church.
In 1856 Emanuel Kauffman and Miss Mary, daughter of David Stauffer, were united in mar- riage. Their union resulted in the birth of three daughters and four sons, namely: Amanda, the wife of William Dellaven; Harvey, who died in infancy; Harry, our subject; Elmer, who is also deceased; Lottie, who departed this life in De- cember, 1886; Ehzabeth, the wife of W. HI. Appel, of Allentown, and Morris.
John II. Kauffman, the grandfather of our sub- ject, was a native of East Hempfield Township, this county, where he was engaged in farm pur- suits, owning a good estate comprising one hun- dred and twenty acres. He married a Miss Swarr, and to them were born six children, namely: Emanuel, father of our subject: Anna, Elizabeth, John, Jacob and Amos. lle is still living in East Petersburg, this state, at the age of eighty-six years. His wife died in 1874. The mother of our subject makes her home in Lititz, and is a de- voted member of the Moravian Church.
The Kauffmans are of Swiss extraction, the great- grandfather of our subject having emigrated from Switzerland and made location in East Hempfield Township.
The original of this sketeh attended first the public school of his native place and completed his education in the Lititz Academy. He then en- tered his father's eoal and lumber office, the for- mer having as his partner a Mr. Beekler. That gentleman retired from the firm in 1885 and Eman- uel Kauffman then took his son, Harry, into busi- ness with him, the style being then changed to Kauffman & Son. They did a large and paying business, their sales amounting to $40,000 anni- ally. On the death of his father Harry S. suc- ceeded to the business, which he is managing in a most profitable manner, and has the largest pat- ronage in his line of any firm in the city. Mr. Kauffman, following the footsteps of his honored father, has aided in many ways the upbuilding of Lititz, and was one of the six business men to commence the building of the electric light and
power plant, and is serving at the present time as Treasurer of the company.
In social affairs Mr. Kauffman is a prominent Odd Fellow, belonging to Lititz Lodge No. 1050, I. O. O. F., of which he is Past Grand. He is also Past Chief of Garfield Castle No. 76, of the Gold- en Eagle, and a member of Manheim Lodge No. 587, F. & A. M. He is an ardent Republican in polities, on which ticket he was elected a member of the School Board.
August 21, 1884, Harry Kauffman and Miss Laura, daughter of Augustus Enck, of this city, were united in marriage. To them have been born three children, namely: Howard, Lottie and Lloyd.
I EORGE B. OWEN, who makes his home in the village of Bareville, is the son of Benjamin and Eliza (Bender) Owen, and was born in Upper Leacock Township, this county, October 31, 1834. The family is of Welsh origin, the great-great-grandfather, Richard Owen, hav- ing emigrated to this country from the north of Wales about the time William Penn came to the United States, Ile at onee located in Lancaster County, taking up a large tract of land which is now the site of Monterey. Hle came hither with a colony of Quakers, and the great-grandfather also belonged to the Society of Friends. During the later years of his life he moved to Delaware County, this state, where his decease oceurred when advanced in years. He became the father of two sons: Jonathan, the grandfather of our subject. and Benjamin.
Jona than Owenmarried Mary Bonsell, a resident of Delaware County, where they were engaged in farm pursuits and spent their entire life. Their union resulted in the birth of five children. Eliz- abeth married Ralph Davis, of the above county; Benjamin is the father of our subject; William makes his home in Delaware County; Jonathan, who also is a resident of that place, married Eliza-
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beth Palmer, and Mary became the wife of Levi Garrett. The entire family were active members of the Society of Friends, and were all born in Delaware County.
Benjamin Owen was born October 31, 1793, and after being given a fair education, learned the trade of a wheelwright. On the death of his father he, in 1823, fell heir to a portion of the old home- stead in Lancaster County, hus share amounting to ninety-six acres, lying in Upper Leacock Town- ship. He thereafter followed farm pursuits, in which occupation he was more than ordinarily suc- cessful. Ile was one of the organizers of the Lan- caster County Bank, and was also Director of the institution for nearly a quarter of a century. In politics he was an old-line Whig and was an anti- Mason man. lle was the recipient of many offices of honor and trust in his community, in whose wel- fare he was greatly interested. Like his ancestors, Benjamin Owen was connected with the Quaker Church.
The parents of our subject were married in 1832, the mother being the daughter of George Bender, a farmer of this county. To them were born two children: Mary, who died December 14, 1893, aged fifty-six years, and our subject. The husband and father departed this life August 6, 1880, greatly mourned by all who knew him. His wife was born January 12, 1812, and died October 14, 1877. She was a member of the German Reformed Church and was greatly respected and esteemed in her neighborhood.
The original of this sketch grew up on the old home farm and was given a good education, first in the district school and later in the New London Academy, Chester County. After completing his studies in that institution he returned to the home- stead and was engaged in its cultivation until 1880, when he removed to Bareville, where he owns thirty and one-half acres of land and has a beautiful home. He is still the owner of the es- tate of his father, however, and derives a good in- come from its rental.
Mr. Owen has been Assistant Assessor of Inter- nal Revenue for the Ninth Congressional District of Pennsylvania, and has held the various otlices within the gift of his fellow-townsmen to bestow.
Socially he is connected with Lancaster Lodge No. 43, F. & A. M., belongs to Goodwin Council No. 19, also to Lancaster Royal Arch Chapter No. 43, and Lancaster Commandery No. 13, Knights Tem- plar. In political matters he is an ardent admirer of Republican principles and interested in the suc- cess of that party.
RR OBERT M. BOLENIUS, A. M., M. D., is the County Coroner's physician, is very prom- inent, and stands high in the opinion of his professional brethren. He has been engaged in practice in Lancaster for over twenty years, and has been very successful in his undertaking. The Doctor is highly educated in general and is a stu- dent and scholar of great depth.
The birth of our subject occurred in Lancaster May 14, 1847, and his boyhood days were passed here, his time being mainly spent in the acquire- ment of his education. lle was of German descent, his father, Adolphus W .. having been born in Westphalia, Germany, at the village of Bielefeldt. His father in turn, Fred II. Bolenius, was born in the same province, and was a merchant. The Doctor's father learned the shoemaker's trade, but after coming to America engaged in merchandising in New York City for a time, thence proceeded to Philadelphia, where his business location was on Fourth Street, and while he was a resident of that city he became a major in the State Militia. About 1844 he opened a shoe manufacturing establish- ment in Lancaster, his factory being situated on South Queen Street, and there sewing machines in the manufacture of shoes were first used. The products of the institution were sold in this part of the state, and the business year by year in- creased in its proportions. April 26, 1861, the father raised a company to serve three months, the men being enlisted as Company K, of the Tenth Pennsylvania Infantry, and Mr. Boletins was made Captain. Returning he re-enlisted for three years'
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service, being made Captain of Company F, Fif" tieth Regiment. and served as such until 1862. Hle took part in the second battle of Bull Run, in which his regiment was badly eut up and he him- self received a wound in the right arm, which member had to be amputated at the shoulder. Hle returned home on a visit and then went to Europe. For a year after coming back to the United States he served as Provost-Marshal of the Ninth Dis- triet. In 1864, his patriotism still undaunted, he re-enlisted in the Veteran Reserve Corps, of which he was made Major. Going west he had control and was disbursing officer and Inspector General of Ohio companies until the fall of 1865. He was next sent to Baltimore, where he became an officer in the Freedman's Bureau, and later was made Weighmaster and Assistant Department Collector in the Custom House. His long and valuable ser- vice in army and public life entitled him to the highest praise, for he was not even a native of the land for which he fought and worked so bravely, and besides he was over the age when he entered the service. In the Fatherland he was a Lieuten- ant in a regiment of his native town, belonging to the Fifteenth Army Corps. After the formation of the Republican party he became one of its most ardent supporters, and was a member of a Grand Army Post in Baltimore, of which he was brevetted Colonel. Ifis last days were spent in Lancaster, where his death occurred in 1881, at the age of seventy-six years. In religious belief he was a Lutheran, as in that faith he had been reared. Ilis wife, formerly Emma Miller, was born in Lampe- ter Township, this county, her father, David Miller, having been a broker and real-estate dealer in this place many years ago and until his death in 1858. For three years he was Sheriff of Lancaster Coun- ty, having been elected on an independent ticket. Ilis father, like himself, was a native of the county and was a soldier in the War of 1812, and of Ger- man descent. Mrs. Emma Bolenius died in August, 1876, at the age of sixty-two years. and of her children only two lived to maturity, Frederick I1., a merchant in Baltimore; and Robert M
U'ntil thirteen years old our subject attended the grammar schools of this place and then entered the high school, where he remained until 1862.
When his father went to Germany during the war, he went with him, going by the way of New York and Hamburg, on the steamer "Borrussia," a twen- ty-two days' voyage. With his maternal grand- mother he remained at Bielefeldt, while he pursued the study of German and the classics in the gym- nasium. In 1865 he was graduated from that in- stitution, being then eighteen years old. In Octo- ber, 1865, he left Bremen for New York City, after having traveled over several German provinces, and also in Italy and Switzerland. Ilis father at this time was in Ohio, and he therefore proceeded to Columbus, where he remained with him until 1866. In January of that year, he entered the Academical Department of Dartmouth College, which he left in 1867 to take another journey through Europe. On that trip he visited the Paris Exposition, and later came back to the old home- stead. At the end of three months the young trav- eler returned to Dartmouth, from which he was graduated in 1870 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and from which he later received the further degree of Master of Arts.
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