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 78
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James M. Hopkins, our subject's father, was born in Lancaster, in March, 1811, and was reared in his native place, receiving his preparatory educa-
tion in the public schools, and at the age of six- teen years, the youngest member in his class, grad- uated from Dickinson College. Entering his fa- ther's office he studied law for a year, when he was placed in charge of the latter's furnace at York. Afterwards, he had charge of the furnace at Cono- wingo, in Drumore Township, and in that place is still living. 'His life has been passed as an iron master, and at one time he owned fully two thou- sand acres of land and also a large flour mill. Po- litically he was an old line Whig, and was once a candidate for Congress on the Democratic ticket against Thaddeus Stevens; the latter's majority was reduced to the smallest he ever received. Mr. Hopkins was the first Assessor for the first tax that was levied at the beginning of the war, serving as a deputy under his son-in-law. He has been for years a member of the Episcopal Church, and has always borne a high place in the esteem of his neighbors.
Il. C. Hopkins, of this sketch, is the fourth in a family of twelve children, six sons and six dangh- ters, born to James M. and Harriet L. ( Webb) Ilop- kins. The date of this event was April 4, 1842, and the place of his birth was at Conowingo Fur- nace, Drumore Township, this county. llis ele- mentary education was supplemented by a course of study in the academy at Chestnut Level, and the Pottstown Academy. When seventeen years of age he engaged in the lumber business at Port Deposit, Md., and continued there until he came to Lancaster. In 1861 he went back to his birth- place and became Superintendent of the furnace, serving as such until 1869. In 1881 he left the Government service, since which time he has been in business in New York, Philadelphia and west- ern points, though his family remained in Lancas- ter. In 1892 he permanently settled here, and had an otlice at No. 108 East King Street as a dealer in stocks and bonds. In the spring of 1894 he became general manager of the real-estate ex- change, it also being the office of the Lancaster Real Estate & Improvement Company. Ile is also identified with the Lancaster Street Railway.
In 1870 Mr. Hopkins married Anna E., daugh- ter of Col. George Nauman, of the United States Army, by whom he has had five children; Ilarry,
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a real-estate and insurance man of Lancaster; Eliz- abeth, who died at the age of four years; Anna, at home; Ralph, a student in Yeates Institute, and Isabella, a student at Linden Hall, at Lititz. Mrs. Hopkins died in 1890. at the age of forty-seven years.
A very active Republican, Mr. Hopkins has eon- tributed to the success of his party in no small measure, and when serving in a public capacity proved himself an efficient officer. Ilis business has carried him into every state in the Union east of the Rocky Mountains, with one exception, and his acquaintance among leading men and officials is very extensive.
H UGH KEOGH. of Laneaster, is a very prominent citizen of this place, and has built up a wide reputation for his exten- sive railroad contracts and street and pike eon- struction. Ile has been very successful, and has been busily employed in many parts of this coun- try on important contract work. He is a man of marked and inherited ability in a financial way, and uses good judgment and correct methods in his business dealings.
Michael Keogh. the father of our subjeet, was born in Ireland, and with his wife came to Amer- iea in 1832. He settled at Lock No. 2 Port Perry. Alleghany County, on the Monongahela River. and continued there to reside for a number of years. He owned the Green Spring coal mines opposite Braddoek, and did an extensive shipping business to New Orleans for a period of thirty years. Late in life be retired, purchasing a farm near St. Vin- cent's College of Latrobe, Westmoreland County. this state. a tract of one hundred and sixty-seven acres. Ile was a Democrat, and was always inter- ested in the success of his party. Ile had the following children: John, who died in December, 1872; Michael, killed at Catfish Point on the Mis- sissippi River; James, who was killed on a steam boat running on the Monongahela River in 1886; William; Hugh; Ella, whose death occurred at the |
age of thirty-six years, in 1884; and Michael, the second of the name, a civil engineer in the employ of the eity of New York. in the construction of the aqueduct. The children were reared in the faith of the Catholic Church, to which their par- ents adhered.
The birth of IIngh Keogh occurred in February, 1847, at Port Perry, Alleghany County, Pa. Until twelve years old he attended the public schools of that place, and then commenced going with his father on trips down the Mississippi River, and during the late Rebellion went back and forth be- tween Pittsburg and Memphis. Ile followed the river until 1872. when, at Vicksburg, he turned his attention to railroad contraeting, though he had had no previous experience in that direction. For a time he was with B. J. MeGrann on the Pittsburg & Lake Erie Railroad, and afterward built the Maderia Railroad, and constructed two hundred miles of track in Brazil. On his return he constructed two streets in Lancaster, and after- ward took a contract to build the Lititz & Lexing- ton Turnpike. In Brandywine, Del., he was en- gaged in the construction of two miles of track on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and then entered the employ of the Southern Pennsylvania Rail- road Company, making the road between Ilarris- burg and Pittsburg in Somerset County, which was abandoned before completion. On the Lehigh Valley Railroad he constructed a piece of track be- tween Delano and Hazeltown, from there returning to Lancaster, where for a time he built sewers, and then was made manager of the construction department of the Shenandoah Valley Railroad. Two miles of the heavy work on the old "Tape- worm" Road between Gettysburg and Hagers- town was done by him; a portion of the rail- road which was destroyed by the Johnstown flood, and on which he was engaged for a year, was his next contract. Following this, he built the fourth traek for the Pennsylvania Railroad from Witmore to Portage, and a portion of track running through the Alleghany Mountains at Ilorseshoe Bend, and ten miles of the Norfolk & Western Railroad. Re- eently he constructed a track from Fernwood to Newtown Square.
Mr. Keogh is a Democrat politically, and adheres
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to the faith of the Catholic Church. In Decem- ber, 1873, he married Anna M .. daughter of James Coyle, a shoe dealer of Lancaster. The loving mother and faithful wife was called from her fam- ily by death January 10, 1890, aged forty years. By her marriage she was the mother of three sons and two daughters, Paul J., Walter E., Mary A., Ilugh, Jr., and Ella.
A M. BAKER. a retired business man of Ephrata. for the twelve years preceding 1891 was actively engaged in the hotel business. The hostelry known as the Eagle Hotel of Ephrata he still owns. in addition to other property in this place. and a farm of one hundred and eight acres, which is one of the best in the county, on account of its productiveness and im- provements.
The birth of Mr. Baker took place January 3. 1811, in Warwick Township, Lancaster County, his parents being Joseph and Susannah ( Minich) Baker. On the paternal side he is of German de- scent, and his grandfather was born in Chestnut Ilill. in the neighborhood of which he operated a farm. lle was a Whig, and in religion a Lutheran. By his marriage with Miss Roth, he had four sons and three daughters. Joseph, Henry, Jacob, David, Susannah, Elizabeth and Catherine.
were born Susan, Samuel and Enos. The father departed this life when he was over four-score years of age.
In boyhood Mr. Baker was a student in the War- wick schools, and then entered Lititz Seminary, where he remained until in his eighteenth year. Leaving his studies, he served a regular apprentice- ship to the carpenter's trade, which he followed subsequently for five years. After his marriage he settled on a rented farm in Penn Township. Afterward he was a resident of Manheim Town- ship, and in 1879 came to Ephrata, investing his money in the Eagle Hotel, which he successfully conducted for twelve years. In 1891 he leased the establishment, and of late has given his attention to the erection of his beautiful home on Main Street, constructed of green stone and built on modern plans. In addition to his hotel building, he owns a large store and two residences in the city. The twenty-eight acre tract which he bought with the hotel he divided into building lots, most of which have been since sold. In the Gallagher flourmill on Ephrata Creek he is one- fifth owner. This mill, which is now running night and day in order to meet the demand, em- ploys seven men, and is a paying enterprise.
The farm owned by Mr. Baker, to which we have referred, is superintended by him and operated under his instructions. Ile owns one hundred shares in the Clay & Ilinpalan Town Pike Com- pany, ten shares in the Farmers' National Bank, in which he is a Director, and holds the position of Treasurer in the first-named organization. In former days he did some contracting, and when the hotel came into his possession he made valna- ble and expensive improvements, remodeling the entire building, putting in steam heat and gas, and adding two stories.
Our subject's father was also born on Chestnut lill, and learned the shoemaker's trade. For forty- eight years he was a resident of Warwick Town- ship. He was politically a Whig and Republican, and was a School Director at one time. Like his September 18, 1866, Mr. Baker married Mary M., daughter of Jacob L. Longenecker, a farmer of Ephrata Township. Four children have been the result of this union, as follows: Ida, wife of L. E. Rayer, now running the Eagle Ilotel: Olivia Anna, Mrs. Jesse Seldomridge; Sallie, Mrs. Robert Parker, and Jacob. father he was a Lutheran, and very regular in his attendance and contributions. He was twice mar- ried, by his first union having nine children: Abraham, Elizabeth, Joseph, Mary, Catherine; A. M., our subject; Jacob, Reuben and Trana, wife of Martin Keller. residing at Elizabethtown. The mother's death occurred in April, 1855, and later Politically, Mr. Baker has been a life-long Re- the father wedded Caroline Sturgis. To them , publican, and is a stanch supporter of his party
KIRK JOHNSON.
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platform. In 1894 he was elected as a Jury Com- missioner of the county, having been induced to accept the office on account of the earnest solicita- tion of his friends. He is a leading member of the Lutheran Church, and endeavors to put in practice its worthy precepts in his daily life.
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IRK JOHNSON. Within the city of Lan- easter there is probably no business man who has met with greater success than has rewarded the efforts of Mr. Johnson. His prosperity is not the result of accident or luck, but has come to him as the result of indomitable perseverance, wise sagacity and sound judgment, qualities which almost invariably bring their for- tunate possessor financial success. The events of his life briefly sketched below will be of interest to his host of personal friends throughout the county.
Not only is Mr. Johnson proprietor of the larg- est musie establishment in Lancaster, but he also has a branch store at Christiana, this county, and in connection with his brother owns branch stores in Atlantic City and Cape May, N. J. The demands of the business necessitating the use of from fif- teen to eighteen horses, he opened a livery stable on West King Street, where he keeps his own teams and also boards others. In his establishment may be found every variety of small instruments and musical merchandise known to the trade. His judgment in the selection of instruments is unex- celled, and this faet being recognized by the peo- ple of the county, they repose the greatest confi- dence in his opinions and ability. It is due largely to his influence that this section of the state is he- coming a musical community, where thousands of
homes rejoice in the possession of good instru- ments.
Mr. Johnson is a young man, his birth having occurred June 4, 1861. Hle is a native of Port Republic, N. J., where his father, John W., was also born. The grandfather, James, the son of an Englishman, was a farmer and clock dealer. John W. Johnson, also an agriculturist by occupation, owned farm property near Port Republic, and raised both cereals and stock. In religious belief he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Adams, was born in New Gretna, Burlington Coun- ty, N. J. Their union resulted in the birth of eleven children, of whom all but one are living, our subject being the sixth in order of birth. His brother William N., who is a partner in the busi- ness at Atlantic City and Cape May, is also Super- intendent of the Knickerbocker Coal & Ice Com- pany, of the former city. Morris L. is manager of the business at Atlantic City; Elwood is solici- tor and collector for the Knickerbocker Coal & Ice Company; and J. Newton is an attorney.
Until about twenty years of age, Mr. Johnson was reared upon a farm. In the fall of 1880 he went to Paterson, N. J., with F. A North & Co., of Philadelphia. After two years he bought the business, which he conducted upon an enlarged scale. In 1888 he started a branch store in Atlan- tie City, and this enterprise he soon placed upon a solid financial basis. In 1892 he inaugurated a similar undertaking in Cape May, N. J. Three years ago he opened a store in Christiana. Pa. His store in Lancaster is located at No. 24 West King Street, and is a large building, the front being util- ized for the retail trade, while the remainder of the building is devoted to repair and rebuilding pur- poses. Employment is given to twenty-two men, and the finest grades of instruments are kept on sale, including the Knabe, Conover and Lester pianos, and the Wilcox & White and Mason & llamlin organs.
At Atlantic City, N. J., in 1883, Mr. Johnson married Miss Alice Tomkins, a native of that place, and they have four children, Orville, Nelson, George and Ruth. Mr. Johnson has built three residences, two of which he has sold, and he also
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owns property in Atlantic City. Ile is a member of the Duke Street Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is serving as Steward. Politically he is a Republican. His social connections are with the Elks, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Order of United Friends.
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ROF. RICHARD C. SCHIEDT, A. M., - PH. D., is a member of the faculty of the Franklin and Marshall College, in which he holds the chairs of modern languages and natural sciences. Ile was appointed by the Penn- sylvania State Board of Agriculture to the posi- tion of State Entomologist, and is also a member of the United States Fish Commission, the Gov- ernment laboratory being situated in Massachu- setts, where the Professor spends his summer vaca- tions engaged in scientific investigations. It is universally conceded that Professor Schiedt is one of the most advanced scholars and scientists in the state. In 1879 he went with a party of fif- teen scientists on an expedition to the northern coast of Africa, starting from Germany, and pur- sued his studies, particularly in entomology, dur- ing the three months' travel from the eastern coast to the desert of Sahara.
The birth of our subject occurred September 21, 1859, in Weissenfels, Saxony, Prussia. His father, Frantz Schiedt, was also born in the same place, and was a large and successful iron manufacturer. Ile is still living, retired from business cares, and is now over seventy-two years of age. Ilis wife, who before her marriage was Julia Jansen, was born in Saxony. Her father, a native of Holland, was a manufacturer of cotton and calico goods. lle is a direct descendant of the Jansenites cele- brated in history. The Professor's father is a mem- ber of the Evangelical Church, and his wife is also a Protestant. She is now about fifty-eight years of age, and is the mother of five children, all of whom are living. Two of her sons are in Amer-
ica, the other, Hugo, being engaged in business in Covington, Ky.
The education of our subject was obtained in the Royal Gymnasium at Zeitz. Ile was graduated in 1878 from the classical course, and next was for one semester in the University of Jena. Later he was enrolled as a student in the University of Er- long, where he pursued a course of instructions for three semesters. We next find him in the Naples University, and afterwards in the University of Berlin, where he took a special course in mathe- matics and natural sciences, completing the same in 1881.
Concluding to try his fortunes in America, Pro- fessor Schiedt left Hamburg in the fall of 1881, and proceeded to Cleveland, Ohio, by way of New York. Through the kindness of Charles Schurz he obtained a position as Professor of mathe- maties in Calvin College, where he remained for one year. Ile was then sent by the Reformed Church to the Pacific Coast to establish an inter- national institution of that denomination at Portland, Oregon, and became Principal of the college. There he introduced the first night school on the western coast, being assisted by Professor Bolender, D. D., ex-State Superintendent of Cali- fornia. They made a success of the enterprise, which was later taken charge of by cities through- out the state. For three years the Professor con- tinned as Principal of the Academy. and at the same time carried on theological studies, and was commissioned a missionary of the Reformed Church.
In 1885 our subject returned to the east, and for two years was a student in the Theological Seminary of Lancaster, from which he was gradu- ated in 1887. It had been his intention to return to the west, but he was induced to remain here. He is a German and French scholar and linguist, and has been honored with the position of city chemist and analyst. In the college he has a number of classes and students in special lines of work in the following studies: histology, zoology, botany, chemistry, anatomy, biology and physiology.
In 1888 Professor Schiedt was married in Port- land, Oregon, to Miss Sophia Gautenbein, who was born in Philadelphia, and received fine education-
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al advantages both in this country and in Ger- many. She is the daughter of Rev. John Gauten- bein, D. D., a minister in the Reformed Church. To our subjeet and wife has been born a daughter, Madalene. The former owns Ins pleasant home at No. 526 West James Street, and he takes special pleasure in extending its hospitality to his many friends and acquaintances.
AMUEL M. HIESS is one of the very en- terprising and prosperous business men in Millersville, and is now engaged in manu- facturing cigars, in which he has a large trade. He is a son of Samuel and Catherine ( Metzler) Hess, and was born February 15, 1856, at Roths- ville, near Lititz. He received a good common- seliool education with which to embark in his after life.
About 1712 a Swiss colony came to this region, and among them was one Samuel Iless, with his two brothers. He settled at Pequea, being the first of the name to locate in America. Ile had a large family, and Jacob, one of his sons, in 1734 took up a tract of two hundred acres, one mile east of Lititz, now called Warwiek Township. This farm is now occupied by James II. Hess, and the prop- erty has remained in the family ever since. A building site on which was erected the old Men- nonite Church was donated by Henry Hess. Jacob Hess, of the second generation, resided with his father on the old homestead, died in 1778, and was interred in the family graveyard. Ile had eight daughters and two sons, the latter being Christian and Jobn. From John, the subject of this narrative is descended, and one of his ehil- dren, Rev. John, was born November 9, 1768, and in 1788 married Esther, daughter of Christian Ilershey. They resided on the old Iless homestead and became the parents of four sons and six dangh-
ters. One of these, John, was a minister in the Mennonite Church, and another son, Christian, grandfather of our subject, was born October 11. 1789. ITis wife, Barbara, daughter of Abram IIn- ber, was born September 12, 1791, and was married in 1811. They resided near Rothsville, and there Christian Hess' death occurred August 3, 1855, in his sixty-sixth year, while his wife, who died April 5, 1848, was over fifty-six years of age, and they were both placed to rest in the old homestead bury- ing ground. They had five sons and six daughters: Samuel, Abram, John, Annie, Catherine, Christian, Joseph, Fannie, Barbara, Martha and Elizabeth. The father of these children was one of the wealth- iest men of the township, and gave to each of his sons a good farm, and an equivalent to each of his daughters. Ile was a man of great natural business ability, and one of the prominent citizens of Rothsville. In politics he was a strong Repub- lican, and was a devoted member of the church which is still familiarly known as the IIess Meeting House.
Samuel Hess, the father of our subject and the first son of Christian, was born February 24, 1812, and his mother, Catherine, daughter of Jacob Metzger, was born August 24, 1826. They were married in 1841, and first resided in Warwiek Township, adjoining the old farm. Afterward they removed to Stark County, Ohio, where they lived for thirteen years, and then returned to Warwick Township, where the father died February 23, 1871, aged nearly fifty-nine years. Their family comprised seven sons and four daughters: Bar- bara, Jaeoh, Christian, Samuel, Annie, John, Eman- uel, Mary, Henry, Benjamin and Amanda.
For several years Samuel M. Hess of this sketch attended the schools of Stark County, Ohio, and afterward went to those of New Haven, in this eoun- ty, finishing his education at Professor Beck's insti- tution at Lititz. For some time after attaining his majority he remained with his father on a farm, and then went on the road, traveling for J. M. Hahm, of Manheim, Pa .. selling eigars. At the end of seven years he became salesman tor II. A. Wolfe & Son, a wholesale liquor house of Pittsburg, but re- signed, and for a short time was with Goodneck & Mann, wholesale dealers in cigars, of Phila-
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delphia. At the end of a year he launched into the manufacture of cigars for himself at Millers- ville, and thoroughly understanding every branch of the business, is making a success of the same, employing as many as fifteen men. He is a member of the Commercial Travelers' Protective Associa- tion of Pittsburg, and of the South Bend Com- mercial Travelers' Accident Association. He owns a residence at Neffsville, and in 1890 purchased the Landis property, the handsomest residence in Millersville, which is his home. In politics he has always been an enthusiastic Republican, being ae- tively interested in his party's success.
Mr. Hess has been twice married, first to Mary, daughter of Jacob Brubaker, of Clay Township, their union being celebrated September 29, 1870. They had two sons and four daughters: Clara B .. Samuel B., Ida B., Lillian B., Monroe B. and Emma B. The wife and mother died June 4, 1882, aged thirty-one years and two months. The pres- ent wife of our subject, formerly Jennette Stevens, was a native of Huntingdon County, and their marriage was celebrated April 29, 1824. They have four children: Maud Estalla, Mabel Lillian, Thaddeus S. and Robert S. The father of Mrs. Iless is Asa S. Stevens, of Three Springs. Hunt- ingdon County. Ile was born December 3, 1823, in that county, and was reared in Germany Val- ley, being a tailor by trade. He engaged in mer- cantile business, and was at one time in the em- ploy of the old Portage Railroad. In later life he worked at his trade. and in 1886 retired from business, and is at present living with his daugh- ter, Mrs. Hess. He is a Republican, and served as Constable and Tax Collector at different times. Religiously he is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. llis first marriage was with Eliza- abeth Adam, by whom he had two children, one of whom, Hannah, died at the age of six years. By his second union, with Sarah Harthin, he had ten children: Amanda B .; J. Millard, who died in infancy; J. B .; Jeanette; J. Frank, who is a dent- ist in Lancaster; Annie. Mrs. Rothorn; Kate, Mrs. Shue; Mollie, Mrs. Leonard; Charles and MeClel- lan, who died in childhood. The mother of these children is still living. A paternal uncle of Mrs. Hess, Rev. William, is an ex-Representative, and
one of his sons, Rev. Emory, has a pastorate in Harrisburg. Rev. Benedict Stevens, the grandfather of Mrs. Iless, was a prominent man in Huntingdon County and a local preacher in the Methodist Epis- copal Church. For many years he was Justice of the Peace, and was a stanch Republican.
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