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 69
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The marriage of our subject was solemnized May 20, 1866, when he married Ann Elizabeth, daugh- ter of the late Samuel Hollingsworth, a furniture manufacturer of New Holland. Mrs. Ranck was a grand-daughter of the late Abraham De Haven. Five children were born of this union : a daughter, who died at birth; Ivan L., who is in the printing office of his father; Anna M .; Bertha V., who is now deceased, and Lizzie E. Mr. Ranck is a mem- ber of Earl Lodge No. 413, I. O. O. F., of which he is
Past Grand, and is Past President of Camp No. 40, P. O. S. of A. In church and Sunday-school work he has always been very active, being connected with Trinity Lutheran Church of New Holland as an Elder, and is Treasurer and also a teacher of the Sunday-school.
M ICHIAEL W. HURST, M. D., of West Earl Township, has an extensive and success- ful practice in this locality, and his ad- vice is often called for by his brother physicians of the community, for he has had practical ex- perience, covering a period of over three decades. He is a successful practitioner and a good business man, who by the exercise of his persevering and enterprising qualities and his sagacious business investment has succeeded in acquiring a snug for- tune. Ile is a son of John and Catherine (Wit- wer) Hurst, and was born in Caernarvon Township, of this county, September 27, 1835.
The Hursts are of German origin, individuals of the name having located in this county about 1720. They are devoted to agricultural pursuits and in religion were Mennonites. John Hurst, the great-grandfather of the Doctor, was a farmer in Groff's Valley, and in his family were four sons and three daughters: Christian; John, a farmer of Salisbury Township; Amos, who taught school near Ephrata, and was also a farmer, and David, the grandfather of our subject. David Hurst was born in Groff's Valley in 1770, and became a farmer in Caernarvon Township, where he owned two hun- dred acres. IIc was a man of good financial ability and acquired a substantial fortune. Ile was twice married, his first wife having been Maria Weaver, by whom he had the following children: Henry, who removed to Franklin County in 1834; Joseph, whoalso became a resident of that county; John, a farmer; David, who went to Canada and there passed the remainder of his life on a farm; Bar- bara, who became the wife of Jacob Neuswanger;
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Maria, wife of Abraham Martin; Elizabeth, wife of John Martin, now hving in Ohio; Mrs. Joseph Weaver, and Susannah, who married George Rutt. For his second wife, Mr. Ilurst married Mrs. Sus- annah (Stauffer) Bowman, but they had no chil- dren. David Hurst departed this life in May, 1845, and was survived several years by his wife.
John Hurst, the father of our subject, was known as "Big John" on account of his great muscular powers and large frame. Ile was born in Caernarvon Township, in October, 1799, and re- ceived meager educational advantages. In the management of his farm in the same township, he was reasonably successful and was a prominent member of the Mennonite Church. In politics he was first a Whig and later a Republican. In 1819 he married Catherine, a daughter of Daniel Wit- wer, a Mennonite minister of Earl Township, and of this umon were born nine sons. Daniel died in infancy; Isaac is a farmer of Caernarvon Township; David is in Winsiow, Apache County, Ariz., where in partnership with his brother. our subject, he owns a large ranch; Amos, now deceased, was a school teacher for many years; John died on his farm in East Earl Township; Benjamin is deceased; Samuel carried on a farm in Manheim Township; Michael W. is the next in order of birth, and Martin, who was in the service during the late war in Company K, Seventy-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, died in 1864. At Chickamauga he was taken prisoner by the Confederates, being sent to Ft. Anderson, where he was imprisonsd for nearly a year.
Dr. Michael W. received his common school education near his home and then entered the acad- emy at Marietta, in which he was taught by Dr. Wickersham. Subsequently he attended the Mill- ersville State Normal, after which he engaged in teaching for five years. In 1858 he took up the study of medicine with Dr. Isaae 1). Winters, of Goodville, and in the fall of 1859 entered the medieal department of the University of Pennsyl- vania, from which he graduated three years later. For the next two and a-half years he practiced with his preceptor, and then located here, where he has since been engaged in professional duties. Ile is a member of the Laneaster City and County Medi- cal Societies, being President of the latter in 1893,
and is also associated with the State Medical So- ciety. In addition to his practice, which is very remunerative and extensive, he has large interests in the cattle business with his brother David in Arizona. On their ranch they have from ten thousand to twelve thousand head of cattle, and the brother gives his entire time to the supervision of the same. The Doetor is a member of the Evangelical Association, being a Trustee of the Ebenezer congregation at Brownston. An active Republican, he was sent as a delegate to the State Convention which nominated Governor lloyt, and has also been sent in a similar capacity to the meet- ings of the State Medical Society.
September 15, 1862, Dr. Hurst married Harriet, daughter of John Overholser, a farmer of East Earl Township. Ten children have graced this mar- riage. Margaret K. is the wife of Rev. J. D. Woodring, of Allentown; Minnie C. is at home; Anna V. became the wife of Rev. W. H. Hartzler, an Evangelical minister of the Lebanon; John is on the cattle ranch in Arizona; Ira W. and Willis W. died in childhood; Hattie, Spencer W. and Edna P. are with their parents, and one died in infancy.
A BRAM KLINE, one of the largest hard- ware and lumber merchants in Laneaster County, has his stores and yards located in Manheim, it being a trade center of some im- portance, and is not lacking in business enterprises. Mr. Kline established himself in the hardware business about twenty years ago, and at present occupies a large buikling 22x100 feet, with four additional rooms and two warehouses. In these rooms a heavy stock is carried of all kinds of hard- ware, and the proprietor supplies a trade covering a considerable radius which is very thickly settled.
In addition to his hardware business Mr. Kline is one of the most extensive lumber dealers in this section, having shedding and storage capacity for five hundred thousand feet, in which is found all
J. S. KREITER, M. D.
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kinds of lumber. He is also engaged in the man- ufacture of a superior curry comb of his own pat- ent, which is the most popular on the market on account of its being entirely harmless and the most expeditious cleaner in nse.
Our subject was born in East Hempfield Town- ship, this county, June 17, 1828, and is a son of Ja- cob and Susan (Heistand) Kline, of German de- scent. The father was also born in the above township, where he spent his early life, first en- gaged as a stone merchant and later as a farmer. HIe died while residing in Schoeneck, this county. He was well-to-do in this world's goods and was a devoted member of the Mennonite Church.
The maternal grandfather of our subject, John Heistand, was a large landowner near Landisville, where he was one of the first distillers in the county. He reared a large family, of whom the mother of our subject was the third in order of birth.
The original of this sketch remained on the old homestead until about fifteen years of age, dur- ing which time he attended school. He then served a three years' apprenticeship to a cabinet-maker, after which he went to Philadelphia and completed his knowledge of the business. Returning at the expiration of that time to this county he worked at his trade until embarking in the mercantile bus- iness, to which he later added his extensive Ium- ber business. In 1851 or 1852 he returned to Manheim, where he was one of the most promi- nent business men for four years, when he sold out and went to Philadelphia, where he was a resident for over fifteen years and carried on an extensive business as a member of the firm of Stein, Wan- ner & Co., importers and jobbers of china, glass and queensware. While in Philadelphia he served four years as a member of the City Council, and was one of the original members of the Centennial Committee.
Mr. Kline ranks to-day with the leading and en- terprising citizens of Lancaster County, is one of its most active. capable and successful business men, and in commercial and financial circles is re- eognized as a gentleman of the strictest integrity and unquestionable stability. He is ably assisted in his extensive business enterprises by his son,
Charles A., and his son-in-law, II. H. Ginrich, most active and capable young business men, who take charge of the different branches and assist in making the business a success. Mr. Kline was one of the incorporators and first President of the Manheim Water Company and the Fairview Cem- etery Association, also of the building and loan association. While holding the office of Burgess of Manheim he was largely instrumental in having the streets macadamized and in carrying out other improvements. Ile is an active Republican in politics and has always taken a leading part in those measures which would tend toward the up- building of his community. He has been Elder of the Reformed Church for many years and is an earnest worker in the Sunday-school.
Abram Kline was married in 1852 to Miss Caro- line E., daughter of Philip Arndt, of Manheim. The three children born to their union are Mary E., wife of Il. H. Ginrich, Ida A. and Charles A.
OHN S. KREITER, M. D., a popular and very successful general practitioner of Akron, is a native of Warwick Township, Lancas- ter County, and a descendant of German an- cestors. Ilis great-great-grandfather was a native of Germany, and emigrated to the United States in an early day, settling in Pennsylvania. Our subject, his father, grandfather and great-grand- father were natives of Lancaster County and were reared on the same farm. Solomon Kreiter mar- ried Miss Maria Grossman, who was a daughter of Jacob Grossman, a farmer of the same county, and to them were born eight children, namely: Jaeob C., a farmer of Warwick Township; Cath- erine, who died in infancy; John S., our subject; James E., deceased; David II. and Henry D. (twins); Martha, the wife of Levi II. Wissler, and Solomon G., who died in infancy.
In boyhood our subject worked on the farm, as- sisting his father in the various duties of that occu- pation, and attending the public schools of his vicinity. When a young man he was a student in the Lititz Academy, and for several terms con- ducted his studies at the Millersville Normal,
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after which he taught one term of school. He also attended the Indiana (Pa.) State Normal and is a graduate of the Eastman Business College at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. In 1879 he began reading medicine under Dr. James C. Brobst, and the prac- tical knowledge gained there has been of great benefit to him in his practice. Dr. Kreiter is also a graduate of the Bellevue Ilospital Medical Col- lege of New York City. He opened an office and commenced the practice of his profession, first in Lititz, where he remained only a few months. Af- ter leaving that place he came to Akron, where he permanently located and soon built up a practice and reputation of which he may well be proud. Being thoroughly adapted to his profession by natural gifts and education, he has become eminent as a physician and surgeon and devotes himself with enthusiasm to his chosen occupation. He has a large and extensive practice throughout the county and is esteemed and honored by all who know him.
Dr. Kreiter was united in marriage with Miss Carrie L. Zentmyer, and to them have been born four children, two sons and two daughters, name- ly: Irene A .; John E., who died when an infant; Robert E. and Maude V. The Doctor is a mem- ber of the Lutheran Church, while Mrs. Kreiter holds membership in the Moravian Church of Lititz. The family oceupy a high position in the social circles of the village of Akron. Politically the Doctor is a stanch Republican and an ardent sup- porter of the principles of that party. Socially he is a member of the Lancaster City and County Medical Societies. Ile is one of the popular eiti- zens of the county and is a physician of great skill and ability, as is attested by his large and ever in- creasing practice,
·H ON. WINFIELD S. SMITHI is one of the most prominent and worthy citizens of Lancaster County, his home being in Bainbridge. In 1886 he was elected on the Repub- liean tieket to the Lower House of the Pennsylvania Legislature and was re-elected two years later. In
1890 his many friends and constituents elected him to the Senate, and in both important positions he has made a fine record. The first year of his term he served as Secretary of the Appropriation Commit- tee, to which office there attaches no salary, but so well did he fulfill his duties that during the sec- ond year he was tendered the Chairmanship of said committee, which is the most important of the Senate Committees. Ilowever, he retired in favor of George Ilandy Smith and became Secretary of the committee, though virtually discharging the more important duties of Chairman, owing to the illness of that gentleman. While in the House he served on the Ways and Means Committee and many others more or less important. For the past seventeen years he has served nninterruptedly as County Committeeman and even before arriving at his majority was an active worker in the Republi- can cause.
Daniel Smith, the great-grandfather of our sub- jeet, was of German descent and a resident of what is now Conoy Township, this county, and for years was Collector of Taxes for Lancaster County. The next in the line of descent, John Smith, was born in Conoy Township, learned the cabinet-makers' trade in early life and later engaged in farming. HIe owned one hundred and twenty acres in Conoy Township near Bainbridge and was a successful ag- rieulturist. Like his father he was a Whig in poli- ties and religiously was a Lutheran. Ilis children were Jacob, who is still living, though about nine- ty years old; John, Jr., who is some eighty-eight years of age; Frederick, deceased; George, Joseph, Adam; Benjamin and Daniel, deceased; Elizabeth Shank; Susan Brenner and Catherine Derr, de- ceased.
Frederiek. the father of W. S. Smith, was born August 15, 1815, on the old homestead in Conoy Township, and received a limited education. He beeame a foreman of the Old State Railroad, and continued in the capacity of foreman until 1862. when the road was purchased by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. The following year he was elected Sheriff of Lancaster County on the Repub- liean ticket and served for one term. He then retired from active life, and resided at Bainbridge at the time of his death, which occurred October
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30. 1884. lle was a great partisan and interested in the success of the old Know-Nothing party. His first wife, Elizabeth Brown, was born March 8, 1818, and died May 22, 1859, aged forty-one years. They were the parents of the following children : Lovina ITipple; Thaddeus Stevens, who died in infancy; Winfield S .; Jacob F., who died at the age of five years; George A. and Annie E. Flowers. After the death of his first wife, Fred- erick Smith married Miss Mary Bauchman, by whom he had four children: Frederick B., Abe Lincoln; Emma and Lillie. The mother of these children died in the spring of 1894.
Hon. Mr. Smith was born in Bainbridge on the 22d of November, 1847. He received very meager educational advantages, as he left school when thir- teen years old and entered a store in 1862 as a clerk with J. A. Graff & Co., of this place. With that firm he remained for two years, when, his father as- suming the duties of Sheriff and removing to Lan- caster, he became his assistant. For two years af- terwards he clerked for Lewis S. Hartman in his store. In 1866 he took charge of the freight and ticket office of the Pennsylvania Railroad at Bain- bridge and was also made agent for the Adams Express Company, which position he has held ever since, a period of twenty-eight years. During this time he also managed his father's mercantile busi- ness, until 1872, when he took the entire charge as proprietor and thus continued for six years. In 1878 he purchased the site and built a handsome, large business place and residence combined. Here he has condneted a general mercantile trade and has succeeded to a remarkable degree. One of the organizers of the Elizabethtown National Bank, he has ever since been one of its directors. Mr. Smith owns considerable real estate both in Bainbridge and in farm land. One place comprises two hun- dred and fifty acres, is well improved and specially adapted for fruit. It is located in Conoy Town- ship, two and a-half miles from Bainbridge, and a goodly sum is realized from it every year.
October 5, 1870, Mr. Smith married Melissa, daughter of John Meyers, of this village. To them have been born two children: 1. Scott, who is a part- ner with his father in the mercantile business, and Carrie M. Mr. Smith is a member of the Method-
ist Episcopal Church, in which he is a Trustee. Socially he is identified with Ashara Lodge No. 398, F. & A. M., of Marietta; Cyrene Commandery No. 34, K. T .; Bainbridge Lodge No. 627, I. O. O. F. and Bainbridge Lodge No. 231, Sr. O. U. A. M.
I SAAC N. LIGHTNER, M. D., is one of the prominent physicians and surgeons of Eph- rata, where he has been engaged in success- ful practice since 1875. Ile is the son of Hon. James G. and Catherine (Flickinger) Lightner, and was born JJune 24, 1849, in Shirleysburg, Huntingdon County, this state.
Grandfather Augustus Lightner was a native of Intercourse, Lancaster County. Ile served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and in his political re- lations was an ardent Democrat. His occupation was that of a farmer and so successful was he in this calling that he accumulated a handsome for- tune and was regarded as one of the wealthy and public spirited citizens of the county. He married Miss Elizabeth Gundaker and to them were born three sons and one daughter, namely: Ilerman, John, Augustus and Elizabeth. The grandfather died in this county when advanced in years. James G. Lightner was also a native of this state and was the recipient of a splendid education gained while in attendance at the Green Castle College, in Franklin County. He was graduated with honors from that institution and was conversant with seven languages: English, German, French, Latin, Greek, Ilebrew and Spanish. Ile afterward stud- ied medicine and was graduated from the Balti- more Medical College in Baltimore, Md., and at once located for practice in Huntingdon County, this state. This was in Shirleysburg, and later Dr. Lightner removed to Mt. Union. After carrying on a good practice in that place for a time he next removed to Churchtown, this county. Here he built up a good patronage, and when selling out to Dr. MeCaa, of Churchtown, took up his abode in
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Allenville, Mifflin County, where he was residing at the time of his decease. He was a very skillful physician and stood high among his professional brethren. In polities Dr. James G. Lightner was a Democrat, on which ticket he was twice elected to the state legislature. and during his term of of- fice rendered his constituents valuable service. Ile was very liberal of his wealth toward estab- lishing and supporting worthy causes and it was due to his generosity that the IIuntingdon County Poor Farm was built. Dr. Lightner was also School Director for many years and did much toward raising the standard of education in his community.
The father of our subject was a shrewd business man and during his active life was engaged at one time in the manufacture of brick, and gave his personal supervision to the carrying on of an ex- tensive mercantile business. Ile speculated in real estate and was the owner of two valuable farms in Shirley Township, Huntingdon County. Ile was a man of many pleasant social qualities and was well liked by the entire community. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, with which he was connected for thirty years. Socially he was a prominent Mason, belonging to Lancaster Lodge No. 43.
Dr. James G. Lightner was first married to Miss Elizabeth Cromwell and to them were born two children, Henderson and Jennie. Mrs. Lightner died and the Doctor later married Miss Flickinger, by whom he became the father of the following three children: Elizabeth, Keziah and our subject. The father departed this life in 1878, when seventy- eight years of age.
The original of this sketch was graduated from the Shirleysburg schools in 1860, after which for seven years be read medicine in his father's office. Later he entered the Cincinnati College of Medi- cine and Surgery, of Cincinnati, Ohio, from which he was graduated with the Class of '73, and at once located for practice in Allenville. A year later we find him residing in Oregon, this county, where he remained for two years, and in 1875 eame to Ephrata, where he has an extensive practice and ranks among the very best physicians in Lancaster County. He is connected with the Lancaster Coun- ty Medical Society and also with the State Medical
Society. In social affairs the Doctor is a Mason of high standing. holding membership with Chandler Lodge No. 227; also with Reading Commandery, No. 42, K. T., Ragga Temple, Mystic Shrine. Ile also belongs to Clay Lodge No. 915, I. O. O. F., in which order he takes an active interest. Ile is a member in good standing of the Lutheran Church, in which denomination he has been Deacon.
In 1873 Dr. I. W. Lightner and Miss Emma, daughter of John H. Landis, were united in mar- riage. The two children born of their union are James N. and Ruth E. In politics the Doctor is an ardent supporter of Republican principles and has served as a member of the School Board in Ephrata.
APT. DANIEL H. HERR, mechanical en- gineer and patent solicitor, whose office is at Nos. 6 and 7 Lancaster Trust Company Building, is a veteran of the late war and one of the pioneers of Lancaster County. The Captain is a man of wide reading and intelligence who has had conferred upon him the degrees of Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts from the Millersville Normal.
The paternal grandfather of D. H. Herr was Christian Herr, commonly known as Black Christ IFerr in those days, and he died while still a young man. Ilis father, Emanuel, was a farmer on the Conestoga River and traced his ancestry back to one Hans Herr, who came from the vicinity of Basel, Switzerland. Still more remote it is known that certain of the family were lords of the prov- inces in that land, and in time were much perse- euted on account of being Protestants, and for that reason set sail for America. One of these rich ancestors materially helped the persecuted Ilans Herr to come to a place of refuge and he became head of the colonization scheme. In 1709
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one of his sons. a preacher, came over with a com- mittee sent by the community of Mennonites which took up ten thousand acres of land, this being di- vided into tracts of five hundred and fifty aere farms. Any person who added £35 to the general fund received such a traet. Of the five sons of Hans Herr three brought their families with them, one settling in Laneaster Township, another at New Danville, and a third at Big Springs. Ifans Herr made his home at the latter place and was head of this colony, with which he came in 1810. Our subject's grandfather married Catherine, only daughter of John Kauffman.
Daniel Herr, Sr., was born on the old homestead, where Ben Eshbach now lives. On arriving at man- hood he married Susan M. Hornberger, who was born in the homestead on the Columbia Turnpike near the site of the old red tavern kept by her fa- ther. The latter's given name was Stephen and he was also born at the same place, being of German descent. His wife was a descendant of Henry Gross, one of the pioneers of Lancaster; he came from Wurtemberg, was a wealthy property owner here and was prominent in the Lutheran Church. Mrs. Susan Herr, who was born in 1812, died in 1875, aged sixty-three years. The father of our sub- ject was for years engaged in farming on the Conestego Creek, afterwards selling the old farm, and later removing to Manheim Township, when he retired, making his home in Eden until his death in 1852, he being then forty-three years of age. Aetive in whatever pertained to the good of the community, schools, etc., he was a faithful and zealous worker in the Mennonite Church.
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