Lancaster County PA Genealogy

Biographical Sketch of William C. Forney

He was of Corwin Township, Ida County, Ida Grove, Iowa, and settled here in 1882. He was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on October 13, 1854. His father was Michael Forney (born October 15, 1824 in Dauphin County, Pa.) who came here in 1885. His mother was Margaret Crownshield, born in Maryland. Michael and Margaret’s children were: Sarah C., wife of David O. Crum, and William C., the subject of this biography. William C. Forney received his education at Millersville Normal School, Pa., and entered the boot and shoe business. Since coming West in 1882, he engaged in farming and stock-raising. … Read more

Record of the Smith family descended from John Smith

This book contains the history of the descendants of John Smith, born in Ireland in 1686, died in Uwchlan, Chester County, Pennsylvania, December 19, 1765; and his wife, Susanna, born in Ireland in 1691, died in Uwchlan, Chester County, Pennsylvania, December 24, 1767.

Biography of Chester I. Long

Definite distinction and assured prestige have been gained by Chester I. Long as one of the representative member of the Kansas bar, and his influence in public affairs had been wide and potent, as indicated by the fact that he was elected to the United States Senate from Kansas and had been a recognized leader in the councils of the republican party in the Sunflower State. He is engaged in the practice of his profession in the City of Wichita, had honored Kansas by his character and achievement, and is eminently entitled to recognition in this history. Mr. Long was … Read more

The Boyd Family of Mercelia Louise Boyd

The manuscript provides a short history of the Boyd family in ancient Scotland and of Thomas Boyd of Marsh Creek, Pennsylvania and the Manor of Maske. The genealogy of the book itself starts with William Boyd (c1700/10-1767), the immigrant, who settled in Cumberland Township in what was then York County, Pennsylvania, but is now Adams County, Pennsylvania. This manuscript traces the Boyd and allied lines up to 1935. Includes the allied families of Bell, Bracken, Culler, Cunningham, Finley, Gaut, Hoover, Hough, Markley, McGrew, Parrish, Perry, Pinkerton, Scholl, Speer, Warfel, Welday, Williams

Biography of Alexander Caldwell

Alexander Caldwell. Among the notable men in the history of Kansas, few are more deserving of perpetuation in its annals than is Alexander Caldwell. From the time when he came to Leavenworth, in the spring of 1861, until his recent retirement from the cares of active life, he was identified with events and movements that made Kansas history in numerous and diversified directions. A pioneer in the work of transporting military supplies to the army posts west of the Missouri River, with the coming of the railroads he turned his attention to railroad construction and management; as a manufacturer he … Read more

Biography of Francis C. Herr M. D.

Francis C. Herr, M. D. One of the most widely known physicians in Franklin County is Dr. Francis C. Herr, who graduated from one of the oldest medical colleges in the country forty years ago, and had been in active practice at Ottawa since 1884. Born at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, December 1, 1852, he is a son of Amos F. and Anna (Frantz) Herr, both of whom are natives of Lancaster County. This is a very old and prominent family of early colonial German ancestry. Doctor Herr is a descendant of Hans Herr, who represented a Suabian family of Germany, where … Read more

Biography of Ira C. Buzick

Ira C. Buzick was one of the pioneer lawyers of Lincoln County. He was the first man elected to represent that county in the State Legislature after the county was formally organized in 1870. He had a long and active career as a lawyer and in public affairs, and the name is still continued on the professional rolls of the Kansas bar through his son, Alonson Ruckman Buzick of Salina. Ira C. Buzick was born June 21, 1841, at Dayton, Ohio. His parents were also native Ohioans. At the age of twenty-two he took up the study of law, and … Read more

Biography of Hiram Rutherford

Hiram Rutherford, retired physician and surgeon, Oakland; one of the early settlers of Coles Co.; was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., Dec. 27, 1815; his great-grandfather emigrated from Ireland in 1729, and settled in Lancaster Co., Penn., upon a branch of the Susquehanna, where, with his wife, he lived until 1755, when he removed to Great Limestone Springs, two miles east of where the city of Harrisburg now stands, and near which place a large portion of his descendants now live; this grand old patriarch died 100 years ago, and lies buried in the Paxton Church-yard, the oldest burial-place in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James Albert Brady

Brady, James Albert; insurance; born, Franklin, Pa., Nov. 16, 1880; son of John and Isabelle Kingman Brady; educated, High School, Union City, Pa., graduate; studied Allegheny College, Meadville, Pa., Columbia University, Washington, D. C., and Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, Md.; married, Erie, Pa., June 3, 1905, Miriam E. Goodnough; two children, Louise Belle, age 6, and James A. Jr., age 4; came to Cleveland on Dec, 5, 1902, to enter life insurance work for The Mutual Life Insurance Co., in November, 1907, formed a partnership with R. A. Tuttle, the firm to take charge of Northern Ohio for The Midland Mutual … Read more

Marriages performed by Rev. Daniel Hertz, 1823-1868

“Lena M. Hertz’s publication, *Marriages performed by Rev. Daniel Hertz, 1823-1868*, is a compilation of 1,136 marriage records officiated by Rev. Daniel Hertz during his pastoral tenure at various German Reformed congregations in Pennsylvania, meticulously copied from his original records.”

Shawnee Indian Tribe

The earliest known home of the Shawnee was on Cumberland River. From there some of them moved across to the Tennessee and established settlements about the Big Bend. As we have seen, Henry Woodward was a witness, in 1674, to what was probably the first appearance of members of the tribe on Savannah River. Although he represents them as settled southwest of that stream near the Spaniards, it is more likely that the individuals whom he met belonged on the Cumberland, had been to St. Augustine to trade with the Spaniards, and were on their return home. Shortly afterwards a Shawnee … Read more

Biography of Col. Jeremiah B. Cook

Col. J. B. Cook. In all Southeastern Kansas there is no better known figure than Col. J. B. Cook of Chetopa. For more than forty years he has been recognized as one of the old and reliable and standard real estate dealers. He was one of the pioneers in Labette County, and lived on and improved a claim there before taking up his present business. He is not only an interesting character because of his long and honorable record in business, but for a life of varied service and experience. Many who know him well in real estate circles have … Read more

Slave Narrative of Angeline Lester

Interviewer: Frank M. Smith Person Interviewed: Angeline Lester Location: Youngstown, Ohio Place of Residence: 835 West Federal Street Story and Photo by Frank M. Smith Ex-Slaves Mahoning County, Dist. #5 Youngstown, Ohio The Story of MRS. ANGELINE LESTER, of Youngstown, Ohio. Mrs. Angeline Lester lives at 836 West Federal Street, on U.S. Route #422, in a very dilapidated one story structure, which once was a retail store room with an addition built on the rear at a different floor level. Angeline lives alone and keeps her several cats and chickens in the house with her. She was born on the … Read more

Kimble, Lawrence W. – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon Lawrence W.Kimble was born at Benton, Pa, June 16, 1871. Died in Enterprise, Sunday, October 6th, 1918. When Lawrence was five years of age his parents and family moved to Springfield, Illinois where they remained seven years, then moving to Minnesota. They returned to the old home in Pennsylvania where they now reside. Lawrence remained in the central west except for two years spent at the old home in Pennsylvania just before coming to the far west. He first moved to Kennewick, Wash., in 1911 and to Enterprise in the fall of 1912 when he became … Read more

Lancaster County Archives Historical Indexes

Wagner, William, Active 19Th Century. Map of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. York, Pa.: Wagner, 1821

This page offers quick access to a range of historical indexes available at the Lancaster County, Pennsylvania archives, which are valuable for genealogical research. These resources include indexes for wills, deeds, probate records, Orphans’ Court records, estate files, and more. Researchers can efficiently navigate through these records to trace family histories and gather details on ancestors from Lancaster County. Each index is organized to help locate relevant documents that provide critical information such as dates, property ownership, family connections, and other vital data crucial for genealogical research.

Biography of John Brandt

John Brandt was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, July 4, 1828, and is of German descent, his great-grand parents having emigrated from Germany, and settled in Pennsylvania, in the early history of that State. His father, John Brandt, for several years was engaged in the manufacture of rifles for the United States Government at Lancaster, and was a man of great natural mechanical ability. When the first railroad in Pennsylvania, known as the Old State road, running from Philadelphia to Columbia, and now a part of the Pennsylvania railroad system, was completed, the managers secured a locomotive of English manufacture. This … Read more

Biography of Harry Pray Study, A. B., A. M.

Harry Pray Study, A. B., A. M. Among the learned callings there is none, perhaps, that demands a greater degree of patience, tact, specialized knowledge, judgment and natural executive ability than that of the educator, and the individual who enters into this important field, selecting it as a calling, is called upon to make many personal sacrifices and to give many of the best years of his life unreservedly to its demands, often without the emoluments that would be attached to an equal amount of labor expended in another direction. However, there are many satisfying rewards which come to the … Read more

Shawnee Tribe

Formerly a leading tribe of South Carolina, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. By reason of the indefinite character of their name, their wandering habits, their connection with other tribes, and because of their interior position away from the traveled routes of early days, the Shawnee were long a stumbling block in the way of investigators.

Biographical Sketch of C. C. Zupp

He was born September 18, 1835 to George Peter Zupp (a native of France), and Elizabeth Zeuder of that country. They came to America and located in Pennsylvania. C. C. Zupp was born in Lancaster County, Pa., and when he was 3 years old they went to Wyandot County, Ohio. Three years later, they moved to Hillsdale County, Michigan. At the opening of the Civil War, he enlisted in the Eighteenth Michigan Infantry. After its close, he returned to Michigan, and moved to Buchanan County, Iowa. In 1869, he moved to Section 3, Douglas Township, Ida County, Iowa. At the … Read more

Biography of John Quincy Smith

John Quincy Smith. The career of J. Quincy Smith, of Fredonia, had been an expression of well directed and diversified industry and in its development had invaded various fields of human activity, in each of which J. Q. Smith had won a full measure of material success and satisfying reputation. He had had experience in both professional and business labors, and while he is now retired from the activities of life, having approached the Psalmist’s three-score-and-ten years, is still an influence for good in his community and a citizen whose help and support continue to be factors for the development … Read more