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 83
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An active Republican, Mr. Geist is one of the leaders of his party in this section. Sinee discon- tinuing as Principal he has served as Director of the Marietta schools. Ile is Director in the Marietta Manufacturing Company, President of the Mareitta & Lancaster Turnpike Conpany, and Director of the Home Building & Loan Associa- tion. Socially he belongs to Ashara Lodge No. 398, F. & A. M., of which he has been Secretary for twenty years; Corinthian Chapter No. 224, and Cyrene Commandery, No. 34, K. T. In the Presbyterian Church of Marietta he is serving as Deacon. October 26, 1865, he married Miss Mar- garet, daughter for Fred Franck, of Marietta.
II. GUTHRIE. A lifetime of earnest endeavor in pursuing the various oc- cupations in which he has been engaged. coupled with strict integrity, honesty of purpose and liberality, has tended to place Mr. Guthrie among the highly honored and successful business men of Lancaster. He is a prominent contractor, painter and decorator in the city, and his attain- ments and enterprise point to an influential future.
Our subject was born near Guthriesville, East Brandywine Township, Chester County, this state, October 5, 1847, and is the son of Allen Guthrie, also a native of the above county. Ilis grandfather,
Joseph Guthrie, came to the United States from Scotland, locating in Chester County, where he founded the village of Guthriesville. He was the first Postmaster of the place, and was prominent in all public affairs.
The father of our subject was a painter by trade. following the business first in Chester and after- wards in Chambersburg, whence he came to Lan- caster in 1848. He departed this life February 17, 1893, when in the sixty-ninth year of his age. Hle was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. and a man who endeared himself to the hearts of the people, not only in his immediate com- munity, but throughout the country. Ile married Miss Mary A. Garrett, who was born in Chester County and was of Scotch descent. She is also deceased, passing away in 1882.
The parental family of our subject included seven children, all of whom are living with the exception of two. W. Il. was the eldest of the household and obtained his primary education in the public school of Lancaster. He afterward attended Franklin and Marshall College, and in 1864, when ready to com- mence in life for himself, was apprenticed to learn the machinist's trade in the Norris Locomotive Works. He remained there for three years, and finding the business not to his taste, abandoned it and took up painting, which he has followed with success ever since.
In 1882 our subject was taken into partnership with his father, the firm operating under the title of Guthrie & Son until 1892, when the connection was dissolved. Our subject is a practical painter and has contracted for the finishing of many of the fine buildings and residences in the city, among which are the Duke Street Methodist Episcopal Church, the Grubb mansion, Ilotel Lancaster, Amer- ican House, the umbrella factory, the Industrial School and the Soldiers' Orphan School at Scotland. lle makes a specialty of fine graining and for a number of years has been employed by the Penn- sylvania Railroad in the finishing department at the car shops of the New York and Pennsylvania Divisions. Ilis place of business is located at No. 233 North Queen Street, and he has in his em- ploy about thirty-four men.
W. II. Guthrie was married in April, 1882, in
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Shippensburg. Cumberland County, to Miss Mari- etta, daughter of losiah MePherson. a farmer by occupation. Their union has resulted in the birth of four children, namely: Mary. Roswell, Helen and Allen llershel. In social affairs our subject is an Odd Fellow, belonging to Herschel Lodge No. 23, in which he has passed all the chairs. He also belongs to the Encampment and Council and is a member of the Junior Order of United Amer- ican Mechanics. A consistent member of the Grace Lutheran Church, he is a member of the vestry. Hle is a Republican in politics and has many warm friends in that party. Ile was one of the first members of the National Association of Master Painters on its organization, and at present is identified with the Pennsylvania Association of Master Painters.
M ILTON ALEXANDER, a member of the Lancaster County Bar, has for twenty- five years been engaged in the practice of his profession at Altoona. Blair County, and is now a resident of Lancaster. lle was born in Williamsburg, Blair County, January 2. 1846, be- ing a son of Robert and Mary ( Rodkey) Alexander.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was born in Londonderry, Ireland, and left his native land to settle in llart's Log Valley, Huntingdon County, where during the American Revolution he took part in the Indian troubles of that vicin- ity. He married, reared a family and died in that valley in 1813, aged sixty-four years. One of his sons, Robert, became the father of our subject, and was born lune 5, 1805. Hle removed in 1827 to Williamsburg, Pa., where he engaged in general merchandising until 1874, then retiring to make his home in Altoona, where he departed this life August 12, 1881, in the seventy-ninth year of his age. Ile was a Presbyterian in religious faith and a Repubhean after the formation of that party. August 4, 1829, he married Mary Rodkey, who was born on the same day, and they eclebrated their golden wedding August 4, 1879. The de-
voted wife and mother was called to her final rest June 27, 1882, being in her seventy-eighth year.
Milton Alexander received his elementary edu- cation in his native town and when sixteen years of age entered Jefferson College in Washington County, from which he graduated in the Class of '66, the first class of the United College of Wash- ington and Jefferson. Later he read law with David Lawson, of Clarion, Pa., and in 1869 com- pleted his legal course in the Law Department of the University of Albany, and June 26th of that year, settled in Altoona to begin his practice. In July. 1869, John Dean, now Justice of the Supreme Court, moved that Mr. Alexander be admitted to the Bar of Blair County, and in the fall of 1871 he was elected District Attorney, serving for three years with credit to himself and to the full satis- faction of the public. During this time his law practice had so increased that he formed a part- nership with I. II. Herr, which association contin- ued for seventeen years, or until the death of Mr. HIerr, October 4, 1890, since which time our sub- jeet has continued in business alone.
September 10, 1872, Mr. Alexander was united in marriage with Katie F. Martin, daughter of B. B. Martin, of Lancaster, and they have two chil- dren: Ralph N. and Lillian Marie. The family occupy a beautiful residence known as West Lawn, situated at No. 407 West Chestnut Street. B. B. Martin, the father of Mrs. Alexander, was born in West Earl Township, August 9, 1821, being a de- scendant of a hardy Swiss Mennonite family. His father was John Martin, and he married Catherine Rohrer, daughter of Christian Rohrer, of Millers- .ville.
In the municipal affairs of Altoona, Mr. Alexan- der took an active interest, served as a member of the Select Council and was City Solicitor for sev- eral years. In 1869 he assisted in organizing the building association and is yet the solicitor of four of the largest serial associations in the state, having faithfully piloted them through the panic of 1873 without loss. He is a stanch Republican, having always worked for the success of his party. In 1871 he became a member of Logan Lodge No. 490, F. & A. M., of which he was the first en- tered apprentice. Ile belongs to the Patriotic Or-
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der Sons of America, and in every way has al- ways endeavored to loyally fulfill the duties of citizenship, and with the last named order served as State Treasurer and State President. In the practice of his profession Mr. Alexander has been very industrious and studious, meeting with large financial success, as well as becoming noted for his legal ability. When he removed from Aitoona to this city, it was very much regretted by his many warm friends in that locality, and since coming here he has been connected with the firm of Mar- tin, Holahan & Alexander. Genial and pleasant in manner, useful and active as a citizen. a careful and judicious counselor, he vet shows no signs of old age and expects to round out his life in quiet and contentment in this city.
DWIN ERISMAN SNYDER. overseer at the Lancaster cotton mills, was born in this city. November 30. 1837: Ins father was Jacob Snyder, born February 4, 1811. Our subject's grandfather. Capt. Jacob, the son of Christian Snyder, was born January 18, 1784. He was a wheelwright and woodworker by trade and had a shop on West King Street. He was a soldier in the of War 1812 and was captain of a company, belong- ing to the Second Regiment of the Second Brigade Pennsylvania Militia from September 2 to Decem- ber 15. 1814. lle died April 15, 1844, at the age of seventy years. Ile was an acceptable member of the Trinity Lutheran Church and had been an officer for many years. He was of German descent and an old settler at Lancaster.
Our subject's father was captain of a militia com- pany and was always addressed as "Captain." He was a wheelwright by trade and occupied the same shop till his death, January 27. 1879. He was a Re- publican in politics and was an officer in the Luth- eran Church for many years, as is also his son, our subject. Our subject's mother's maiden name was Margaret Erisman, born October 9, 1814, at Lan- caster; she was the daughter of Daniel and Marga- ret Erisman, also natives of Lancaster. Her parents
were farmers and lived adjoining the city until her death. The mother died February 22. 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Christian Snyder were the parents of the following children: Mary Catherine, who is mar- ried and lives in Dayton, Ohio: Daniel Christian and Albert Charies, who died in childhood; Edwin E .. our subject: Anna Ehzabeth, Mrs. W. M. Weth- erell, of Iowa; Emma Louisa, born September 28. 1841. now Mrs. M. M. Rice. of Maquoketa; Jacob Kahler, born July 1, 1844, in the employ of the Peo- ple'> Car Company, of Philadelphia; George Lewis and Charles Henry, who died young. Jacob K. was in the Civil War in Company F. First Pennsyl- vama Infantry. enlisting April 20, 1861. Septem- ber 15 of the same year he became a member of Company II. Seventy-ninth Pennsylvania Infantry. as First Sergeant and was promoted from sergeant to Sergeant-Major of his regiment. April 22. 1865, he was promoted to Lieutenant of Company C, and was mustered out July 12. 1865. At the battle of Chickamanga, he was wounded in the leg.
The subject of this sketch was reared in Lancas- ter and had the advantages of a common-school ed- neation. and carried newspapers when a small boy and afterwards clerked in a book-store, a few years after which he went into a printing office, where the Independent Whig and Inland Daily were published; after a year or two of such work, he went into the employment of the cotton mills now known as John Farnum Company No. 2. and he has held that position ever since. beginning at the bottom round when a boy. Since 1865, he has been over- seer of the carding department. He is a charter member of the American Mechanics' Building and Loan Association and has been a member of the Board of Trustees. President two terms and Vice- President. Ile is also one of the directors of the Union Building and Loan Association. his son Jolin E. being the solicitor of the same.
In Lititz Mr. Snyder was united in marriage July 24. 1860. to Miss Margaret C. MeLane, born in Lebanon County. Pa., the daughter of Thomas MeLane, who was born in Ireland. Our subject and his wife are the parents of four children: Thomas MeLane, who died in infancy: John E., born April 13, 1863, a graduate of the high school, now an attorney in Lancaster, and serving in the
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capacity of City Solicitor; Robert Stevens, who died in infancy; and Bertha, a graduate of Laneas- ter Iligh School, as well as the Normal at Millers- ville, and now one of the teachers in the city schools.
Our subject served as a member of the common council for many years, and has held many ofli- cial positions in the municipal government of Lan- caster. Ile is a member of Monterey Lodge No. 242. 1. O. O. F., and has passed all the chairs in that lodge; he also belongs to Ridgely Encampment No. 407, and Laneaster Lodge No. 68, K. of P., as well as Lancaster Lodge No. 43, F. & A. M., Royal Arcanum No. 463, and Lancaster Assembly of Artisans No. 27. Ile belongs to Conestoga Mu- tual Benefit Association and was one of the orig- inal members and has been its Secretary for years. Ile was a member of the IJumane Fire Company for many years and served as its Secretary for twelve years, until he moved away from the vicinity. In 1869 he was elected Vice-President of the company and has held the office ever since. In religious matters, he is identified with the Lutheran Church and has been in the vestry for the last fifteen years as Warden and Elder, and served as Secretary of the vestry for the last twelve years. Politically, he is an active Republican and has served on city and county committees.
ILLIAM II. CARR, M. D. Although young in years, this prominent resi- dent of Lancaster has by determined will and perseverance risen to a high position among the practitioners in his community and is one of the largest and most successful ocuhsts, aurists and rhino-larynologists in this portion of the state. Dr. Carr was born in St. Clair, Schuylkill County, this state, December 3, 1861, and is the son of Dr. Andrew P. Carr, born on the Bay of Bengal.
The father of our subject was educated in Geneva,
N. Y., and completed his medical studies in the University of New York City. He located for practice in St. Clair, this state, and during his resi- dence there was one of the most successful physi- cians in the place. Ile makes a specialty of sur- gery, however, and has performed many difficult operations during his practice in the Philadelphia Hospital. Socially, Dr. Andrew P. Carr is a Knight Templar, and in religious affairs belongs to the Episcopal Church, of which he is Warden in St. Clair.
The mother of our subject prior to her marriage was known as Miss Jane Dungan. She was born in Ireland. By her umon with Dr. Carr she he- came the mother of three children, of whom our subject was the eldest. His brother, Charles D., is also a prominent physician, and a graduate of Jef- ferson Medical College in Philadelphia. George W. is attending that institution and will complete his medical studies in 1895.
The original of this sketch removed to the Quaker City when a lad of ten years and there completed his studies, graduating with the Class of '77. Ile then entered an academy in that city taught by Professor MeGanigal, in order to pre- pare himself to continue his studies in the I'niver- sity of Pennsylvania. Two years later he entered that institution, spending four years in the medi- cal department, and was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1883.
The first eighteen months after graduating Dr. Carr attended to small-pox patients in Schuylkill County, and then returned to hospital work in Philadelphia. Later he took charge of the Schuyl- kill County Hospital, which he superintended for two years, and during this time carried on his stud- ies of the eye and ear. Returning at the expira- tion of that time to Philadelphia, he entered the Polytechnic College and was graduated in 1887. Ile then entered the Pennsylvania Hospital in that city, as physician on diseases of the eye, ear and nose, and also diagnosed cases in this special branch in the German Hospital.
Dr. Carr has a finely equipped office at No. 3 North Queen Street, while his beautiful residence is located at No. 165 East King Street. Ile has the finest refracting room in the state, in which there
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is an uninterrupted light, and the suite devoted to ophthalmic work is painted black.
The marriage of our subject occurred in Potts- ville, in September, 1884. the lady on that occasion being Miss Maude Irene, daughter of William D. Rudy, a prominent merchant in that place. In social affairs the Doctor is a Mason of high stand- ing, belonging to Lodge No. 476. Ile is connected with the Lehigh Valley Medical and the Schuyl- kill County Medical Societies, together with the State Medical Association, in all of which bodies he takes an active part. Religiously he belongs to St. James' Episcopal Church. In politics the Doctor is an ardent young Republican, and is in- fluential in the political life of his community.
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S AMUEL BARD, SR., resides in Upper Lea- cock Township, where he has a fine farm of one hundred and fifty acres, ninety of which were formerly comprised in the old home- stead. Ilis prominence among the citizens of the township is the result of his straightforward deal- ings with all, as well as the enterprise he displays in the management of his affairs. He is well known, for he has spent his entire life in this coun- ty and has ever maintained a deep interest in its progress. lle is the son of George and Elizabeth (Swope) Bard, and was born on the old home farm in the western portion of this township October 15, 1816.
The Bard family is of German origin, the great- grandfather of our subject having emigrated from the Fatherland many years ago and settled in Lan- caster County, where he took up a large tract of land in Upper Leacock Township, which still be- longs to various representatives of the family. Ilis son, George Philip, was the grandfather of Samuel of this sketch and spent his entire life in farming on the old homestead. Ilis son, George, was likewise born on that tract and when starting out for himself his father gave him two hundred acres, a portion of which descended to our sub- ject. This gentleman was a prominent member of
the Lutheran Church, in the faith of which he had been reared. In political belief he was a Whig until the formation of the Republican party, since which time he has voted for its candidates.
The mother of our subject was the daughter of Henry Swope, a farmer of this township, and by her union with George Bard she became the moth- er of eight sons and three daughters, all of whom are deceased with the exception of Adam, who is a lumber merchant of Reading, this state; Levi, a retired farmer of Cocalico Township, Lancaster County; our subject, and Elizabeth, wife of Henry Forney, a retired farmer of West Lampeter Town- ship. The father died in 1856, passing away at the age of eighty-three years.
The original of this sketch was educated in the district school, and on the death of his father fell heir to ninety acres of land. This, together with the sixty acres which he afterward purchased, is devoted to general agriculture.
In 1844 Samuel Bard was married to Miss Leah, daughter of George Stuck, a farmer of Earl Town- ship. To them was granted a family of seven children, of whom we make the following men- tion: llenry is engaged in the manufacture of spokes in Reading, this state; Laura is the wife of Abram B. Bausman; James is a hardware merchant in Reading; Justus was the next in order of birth; Agnes is at home; Samuel is farming with his father, and Ida is at home.
Mr. Bard affiliates with the Republican party and is one of its most ardent adherents. Energetic, honest, progressive and upright, our subject is one of that class of people who build up any section and make it to take a high place among the com- munities of the state.
I EORGE ROHR, managing editor of the Freie Presse Publishing Company, was born in Manheim, Baden, Germany, Octo- ber 2, 1856. lle is the son of John and Magdalena Rohr, who in 1866 crossed the ocean to America and settled in Lancaster. The death of his father
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oeeurred in December of 1893; the mother is still living, and is a resident of Lancaster. His educa- tion, commeneed in the schools of Germany, the subject of this sketch carried on in the public schools and St. Joseph school of Lancaster, where he has spent much of his time since a lad of ten. At the age of sixteen he was apprenticed to learn the trade of a printer under Gottlieb Smith, and after gaining a thorough knowledge of the art preservative, went to Trenton, where he was employed on a German publieation for three years. Thence he proceeded to New York, where he spent two years in a printing office, and later was em- ployed for a similar period in Philadelphia.
Returning to Lancaster in the year 1883, Mr. Rohr became an employe of the Freie Presse, and since the 1st of February, 1888, has been man- aging editor of the daily paper issued by this company. He is a gentleman of superior intelli- genee and ability, whose native talents and in- elinations have led him to adopt journalism as his profession, and the success he has met with proves that his selection was a wise one. In Trenton he was united in marriage with Miss Kate II. Braun, a native of that city, and they are the parents of four children now living.
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J ACOB HI. HERSHEY is one of the worthy old settlers of East Hempfield Township, and is now a resident of Rohrerstown. He was born in this township June 4, 1826, being a son of Andrew and Annie (Hartman) Hershey. In tracing his aneestral history we find that three brothers by the name of Ilershey came from Swit- zerland over one hundred and fifty years ago, settling in this county. The one from whom Ja- cob II. is a lineal descendant took up a large traet of land near the eity of Laneaster, and there his son Jacob was born and reared. He owned sev. eral farms and lived in Manor Township. By his marriage with Barbara Ilerstand, of Donegal Town- ship he had the following children: John, Jacob, Henry, Benjamin, Andrew, Mary and Elizabeth.
The sons all married and have families, but the two daughters died in early life. One son, Jacob, re- moved to Ohio, where he owned a farm of six hun- dred and eighty aeres, the present site of Medina. The other members of the family remained in this county and intermarried with the best and most respeeted inhabitants. One peculiar thing about them is that with very few exceptions they have all been Whigs and Republicans.
Andrew Hershey, our subjeet's father, was born in Manor Township. December 16, 1794. Ile was a thrifty farmer and was reasonably successful though he was in very poor health. He was a member of the Dunkard Church, and in that faith died Marel 23, 1837. February 8, 1825, he mar- ried the daughter of Samuel Hartman, a farmer of Manor Township, and by their union were born two sons and two daughters: Jacob II., Benjamin, who died when about four years old; Barbara, wife of Rev. Jacob N. Metzger, an Evangelical minis- ter, and Annie, widow of David R. Bower of Mid- way, Ohio. The mother, who was born October 5, 1801, and was a member of the Dunkard Church, died June 23, 1862.
Jacob II. Hershey received a publie school edu- cation in the township where he was born, and early engaged in farming. He also operated a mill for some years, and in 1867 removed to a farm adjacent. Subsequently he was engaged in the Revenue service, receiving an appointment from the Government, and after the office was abol- ished was appointed Deputy-Collector, a position he held with few intermissions until the elose of Garfield's administration. In 1882 he removed to the village, since which time he has been employed in selling fertilizers and making frequent journeys to Manor, East and West Hempfield, Laneaster, Manheim and Norwich Townships, in which he has also the ageney for Buchanan's wire fence. For twelve years Mr. Hershey served as a School Director, and is an active Republican. Religiously he is a member of the Church of God, in which he has been an Elder for over half a century.
December 23, 1847, Mr. Hershey married Annie, daughter of Jacob Manning, who was a carpenter in Washington Township. Mr. and Mrs. Hershey had born to them the following children, David
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and Annie, who have passed away; Andrew; Laura; Henry, Mary, Sylvania, Jacob and Sarah, who are also deceased. Andrew has been foreman of the New Era printing office of Lancaster since it was organized fourteen years ago, and Ilenry is a cashier for George N. Steinman & Co., hardware dealers of Lancaster. Mrs. Hershey died May 12, 1894, aged seventy-two years.
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F DWARD BOWMAN ILYUS. M. D., who is one of the able and leading medieal prac- titioners of Lancaster, is a son of A. C. Ilyus. whose biography appears elsewhere in this volume, and who is one of the honored old settlers of this county. Dr. Edward Ilyus was born in Neffsville. this county, October 14, 1860, and passed his boyhood days in that locality, attend- ing the publie schools until fourteen years of age, when he entered Millersville Normal and pursued his studies there until the close of the junior year. For a time he then devoted himself to teach- ing, having a school for two terms, and commene- ing as a pedagogue at the early age of sixteen years.
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