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 72
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June 23, 1872, Mr. Wise married Margaret Kroft, of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, whose father, Philip, also a native of that province, came to America in 1853, and was one of the pioneer shoemakers in Lancaster. Ile is still living in this city and is yet active in the Lutheran Church, to which he has belonged for many years. Ilis wife, whose maiden name was Anna L. Fritz, was born in Ilesse-Darmstadt, and died when in her fifty-eighth year. Mrs. Wise is the oldest of six children, only four of whom are yet living.
On several occasions John V. Wise has attended the Democratic State Convention, and in 1882 was elected as a Select Councilman from the Eighth Ward. Since that time he has been re-elected every two years and has served on the principal committees. In 1892 he was elected President of the Select Council, and was re-elected the follow- ing year. During this time the new water works
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and pumping station on Conestoga Creek was fourteen lie was apprenticed to learn the cabinet- erected, the electric railroad and electric lights . maker's trade under his Grandfather Wassmer. At works built and street grading and other improve- ments were inaugurated. Socially Mr. Wise is a Knight of Pythias and a member of the Maenner- chor organization. In religion he is a member of the Reformed German Church.
A NTHONY ISKE, who is sometimes termed the Edison of Lancaster, is a man of de- cided mechanical and inventive genius, and with his son Albert has invented and perfected over two hundred useful articles. He is a man of good business ability and bears a high reputation among his fellow-townsmen for honesty of pur- pose and straightforward conduct in everything he undertakes. The Iske family, several genera- tions ago, lived in Poland, and at the time of the Revolution in that unfortunate country, our sub- jeet's grandfather went to France. Ile was a painter and decorator by occupation.
Joseph Iske, the father of our subject, was born in Alsace, France, and on attaining manhood de- voted his life to mechanics, being a machinist of ability. He was a Catholic in religion, dying in the faith of that church about 1833. Ilis wife, Mary, was a daughter of Antoine Wassmer, who followed the trade of cabinet-making and lived to the advanced age of ninety-eight years. Mrs. Iske, who was, like her father, a native of Alsace, lived to become eighty-two years of age, and her mother also died in very old age, being in her ninety- sixth year at the time of her demise. Three broth- ers and three sisters of our subject grew to mature years and are still living, but only two of the number have come to America. Jolm is a cab- inet-maker in Hamilton County, Ohio.
Our subject was born in Dambach, Alsace, France, April 28. 1832, and in that city acquired a good French and German education, being for a year a student in the high school. When a youth of
the end of four years he assumed charge of the business, which he conducted for a couple of years. The work put out by this firm was of a very fine quality, comprising skilled carving. gilding and in- laying, and one of their specialties was the manufac- ture of altars. In 1853 Mr. Iske received a letter from a priest in Lancaster advising him to come to America, as a church was being constructed and a skilled workman would be required to do the fine carving and decorating in the interior. Act- ing on thus suggestion Mr. Iske set sail for the United States from Havre and arrived in New York after forty-five days on the high seas. The lady who afterward became his wife was on the same ship and they landed in the great metropolis on the cele- bration of the birthday of the land that was hence- forth to be theirs by adoption. It happened that our subject did not go to Lancaster, N. Y., but instead came to Lancaster, Pa., and as St. Joseph's Church was being constructed here, he obtained plenty of employment for nearly two years. He constructed three altars and a pulpit, plentifully decorated with carving and gilding. For five years Mr. Iske con- tinued in this particular branch of work and built an altar pulpit twenty-five feet high for St. Au- gust's Church of Pittsburg, which he duly deliv- ered, and also made one for a church at Columbia. For some time he was engaged in running a fur- niture and cabinet-maker's establishment on High Street, but for many years his attention has been entirely given to his inventions.
The first step of the subject of this sketch in this direction was a patent on extension steps for for- tifications, but this invention was stolen from him by English parties. Before the war he experi- mented with electric lights, but received no en- couragement in this direction and finally gave up the idea. The fire ladder extensible was often used during the war for signals and he was the original patentee of the cigar press, and twenty-seven years ago took out the first patent on a meat cutter which has ever since been in use. Ile was the orig- inator of the coal wagon for dumping coal, which has met with a great sale, and among others on which he has received patents, we mention the fol-
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lowing: velocípedes, extension gates, extension tables, water motor, fire alarm, reversible window- sash, the Albert push and pull electric bell, ink stands, etc. It will thus be seen that huis attention has not been confined to any particular branch of invention. but that he has explored many fields and has not been confined to one narrow groove.
In Lancaster Mr. Iske was married in August, 1853, to Felicity Rulman, a native of Dambach, Alsace, who was reared in Paris. Their children are: Albert, Emma and Laura, Mrs. Fritch, who died when only twenty-three years old.
The residence and shop of our subject were built by him and located on the corner of Strawberry and LaFayette Streets. For two terms he was a member of the Town Council, serving on different committees, and before the war, was for one term a member of the Select Council. As a School Di- rector he also served for one term and is an active member of the Democracy. For eight years he was President of the Schiller Society and helped to or- ganize the Fulton Society, to which he still belongs, and of which he was for a period of seven years President. For a long time, until he resigned, our subject served as President of the Lancaster Bene- ficial Society. Ile is a member of the choir and congregation of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. At various times he has contributed interesting papers on scientific and other subjects and has written poems for various periodicals.
6 ILLIAM G. BINKLEY, M. D. The city of Lancaster is not without her share of members of the learned pro- fessions who are a credit to the pursuits they have chosen and to the town itself. Among those who have taken up the calling of medical prac- titioners is Dr. Binkley, who devotes himself as- siduously to his practice and the scientific investi- gation which will enhance his professional knowl- edge and skill. He is well established in reputa-
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tion as a physician and recognized as among the able practitioners of the county.
Our subject was born near Lampeter, this coun- ty, March 4, 1811, and is the son of John Binkley, a native of East Lampeter Township. Ils grand- father, who bore the name of Felix Binkley, was also a native of this county and of German de- seent. Ile was a farmer by occupation and a de- voted member of the Baptist Church. The father of our subject was a merchant on the old Phila- delphia road, and there lived until his decease, in March, 1894, when eighty-three years of age. lle was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which body he was Class leader for five years. Ile was married to Miss Isabella, daughter of Isaac Martin, a farmer of this county. Mrs. Binkley was born in East Lampeter Township, and her great-grandfather served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Ile was of Scotch-Irish de- scent and an early settler of the above township. The mother of our subject departed this life when in her eightieth year.
The parental family numbered six children, all of whom grew to mature years with one exception. William G, was the third eldest. Ilis brother John during the late war served in the One Hun- dred and Ninety-sixth State Militia and is still liv- ing in Lancaster. Amarah, another brother, is a merchant at his father's old stand. Our subject was educated in the public schools and when sev- enteen years of age enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Twenty-second Pennsylvania In- fantry, and was mustered into service in the three months' call. He participated in the battle of Chan- cellorsville and numerous other engagements of note, in all of which he was Color Bearer. IIe was mustered out in May, 1863, at Harrisburg, and returning home, entered the Millersville Nor- mal School, attending for two sessions. Young Binkley then taught school for the two terms fol- lowing in Upper Leacock Township.
In 1865 the original of this sketch began read- ing medicine with Dr. A. M. Miller and two years later entered the medical department of a univer- sity, from which he was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1869. He returned at once to Lancaster County, locating in Washing-
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ton, where he was engaged in the successful prac- tiee of his profession for a quarter of a century. In March, 1894. however, he came to this city. having a finely equipped office located at No. 32 South Lime Street.
Dr. Binkley was married in Washington in 1870 to Miss Franees, daughter of Jacob Staman, a farmer. Mrs. Binkley was highly educated and is a most estimable lady. Socially our subject is a member of General Walsh Post No. 118, G. A. R., at Columbia, and in politics he is a stanch Repub- lican. He is connected with the Lancaster County Medical Association and stands high in the medi- eal profession.
EVI L. KREIDER, engaged in the manu- facture of cigars at Witmer, is the son of Abraham and Susan ( Landis) Kreider, and was born in Lampeter Township, June 18, 1844. The paternal grandfather of our subject was a farmer of the above township, owning two good estates, which bore a high class of improvements. Like most of the residents of this section, he was a Mennonite in religion. Of his family of five children. Abraham was the eldest but one.
The father of our subject was reared to man's estate on his father's farm and educated in the dis- trict school. When ready to establish in hfe for himself, he chose agriculture as his life work, and owned at one time two good farms, numbering one hundred and sixty acres. Ilis sixty-acre tract was the first in the locality to sell for $200 per acre. The father died in 1860, at the age of sixty-four. Ile was widely respected and universally esteemed by the entire community. In pohtical matters he voted the Republican ticket, and worshipped in the Mennonite Church.
The mother of our subject was the daughter of Benjamin Landis, a well-to-do farmer in the town- ship and a member of the old Landis family, which were very prominent in Lancaster County for many years. To Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Kreider
there were born three sons and two daughters, bear- ing the respective names of Anna, now the wife of Jacob Lefever; Susan. David, John L. and Levi L. The mother is also deceased, passing away in 1884, at the age of eighty-three years. She, too, was a devoted member of the Mennonite Church and a most excellent lady.
The original of this sketch first attended the common schools, and later completed his business training in the Quaker City Business College. After leaving school he taught for five terms, and in 1878 established in business for himself, engag- ing in the mercantile trade at Witmer, which he carried on with good success until 1889. The fol- lowing year Mr. Kreider began the manufacture of eigars, winch business he has found to be very profit- able. He is carrying on a good trade, and gives employment to twelve men.
In polities our subject is a stanch Republican, and in 1887 was elected Clerk of the Orphan Court for a term of three years. Ile has always taken an active interest in school affairs, and for fifteen years was a member of the School Board, of which he was Secretary most of the time. Ile has been a delegate to the various county and state conven- tions, and does all in his power to forward the cause of his party. He is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church and takes an active interest in its work, having been Trustee for a period of fifteen years and Steward for five years.
Levi L. Kreider and Miss Lizzie Leamon were . united in marriage September 28, 1870. The lady was the daughter of Isaac Leamon, and by her union with our subject became the mother of two children: Milton L., now deceased, and Luetta L.
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F ZRA II. BURKHOLDER. This gentleman, who is one of the most prominent residents of Farmersville, occupies a high rank in the business world, and takes a prominent part in politics. Ile has been Justice of the Peace for a period of eighteen years, and in the fulfillment of the duties of that position gave entire satisfaction.
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Ile resigned in 1894 in order to become Notary Public. Ile was one of the organizers and Direc- tors of the People's National Bank of Lancaster, which commenced business with a capital stock of 8200,000. Mr. Burkholder is Secretary and Direc- tor of the Earl Mutual Fire Insurance Company, which was organized March 3, 1883. Special at- tention is given to surveying, scrivening and set- tling of estates, etc.
The Burkholder family is of German origin, and our subject is descended from one of three broth- ers, who emigrated to America in a very early day, locating in Lancaster County, where they followed farm pursuits. Abraham Burkholder, the great- grandfather of our subject, was born in West Earl Township, this county, and during his later years was an extensive land owner, having a large es- tate located on Conestoga Creek. Ile was a Whig in politics, and a devoted member of the Mennon- ite Church.
Christian Burkholder, the grandfather of our subject, was born on the old homestead in this county. Ile, too, became the possessor of a large tract of land, a portion of which is now in posses- sion of Ezra II., of this sketch. Like his honored father, Christian Burkholder, was connected with the Mennonite Church, and after the organization of the Republican party voted for its candidates. He married Miss Varonica Groff, by whom he be- came the father of twelve children, namely: Seth, Magdalena, Elias, Ezra, Menno, Catherine, Fannie, Groff, Maria, Anna, Christian and Peter. They are all deceased with the exception of Ehas, who is a wealthy cattle dealer at Sterling, Ill .; Menno. engaged in farming in this townshp; Catherine, Mrs. John HI. Martin, residing on the okl home- stead; Fannie, the wife of Adam Myer, of Upper Leacock Township, this county; Groff, living re- tired in the city of Lancaster; and Peter, an exten- sive farmer near Octavia. Neb. The grandfather died September 11, 1872, aged seventy-nine years, three months and nineteen days. His widow is still living, and is now in her ninety-fourth year.
Ezra Burkholder, Sr., father of our subject, was born on the old homestead, December 31, 1826. Ile attended the public schools of his neighbor- hood, after which he spent some time as a student
at an academy in Chester County. At the age of twenty-three he was made Deputy Register of Wills under the late George Brubaker, Esq., serv- ing from 1819 to 1851. After leaving the Regis- ter's office, Mr. Burkholder was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace of West Earl Township, and also engaged in surveying and scrivening, and at the same time carried on the printing business. Ile was repeatedly offered publie positions, but al- ways refused, preferring to serve the people in le- gal matters at home. As a scrivener he was an expert, his penmanship was fine and his legal pa- pers drawn up with the skill of a lawyer. Ile was a man of the strictest integrity, and was entrusted with the settlement of many estates.
Ezra Burkholder, Sr., was a Director in the Eph- rata National Bank, an active spirit in that insti- tution, and always manifested a great degree of interest in its success. Ile was one of the most prominent citizens in this section of the county. Ile was always a warm friend to the poor, but never believed in letting his right hand know what his left hand had done. In 1854 Mr. Burk- holder was married to Miss Annie Hoffman, of Vogansville, a daughter of Christian Hoffman, at that time a merchant in the above village. Ilis decease occurred July 12, 1890, resulting from apoplexy. He left his widow with two sons and three daughters, of whom our subject is the ellest. Mary married V. C. Sheetz, of Red Run; Amanda is the wife of Oscar Hackman, of Akron; Frances is the wife of J. K. Tobias, and Amos E. is reading law at Lancaster. He married Clara Bolster, of Ephrata, and resides on the old homestead.
The subject of this sketch received his education in the common and select schools of his native place, and when old enough entered his father's printing office and learned the "art preservative." In 1874 he edited the West Earl Banner, a bright and newsy sheet, which was in existence only two years. In 1879 Mr. Burkholder started. the Guiding Star, which he conducted successfully for a period of eight years. As before stated our subject is in- terested in the People's National Bank of Lancas- ter, and the Earl Mutual Fire Insurance Company, in both of which he is a Director.
Mr. Burkholder is active in all church work, and
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is one of the Elders in the Reformed Church of the New Holland charge. For a number of years he has been Sunday-school Superintendent, and is much beloved by all the members of his schools. March 18, 1882, our subjeet was united in mar- riage with Miss Lizzie S., daughter of Jacob G. and Margaret Weidles, residents of Manheim Town- ship, this county. For three years Mr. Burkholder held the office of County Surveyor, and has been . a delegate to county and state conventions sev- eral times.
F. MARKEL. M. D., a prominent physician, engaged in the practice of his profession in Columbia, is the son of Emanuel and Mag- gie (Fry) Markel, and was born November 13, 1852, in Shrewsbury, York County, this state. The family is of German ancestry and is well and fa- vorably known in this portion of the state.
The paternal grandfather of our subject, Harry Markel, was also born in the above county, where he carried on farm pursuits all his life. Hle was a Democrat in politics and was well respected in his community. Ile reared a family of nine children, Ilarry, Levi, Charles, Emanuel, Samuel, Noah, Will- iam, Catherine and Elizabeth.
The father of Dr. Markel, likewise a native of York County, was a blacksmith by trade, which he followed for a number of years with fair success. Ile is now engaged in business in Shrewsbury. In politics he is a Democrat, and has served in the position of Constable for one term. The Reformed Church finds in him one of its most valued mem- bers, and the community recognizes him as among its most prosperous and reliable business men. During the late War he served as a soldier in a Pennsylvania regiment for eight months.
In youth our subject was a student in the Shrewsbury Academy, where he acquired a good fund of useful information. Deciding to follow a professional life, he read medicine for a time, and
then entered the Baltimore College of Physicians and Surgeons, receiving his degree of Doctor of Medicine with the Class of '76. The following year he located for practice in Winterstown, York County, where he remained for six years, and then came to Columbia. Ile has attained a high repu- tation in his profession; he is a man of excellent judgment, and by painstaking efforts he continu- ally adds to his theoretical knowledge and practi- cal skill.
Dr. Markel is a member of the Laneaster Coun- ty Medical Association and the Pharmaceutical Association, having studied pharmacy with Drs. J. and E. II. Geary, of Shrewsbury. He is a staneh Democrat in politics, and was elected on that ticket to the City Council from the Third Ward by a majority of over three hundred. In 1890 he was elected a member of the School Board, and ren- dered efficient service while connected with that body.
The Doctor is interested in many of the notable enterprises in the city, and to-day he ranks among the wealthy and popular residents of Columbia, in whose welfare he takes great interest, and has done much to further its advancement in an educational and financial way. In church affairs he is con- neeted with the Lutheran Church, in which he has been Deacon for eight years, and for two years was Secretary of the Board. lle is Treasurer of the Columbia branch of the New York Building & Loan Association. In 1883 he opened a fine drug store here. Ile is the owner of much valuable real estate in the community. and is proving the truth of the old assertion that "industry will win in the raee for fortune and position." Dr. C. F. Markel and Miss Zoma, daughter of Cornelius S. Beck, were united in marriage February 11, 1877. Their union has resulted in the birth of four children.
H ARRY M. IIALL is a practical and wide- awake business man of Columbia, and is a coal merchant of some prominence throughout the county. He has an extensive trade, giving employment to eight men and runs con-
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stantly five wagons. Ilis career up to the pres- ent time has been a most successful and deserv- ing one, and his prospects for the future are indeed promising.
Our subject is the son of Aaron S, and Susan Il. (Swigert) Hall, and was born April 30, 1866, in Centerville. Lancaster County. The ancestor of our subject in this country came from Amsterdam, Holland. He was by name Aaron Hall, and ran away from home and was sold for his passage after landing in the United States. Ile was living in Washington at the time of his deeease, when ad- vanced in years. He reared a family of seven children, namely: John, Jacob, Emanuel, Joseph, Ilenry, Catherine and Ann. Henry, the grand- father of our subjeet, spent his entire life in this county, and owned a good one-hundred-aere farm in East Hempfield Township, which he cultivated with fair results. He was a Democrat in politics and a devoted member of the Reformed Church, in which he held the office of Deacon. The lady to whom he was married was Miss Mary Shultz and to them were born two children. By his union with his second wife, Miss Ann Kuhns, he reared a family of seven children.
The original of this sketch acquired a fair edu- eation in the public schools of Landisville, after which he took a course in the Millersville Normal School. When completing his education young Ilall learned the art of telegraphy, and was given a position as agent and operator at Landisville, holding the position for a period of three years. At the expiration of that time he came to Columbia, in 1880, accepted the position of bookkeeper for the Chestnut Hill Iron Ore Company, remaining with them for three years, when he transferred his allegiance to the Reading Railroad Company at Reading, where he was also bookkeeper, and re- mained until his marriage, in 1889.
When leaving Reading our subject came to Co- lumbia and engaged in business with his father-in- law, who was a coal and wood merchant. On the death of that gentleman, September 10, 1893, he succeeded to the business, and is carrying on an extensive trade, supplying many of the residents and business houses with coal and wood, and runs five wagons. Mr. Hall is also a stockholder in the
Keely Stove Works, and has an interest in the silk mill. In politics he always votes the straight Demo- cratie tieket, and in religious affairs is a member of the Reformed Church, with which he has been con- nected for many years, and takes an active part in church and Sunday-school work. Socially, our subject is an Odd Fellow, belonging to Susque- hanna Lodge No. 88, of which he has been Seere- tary, and also belongs to the Encampment. He is Secretary of Mt. Bethel Cemetery Association. and is in faet a man whose sketch will do honor to our volume and prove interesting to the many friends who hold him in the highest possible esteem. Harry M. Hall and Miss Ida R., daughter of George D. Huff, of this eity, were united in marriage Jan- uary 10, 1889.
AWRENCE KNAPP is proprietor of Knapp's Villa, on the Conestoga Creek, which is a charming and attractive place, particularly during the summer. It has a histor- ieal interest as well, for the old stone portion of the house was at one time the headquarters of William Penn. The grounds are beautifully laid out and the large old trees afford grateful shade to the weary traveler. Mr. Knapp is independently well off, is well informed on the general affairs of the day, and is much attached to this, the land of his adoption. A German by birth, his nativity took place in Freudenberg-on-the-Main. in Baden, September 2,1827, and there his father, John Knapp, was born in the year 1789. Ilis grandfather, Igna- tius Knapp, was a fruit grower and wine merchant. Under the great Napoleon he took part in the bat- tle of Haman, and engaged in transporting stores on the River Main.
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