Biographies from Historical and Biographical Annals by Morton Montgomery

LACEY,
THEODORE R.

p. 1106

Surnames: LACEY, DENGLER, MANMILLER

Theodore R. Lacey, Birdsboro, whose enterprise, industry and good
business ability have won him a substantial position and
comfortable competence, was born in Robeson township, Berks county,
in March, 1866.

His education was limited to that he acquired in
the district schools in the vicinity of his home, but his mind was
quick to grasp details, and he gained a good foundation for what
later knowledge was won in the hard school of experience. At the
early age of eleven years, he hired out as a farm hand, and he
continued at that work until he was seventeen. Coming then to
Birdsboro, he clerked in a hotel for two and one-half years. At the
end of that time he learned the barber’s trade, and at it spent
nine months, when he saw a good opening in the butcher business,
and with his usual sagacity determined to engage in that line. This
he did for several years with E. Dengler as a partner. After
selling out his interest in the butchering business, he engaged in
the livery business until 1899, when he sold out, and entered the
wholesale liquor and bottling business. A natural born love for
horses, however, induced him to add a livery stable, and he now has
one of the best in this section of the State, with ten horses and
vehicles, thoroughly up-to-date in every respect. He manufactures
all kinds of carbonated beverages, employs three men, and keeps a
wagon constantly on the road. His business is increasing, and
success has attended his efforts.

Mr. Lacey has ever had the confidence of the
people of Birdsboro. When but twenty-three years of age he was made
burgess, and fulfilled the duties of that office to the
satisfaction of all. In politics he is a Republican. His social
connections are with the K. G. E.; P. O. S. of A.; F. O. E., of
Reading; and Independent Americans. He is chief of the Birdsboro
Fire Department.

In 1888 Mr. Lacey married Clara Manmiller,
daughter of Samuel Manmiller, and they have had two children,
Claude, and one that died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Lacey attend the
Reformed Church, and are active in its work.

LADD, SAMUEL
W.

p. 1152

Surnames: LADD, KINGSBURY, MEACHAM, STACEY, SHALTER, SEIDEL, OTTO,
BUERMEYER, VALENTINE, LOWE

Samuel W. Ladd, who died in Reading, Pa., in 1864, was for some
years engaged in a mercantile business in that city. He was born in
November, 1840, in Connecticut, son of Stephen A. and Hannah
(Kingsbury) Ladd, and a descendant of the English progenitor, who
came from the mother country at an early day and settled in New
England.

Stephen A. Ladd, father of Samuel W., was a
farmer in Connecticut all of his life, and in that State he and his
wife died. They were the parents of six children as follows: Annie,
m. to Giles Meacham; Sarah, Sabrina, m. to a Stacey; Mary, who died
single; John; and Samuel W. In religious belief the family were
Congregationalists. Politically they were a family of
Abolitionists, and were strongly allied with the Whig party, and
later, on the organization of the Republican party, they were
prominent in that organization’s ranks.

Samuel W. Ladd was educated in Connecticut, and
came to Reading, Pa., as the representative of an old and
substantial Massachusetts insurance company. He was later engaged
in the mercantile business, which he followed until 1864, when his
death occurred. Mr. Ladd married Amanda Shalter, daughter of
Francis B. and Hannah (Seidel) Shalter, and to them were born six
children: Lillie m. to John B. Otto, of Williamsport; Charles R.,
deceased; Hannah E., m. to Rev. F. F. Buermeyer; Evelyn E., m. to
Dr. Milton H. Valentine; Annie E., deceased; Lura, m. to. Dr. John
W. Lowe. In religious belief Mr. Ladd was Lutheran, to which faith
Mrs. Ladd, who survived him until Jan. 29, 1909, also adhered. In
politics he was a stanch Republican.

LAMM
FAMILY

p. 884

Surnames: LAMM, BROSSMAN, KLOPP, ZERBE, WERNER, STAUDT, GRUVER,
WENRICH, MILLER, LUDWIG, BRIGHT, KISSLING, SHOUP, GERHART, WEITZEL,
FISHER, RUTH, DEPPEN, BOHN, BRENDEL, KALBACH, HIESTER, FIDLER,
BRUNNER, GAUL, FEEG, MOYER, KLEE, BROWN, GEHART, SHARMAN, FREEMAN

The Lamm family, so long settled in Berks county, had its early
home in Germany, but about the middle of the eighteenth century
there came to America the great-great-grandfather of the brothers,
Lewis F. and Charles F. Lamm, of Lower Heidelberg township. He came
to Berks county, Pa., and made a home in Heidelberg township.

John Lamm, son of the emigrant ancestor, was
born Dec. 1, 1759, and died Oct. 28, 1817, aged fifty-seven years,
ten months, twenty-seven days. He owned a farm of 150 acres in
Heidelberg township, and became one of the most influential men in
that locality. He married Anna M. Brossman, born Sept. 29, 1764,
died Feb. 28, 1826, aged sixty-one years, four months, twenty-nine
days. Both are buried at Hain’s Church in Lower Heidelberg
township. Their children were: John, who retained the old home,
married Catherine Klopp; Rosina married Philip Zerbe; Elizabeth
married William Werner; Daniel married Catherine Staudt; Peter
married Nellie Gruver; Anna Maria married John Wenrich; Benjamin;
and Margaret married Henry Miller.

Benjamin Lamm, son of John and Anna M.
(Brossman), was born in March, 1807. He grew to manhood on his
father’s farm. For a period of eighteen years he was chorister and
school teacher (German) at the Little Tulpehocken Church, now
located in Jefferson township. He then went to farming in North
Heidelberg, where he owned 163 acres of land, and he continued
there until his death, when he was sixty-one years of age. He
married Lydia Ruth, daughter of Frederick and Anna M. Ludwig. Both
rest in the cemetery at North Heidelberg Church. They were the
parents of two sons and five daughters, as follows: Mary, who
married William Bright; Joshua; Rebecca, who married Amandon
Kissling; Catherine, who married Richard Shoup; Elizabeth, who
married William Gerhart; James, of North Heidelberg township, who
married Rebecca Weitzel; and Ellen M., wife of John W. Fisher, of
Robesonia, the well-known ex-poor director.

Joshua Lamm, son of Benjamin and Lydia Ruth, was
born Oct. 23, 1832, was brought up in North Heidelberg township,
and carried on farming until 1870, when he moved to Robesonia.
There for two years he engaged in the grain business with Samuel R.
Deppen. He then purchased a farm of 187 acres in Heidelberg, and
resumed farming. In 1873 he erected the present buildings on this
farm, now the property of Edwin K. Bohn and divided into two
tracts. This he continued until 1887, when he sold the place and
retired, taking up his residence in Robesonia. He died Nov. 1,
1896, aged sixty-four years and eight days. He married Caroline
Brendel, of North Heidelberg, daughter of Frederick Brendel, and by
her had eight children: Lewis F.; Amanda Elizabeth, who married
(first) John L. Kalbach, (second) Evan Hiester, and (third) Allison
Fidler; James, who died young; Charles F.; Lizzie, who married
Daniel K. Bohn, of Heidelberg; Kate Margaret and Mary Jane, both of
whom died in infancy; and Emma, who married Charles Deppen, of
Womelsdorf. Joshua Lamm, the father, was a school director for many
years, both in Heidelberg and North Heidelberg townships, and was
secretary of the board most of the time, taking a great interest in
bettering educational facilities.

Lewis F. Lamm, son of Joshua and Caroline, and
now a farmer in Lower Heidelberg, was born in North Heidelberg and
was brought up to farming. His education was obtained in the
township schools, Palatinate College and the Krumbine Academy, at
Womelsdorf. He was licensed to teach by the late Prof. D. B.
Brunner, and in 1873, began teaching in Heidelberg township,
continuing for five consecutive terms. He next turned his attention
to farming in North Heidelberg and continued there for twenty-six
years on the same farm. In 1904 he purchased of the John Gaul
estate the farm on which he now resides, consisting of seventy-nine
acres, and he attends the Reading market once a week. He also owns
a farm of 101 acres located in Jefferson township, known as the
Joseph Feeg homestead, and on this in 1899 he erected a barn 40 x
80 feet; in 1895, he remodeled the house, putting the property in
first-class condition. He has it rented now. While residing in
North Heidelberg he served as school director for three years, and
as township auditor for nine years. For several terms he was deacon
and elder in North Heidelberg Church.

Mr. Lamm was married Aug. 7, 1875, to Rebecca,
daughter of John and Maria Moyer, of Heidelberg township. Eight
children have been born of this union: Rose Ann, who married Calvin
Klee; B. Franklin, a conductor on the Reading & Womelsdorf
trolley road, who married Minnie Brown, and resides at Womelsdorf;
John H., who married Bessie Brossman; Charles C., a graduate of the
Keystone State Normal School, Kutztown, and for one term a teacher
in Cumru township, but now a merchant in West Reading, who married
Minnie Klopp; Lloyd Joshua; Alvin Lewis; Frederick Edwin; and a
daughter who died in infancy.

Charles F. Lamm, son of Joshua and Caroline, now
a successful farmer of Lower Heidelberg, was born in North
Heidelberg, Oct, 19, 1859. He was reared on the home farm, giving
his parents the benefit of his labor, until he was twenty-one. He
then married and began work for himself, in 1883 settling in North
Heidelberg, where he remained two years. He next tenanted for seven
years in Heidelberg, after which he removed to his present farm,
the property of John K. Gehart. This consists of 140 acres, and Mr.
Lamm has considerable stock, and runs a fine dairy. His milk is
sold at the Wernersville Milk Depot, whence it is sent to
Philadelphia. He uses the best and latest improved machinery. He
owns a sixty acre farm in Lower Heidelberg, which he purchased in
1901, and this, too, he cultivates, as it lies adjacent to the
place on which he lives.

In politics Mr. Lamm is a Democrat, and keenly
interested in the success of his party, having frequently served as
delegate to county conventions under the old delegate system. For
one term he filled the office of school director. He and his family
are Reformed members of Hain’s Church. While living in Heidelberg
he was deacon and elder in St. Daniel’s (Corner) Church.

In January, 1881, Mr. Lamm was united in
marriage with Sallie Gaul, daughter of John Gaul and his wife
Catharine (Sharman). Five children have blessed this union: Nora
C., wife of Charles Freeman, a merchant of Sinking Spring; and
Alice C., Ellen M., George J., and Earl F., at home.

LANDIS,
HARRISON

p. 380

Surnames: LANDIS, OBERHOLTZER, SHEIP, HANGEN, MOYER, GYGER,
NIGHTLINGER, MOHR, STIEFLER, HAMER, PROUTY, BECHTEL, HAMMELL,
STOUDT, KNETZ

Harrison Landis, successful manufacturer of lumber and boxes at
Philadelphia, was born in Washington township, Berks county, near
Bally, Dec. 23, 1852. He received his preliminary education in the
township school, and at Boyertown (in Mt. Pleasant Seminary and
Hankey’s Academy), and then attended the Mennonite Educational
Institute at Wadsworth, Ohio, for two years. Upon his return home
he taught public school at Niantic near by for one term, and then
assisted in clerking in the country store of his uncle, Jacob
Oberholtzer (which was situated on the premises adjoining his
father’s), for two years. He then took a regular course in the
business college of Bryant & Stratton at Philadelphia, and
entered the office of the paint works of Ziegler & Smith, where
he was engaged as a clerk for five years; and was next in the
well-known steam-shipping office of Peter Wright & Sons for
three years.

With this preparation for business life, Mr.
Henry H. Sheip (his brother-in-law, manufacturer of cigar-boxes
since 1876) formed a partnership with him in 1881, and under the
firm name of Henry H. Sheip & Co. they developed a constantly
increasing trade until 1899, when they organized a corporation
entitled “Henry H. Sheip Manufacturing Co.” Since then, the
corporation has been carried on successfully, with Mr. Landis as
secretary and treasurer. They started with twenty hands, but now
have over 800, notwithstanding the introduction of many costly
labor-saving machines. Their annual volume of business exceeds a
million and a half of dollars; and their trading relations have
been developed to extend throughout the United States and into many
foreign countries; and from the manufacture of cigar-boxes they
have gradually branched out until their product includes small
wooden boxes of every variety, veneered boxing lumber, and casing
for electric wiring of buildings; they also deal in all kinds of
lumber for manufacturing and building purposes. It is the only
large plant of the kind at Philadelphia, and has been kept running
constantly from 1881 until the present time.

In 1876 Mr. Landis was married to Emma Louisa
Sheip, daughter of Levinus and Lucy Ann (Hangen) Sheip, of Bucks
county, and sister of his partner in business. By her he had three
children: Stanley Winfield and George Clarence (both of whom are
engaged in the financial department of the works mentioned), and
Mabel (m. Howard G. Moyer). His wife dying in 1883, he in 1892
married Mary A. Gyger, only child of John and Sarah (Nightlinger)
Gyger of Philadelphia, by whom he has two children: Mary Ester and
Mildred.

His father was George Obergoltzer Landis,
retired farmer of Washington township, Berks county, who was
married to Mary Mohr, daughter of Andrew Mohr of Macungie, Lehigh
county, by whom he had seven children: Harrison, above mentioned;
Emma; Henry m. Emma Stiefler, and is now in Japan, where he has
been connected with the Meiji Gakuin, a Presbyterian College; Evan
m. (first) Emily Hamer and (second) Mabel Prouty; Sarah m. Clement
Bechtel; Irwin m. Sophie Hammell; and Oliver m. Clara Stoudt. The
mother died in 1906, aged seventy-six years. The father died Oct.
29, 1908, aged eighty-two years.

His grandfather was Henry H. Landis, born in
1798, died in 1860; m. in 1823 to Susanna Oberholtzer, daughter of
Jacob, and after her decease to Elizabeth Knetz in 1856, and he had
seven children; George, above mentioned, Jacob, David, Aaron,
Susanna, Esther and Amanda.

The Landis family was founded in America by Hans
Landis, a native of Holland, who left his native land during the
early half of the eighteenth century, locating in Douglass
Township, Montgomery County, Pa. He was the owner of a tract of
land located near Congo, which he disposed of to members of the
Bauer family in 1773 for six pounds and seven and one-half bushels
of wheat as part payment on the property. Among the descendants was
Henry H. Landis, the grandfather of the subject of the above
sketch.

LANDIS, LEVI
S.

p. 724

Surnames: LANDIS, STAUFFER, OVERHOLZER, ROHRBACH, HARTRANFT,
ESHBACH, MOYER, MOHN

Levi S. Landis, a prosperous business man of Reading, Pa., who is
engaged in shoe manufacturing, was born in 1848, in Washington
township, Berks county, son of Jacob O. and Catherine (Stauffer)
Landis, and a grandson of Henry Landis.

Henry Landis, who was a grocer and tanner by
occupation was very successful in life, and at his death left a
comfortable property. He married a Miss Overholzer, and to them
were born the following children: Jacob, George, David, Aaron,
Susan and Esther. The family were members of the Mennonite Church.
In political matters Mr. Landis was a Republican.

Jacob O. Landis lived in Washington township,
Berks county, where he received a common school education, and in
early life engaged in farming, carrying on his father’s tannery in
the winter months. He is now living retired at the age of
eighty-three years, his wife having passed away in 1901, when
seventy-five years old. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs
Landis; Levi S.; Elizabeth; Emma m. Enoch Rohrbach; Susan;
Catherine m. James Hartranft; Nathan and Amos are deceased; and
Ella.

Levi S. Landis received his education in the
schools of Berks county, and until nineteen years of age worked on
a farm, at this time apprenticing himself to the shoemaker’s trade,
to which he served his time with Reuben Eshbach of Schultzville.
This he has followed ever since. He settled in Center Valley, where
he remained for twenty-five years, and in 1897 came to Reading,
locating at his present stand, No. 602 Schuylkill avenue, where he
is doing an extensive business.

Mr. Landis was married to Mary L. Moyer, and to
this union have been born two children: Herbert, a clerk in the
employ of the Reading Trust Company, m Ada Mohn, and has one child,
Spencer; and Steward R. is attending the Taylor University. Mr.
Landis and his wife are members of the Eighth and Court Street
Evangelical Church.

LANDIS, OLIVER MOHR

p. 745

Surnames: MOHR, LANDIS, GEISLER, STOUDT, ESTERLY

Oliver Mohr Landis, an enterprising business man of No. 427-431
North Sixth street, Reading, Pa., engaged in doing mantel,
fire-place, grate, tile and mosaic work, is a native of Berks
county, born in 1868, in Washington township, son of George 0. and
Mary (Mohr) Landis.

Mr. Landis attended the district schools and
West Chester Normal school, and then returned to Berks county,
teaching one term in Hereford township. Mr. Landis then went to
Pottstown and learned the carpenter’s trade, which he followed then
for three years, and one year in Philadelphia with some success. He
next went to Seattle, Wash ., being there one year after the great
fire in that city. He also engaged in the box manufacturing
business at Portland, Ore., and in 1885 returned to Pennsylvania.
In 1892 Mr. Landis located in Reading and engaged in business under
the firm name of 0. M.

Landis & Co, at No. 932 Penn street; one
year later locating at No. 933 Penn street, and the following year
at No. 15 North Sixth street. He then entered into partnership with
H. C. Geisler, Sr., and for six years they carried on a business
under the name of the American Tile & Mantel Company, at No.
727 Penn street, and later at No. 230 Penn street. In the spring of
1906 Mr. Landis opened his present business at Nos. 427-435 North
Sixth street, at the well-known old Esterly Marble stand, and here
he has continued successfully up to the present time.

Mr. Landis married Clara Stoudt, and they reside
at No. 332 Windsor street, Reading. They have six children: Russel
H., Mary D., Ruth, Grace C., Oliver and Harrison. In political
matters Mr. Landis is a Republican. He and his wife attend the
First Reformed Church.

LANDIS,
REUBEN T.

p. 1279

Surnames: LANDIS, TRUCKENMILLER, FREDERICK, HANKEY, HUNTZINGER,
WHITTICH, SPENGLER, HEFFLEY

Reuben T. Landis is an influential citizen and notary public of
Robesonia, Berks county, and also carries on agricultural
operations near the toll-gate on the Berks and Dauphin turnpike. He
was born Dec. 16, 1844, in Rockland township, Berks county, son of
Carl and Sarah (Truckenmiller) Landis.

Samuel Landis, grandfather of Reuben T. Landis,
belonged to the Montgomery county branch of the Landis family, but
in early life settled in Shimerville, Lehigh county, where he was a
farmer and hotel proprietor for many years, owning considerable
property and being a man well known and highly respected. In middle
life he suddenly disappeared from home and nothing has ever been
heard from him since. Samuel Landis married a Miss Frederick, born
in 1770, who died in her eighty-ninth year and was buried at Bowers
Station, Pa. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Landis, of whom
we have record of George, Samuel, Jonathan, Carl, Reuben, Nathan,
Hettie and Elizabeth.

Carl Landis, father of Reuben T., was born at
Shimerville, Lehigh county, Feb. 12, 1803, and died in Reading Feb.
28, 1887. His educational advantages were decidedly limited, as he
attended pay school for less than one month, but he was naturally
bright and learned to read, write and cipher well. His industry
placed him in comfortable circumstances, so that he was able to
give all his children better educational opportunities than he had
enjoyed, sending them all to higher schools of learning. Three of
his sons became school teachers. Mr. Landis was a general weaver by
trade, weaving flax, linens, woolen goods, carpets, etc. He and his
wife are buried at Hain’s Church, of which they were members.

Mr. Landis married Sarah Truckenmiller, who was
born in Upper Milford township, Lehigh county, in June, 1805,
daughter of John George Truckenmiller, a well known rake-maker of
Lehigh county. Mrs. Landis died at Wernersville May 20, 1876.
Fourteen children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Landis, seven of whom
died in infancy, the others being: Samuel, Leah, Jonathan, Charles,
William, Reuben T. and Daniel.

Reuben T. Landis obtained a liberal education in
the township schools, the Boyertown Academy, under I. B. Hankey,
and the Maxatawny Seminary, which was organized into the Keystone
State Normal School in 1866, while Mr. Landis was a student. He
then taught school for seven consecutive sessions, three terms in
his native township and four at Wernersville, in Lower Heidelberg
township, and in 1888 he taught one term in Lower Heidelberg
township. Mr. Landis has been organist and chorister at three
different churches and cultivated small farms connected with these
churches. In 1884 he was elected a justice of the peace of
Heidelberg township, and this office he filled with efficiency and
honor for fifteen consecutive years. He refused another
re-election, and later took out a notary public’s license, since
which time he has settled up many estates, acted as administrator,
executor and assignee, and has been a useful citizen in his
community in many ways, always supporting movements for the benefit
of his section. He is a Democrat in politics, has been delegate to
county conventions, and for four years was also committeeman of his
district. He is a Reformed member of the congregation of St. Paul’s
Church, of Robesonia, of which he was an elder for many years.

On Nov. 18, 1869, Mr. Landis was married to Eva
A. Huntzinger, born Oct. 25, 1840, daughter of Jared Huntzinger. To
Mr. and Mrs. Landis have been born two children: Laura E., born
Sept. 10, 1870, who died Sept. 19, 1872; and Homer L., born Jan.
17, 1874.

Homer L. Landis, born Jan. 17, 1874, at
Wernersville, Berks county, received his literary education in the
public schools in the vicinity of his home. His musical training
began when he was only six years old, at which time his father
taught him to sing by note, and even during his childhood he was a
vocalist of local fame. He commenced to study instrumental music at
the age of ten, and one of the happiest days of his life was the
one on which his father purchased him his first violin. His
versatility and success are of course largely due to application,
but nevertheless he has natural gifts of a high order, which have
been carefully cultivated. He is one of Prof. Arthur Whittich’s
violin pupils. Since 1885 he has been engaged in teaching all the
string instruments, having pupils on the violin, guitar, mandolin,
etc. His first pupil was his newsboy. His association with local
bands began about twenty years ago and was continued until his
business interests became so pressing that he had to relinquish
some of his musical work. In 1889 he began to be identified with
different bands in his village and in this connection learned to
play different brass instruments, as well as the drum and clarinet.
He became especially proficient on the baritone and slide trombone.
In 1895 he became associated with the Minnehaha Band of Womelsdorf,
with which he played the baritone and slide trombone for a number
of years, and he was also the leader of this band for some time. In
1897 he became affiliated with the famous Ringgold Band of Reading,
with which he played for over two years, severing this connection
because his increasing business interests left him so little time
to do his work justice. He is considered one of the finest
musicians in his section of Berks county, and is known as a
composer as well as performer, his masterpiece being his “Pioneer
Hose No. 1”; his “Reading and Womelsdorf Electric” is one of his
most popular compositions. Mr. Landis prizes highly a musical relic
which has been in his possession for some time, an old melodeon
which in spite of its age is well preserved and still a fine
instrument.

But though music is so important a factor in Mr.
Landis’s life he is also an excellent business man. In the spring
of 1892 he engaged in the weaving of rag carpets, and he also
manufactures jute carpets and carries a large stock of such
merchandise ready for sale. He manufactures between three and four
thousand yards of rag carpet a year, for which his establishment
has a high reputation, his product ranking with the best quality
turned out in this section. He also manufactures the “Durable Rug”
from old carpets, and the new rag rugs called “Puritan Rugs,”
having a large patronage in this line, extending not only over his
own county but into surrounding counties and New Jersey and New
York States. Since 1898 Mr. Landis has in addition to his other
affairs conducted a baking establishment in Robesonia,
manufacturing what is known as the genuine home-made bread, for
which there is a constant demand. Mr. Landis resides in his own
home on Main street, Robesonia.

On April 17, 1897, Mr. Landis was married to
Miss Emma Lina Spengler, formerly of Hamburg, daughter of George W.
and Mary (Heffley) Spengler, of Heidelberg township. Mr. and Mrs.
Landis have had three children, Milford Leon, Edna May and Max
Spengler, all of whom have musical talent. Mr. Landis is a Democrat
and interested in local politics, the movements of which he follows
closely.

LANDIS,
SAMUEL

p. 1426

Surnames: LANDIS, HAAG, HUFF, WEIDNER, KEMP, HERTZOG,
BITTENBENDER

Samuel Landis, a member of an old Mennonite family of Pennsylvania,
which located in upper Montgomery county about 1730, was the first
by that name to settle in District township, Berks county. He owned
a 200-acre farm (later owned by his son Martin, now the property of
Daniel Haag), one mile north of Landis store. He is buried all
alone on this farm. He was a Reformed member of Huff’s Church,
where his wife is buried. Among their children were: Martin;
Samuel; Polly, m. to Jacob Weidner; a son who was accidentally
killed by a wagon passing over him; and at least two others, whose
names are not recorded.

Samuel Landis, son of Samuel, was a carpenter by
trade, and later followed farming. He started the store business,
at what is now known as Landis Store, named after him. This is the
business center of the township. He built all the present set of
buildings except the large stone farm house. He established Landis
Store P.O., and his oldest son Nathan became the first postmaster,
and John H. Landis became the second, serving thirty years, and
being succeeded by Harvey W. Kemp, the present incumbent. Samuel
Landis served as township assessor, auditor and school director. He
was a Reformed member of Huff’s Church, where he and his wife are
buried. He married Kate Hertzog, and they had seven children,
namely: Nathan, Elizabeth, Martin, Lydia, John H., Katie and Maria
(died young).

John H. Landis, son of Samuel and Kate, was born
in District township, Feb. 28, 1842, and for many years, was the
merchant and landlord at Landis Store, being succeeded after forty
years of active business life by his son Henry B. who was in
business four and one-half years. In 1903 Harvey W. Kemp became the
proprietor and in 1909 purchased the stand and farm from John H.
Landis for $9,500. Mr. Landis is a Republican, and was the
committeeman of his township for a number of years. In 1865 he
married Emma Bittenbender, of Hereford township and their children
were: Henry B., of Reading; Frank B., a show merchant at Kutztown;
and Oscar, who died in infancy.

LANDIS,
S. EDWARD

p. 1439

Surnames:  LANDIS, RAMSAY, MILLER, BELLS

Edward Landis, whose plumbing establishment and place of residence
are located at No. 605 North Ninth street, Reading, is a well-known
business man of this city, where he was born June 14, 1877. 
His parents were Samuel W. and Maggie V.(Ramsay) Landis.  The
father was also born in Reading and he resides at No. 625 North
Eleventh street. S. Edward Landis obtained his education in the
public schools of his native city, and then entered upon  an
apprenticeship with Frank Miller, at the plumbing trade, working
for him for four years.  In 1898, Mr. Landis opened a shop of
his own,utilizing a part of the cellar of father’s residence. 
He easily proved to customers that he was a quick and reliable
workman which resulted in an increase of trade that necessitated
larger quarters.  He first moved to No. 608 North Ninth street
but later removed to his present place of business.  Here he
has a fine location and a well equipped shop, where he carries a
large line of gas fixtures and plumber’s supplies.  He is
enjoying a large amount of profitable business.

In 1902 Mr. Landis was married to Emma M. Bell, a
prominent citizen, and they have one child, Ruth B.  Both he
and his wife are members of the First United Evangelical Church.
Politically Mr. Landis is a Republican.  Fraternally, he is a
member of the Knights of Malta and is a past commander of the
Knights of the Mystic Chain, and belongs also to the order of
Maccabees.  Along business lines he is united with the Master
Plumbers’ Association.