HISTORY OF KREIDER FAMILY
FROM THE PEN OF REV. J.G. FRANCIS
(Continued from Thursday)
"Klinefelt"
The Penns on Jan. 27, 1767 gave by warrant a tract of 791 acres and 73 perches to Henry Kline, Abraham
Rowland, George Gessman and Jacob Groff. This large tract had been surveyed to Michael Kline, Mar. 1, 1749.
Kline likely failed to meet conditions, or abandoned the land. Whether Henry Kline was a son of Michael we are
unable to say. In April, 1767, a division of the land was made by John Scull, deputy surveyor, by which Henry
Kline, received 376 acres, 40 perches; Rowland, 145 acres and 80 perches; Gessman, 159 acres and 60 perches;
and Groff, the remainder of 98 acres and 96 perches. Henry Kline's land, called "Klinefelt," perhaps a name
applied to the entire Michael Kline tract at the beginning, ran by Geo. Ebinger's land, by land of Christian
Kreider and Adam Bough, and by the land of Rowland and Groff.
The Ebinger land must have included the land on which the village of Midway now stands and the Brethren
church property, for John S. Bomberger informs us that years ago there was an Ebinger cemetery in the field
adjoining the church property on the east. He says that at least one of the markers was a sandstone, which was
taken by some men working in a quarry some distance to the south and used to sharpen the drills.
Henry Kline and his wife, Ann Maria, on Nov. 19, 1779, conveyed 125 acres of their land to their son,
Conrad, who on June 14, 1783, conveyed it to Frederick Wolfersberger, who on July 5, 1790, conveyed it to
George Cryder, who with his wife Maria on April 16, 1796, conveyed it to Christian Kreider, who April 5,
conveyed it to Abraham Reist, Sr., of Warwick township, Lancaster county, Reist getting a little of the old
Kreider Settlement land, who on May 30, 1809, conveyed it to Christian Bomberger. Christian left it to his
nephew, Christian, who married Mary Kreider, the daughter of Tobias of Cleona by his first wife. Christian
Bomberger's son John, the noted Prohibition leader, lived on this farm, which about 1868 became the property of
Adam Houck, and is now known as the Houck Farm.
"Klinefelt" was immediately east of the "Kreider Settlement," doubtless extended on south and likely
included the village of Rocherty. Christian Kreider at the extreme eastern end of the "Kreider Settlement" on
Jan. 7, 1772, bought 48 acres and 27 perches, contiguous to his other land, out of "Klinefelt" from Henry Kline.
But let us return to Mary Kreider Bomberger. Her husband, Christian had inherited the farm under
consideration, from his uncle Christian, the "Briller Bomberger," who had built the south end to the present old
farm house. Mary's husband was killed by a blast. He had lighted the fuse, the explosion delayed, and he went
back to examine.
The Bomberger Cemetery
There is a Bomberger cemetery on this property, surrounded by a good mortar-joined limestone wall, with
an iron gate entrance to the south, or rather with an iron barricade, for the gate is rusted fast and we had to scale
the wall. The cemetery is about 30 feet square. The large evergreen tree in the center makes it conspicuous for a
long distance around.
Inscriptions inform us of the burial of the following persons:
- Catharine, daughter of Henry and Susanna Westenberger, d. July 27, 1848, aged 27 years, 11 months
and 4 days
- A daughter of David and Sarah Westenberger, 1846.
- Christian Bomberger, b. May 15, 1778; d. Feb. 18, 1834; aged 55 years, 9 months and 3 days.
- Barbara Bamberger, b. Dec. 14, 1772; d. Nov. 28, 1848.
- Mary Bamberger, b. Aug. 31, 1818; d. July 11, 1863; aged 44 years, 10 months and 12 days.
- Christian Bomberger and his wife, Mary Kreider, sleep beneath the big pine tree alone so far as their family
is concerned, and they are likely to sleep thus alone until all who are in the grave shall hear the voice of the Son
of man and shall come forth. They had the following children:
- JOHN K. BOMBERGER, dec., noted Prohibition leader; farmer near Zinn's Mill; m. Elizabeth Smith, daughter
of Peter; 7 children:
- John S. Bomberger, m. Lena Wilhelm; farmer along the Ephrata and Lebanon trolley line, two miles
southeast of Lebanon; has in his possession very valuable papers giving light on the Kreider family,
and he very generously gave of his time to help extract the information, the writer owes him a great
debt; 1 child: Veronica, single, at home.
- Elizabeth Bomberger, m. Samuel Bowman, laborer at Quentin; 2 children: Miles and Myra.
- Mary Bomberger, m. William Reist, son of Edmund, farmer near Zinn's Mill; 8 children: John, Robert,
Isaac, Casper, Harvey, Paul, Martha and Annie.
- Sarah Bomberger, m. Joseph Brandt, farmer between Campbelltown and Palmyra; 4 children, of whom
are John and Annie. See The News June 19 .
- Christian Bomberger, m. Ella Stauffer; traveling salesman; residence, 800 North Eleventh street,
Reading; 2 children: Mary C. and Addison.
- Peter Bomberger, m. Maggie Hoke; trucker west of Annville; 2 children: John and Clarence.
- Adam Bomberger, single, was in Texas.
- ABRAHAM BOMBERGER, dec., m. Eliza Ruhl; farmer near Reistville; Reformed; 5 children:
- CATHERINE BOMBERGER, m. Josiah Kreider, farmer along Snitz Creek. See The News of June 19.
- MARY BOMBERGER, m. John S. Snavely, merchant in Lebanon; residence 118 N. 10th street; 4 children:
- Albert Snavely, m. first to Esther Jones, secondly to Mary Bossard; machinist in Washington Navy
Yard; 1 child, by first wife: Austin J.
- Edward J. Snavely, m. Maude Daniel; merchant in Lebanon, in partnership with his father; residence,
119 S. Second street; 6 children: Arthur, Mary, Jane, Louise, Julia and Priscilla.
- Joseph C. Snavely, single; first lieutenant in Sanitary Corps, in France.
- Mary Elizabeth Snavely, d. young.
- ANNA BOMBERGER, m. Levi Kreider son of Jonas of Snitz Creek; moved to Kansas. See News of June
12th.
- TOBIAS BOMBERGER, m. Annie Kreider; son of Jonas of Snitz Creek; The News June 19.
- DANIEL BOMBERGER, m. Lydia Kreider, daughter of Joseph, Sr., of Fairland. See The News of June 9.
We have finished the record of the children of Tobias Kreider of Cleona by his first wife. As we have seen
by his second wife, Maria, he had 8 children-4 sons and 4 daughters. But Maria had been previously married
to Joseph Dohner. As we had not learned that Maria had a child by the first husband, at the time that we wrote
of the family to which she belonged, we shall here give the imperfect sketch which we have of that child after
which will be given the other children of Maria by her second husband, Tobias Kreider:
- LYDIA DOHNER, m. Solomon Gingrich, a farmer of Heilmandale, who died of Paris green poisoning; joined
the Brethren in Christ before she died. They are buried at the Hill Church. Lydia was born Dec. 25, 1825;
and died Dec. 23, 1896. Soloman was born Dec. 26, 1823; and died July 24, 1886. They had 2 children:
- Sarah Ann Gingrich, m. first to George Yingst, farmer on the Gingrich homestead, m. secondly to Riley
Tompkins, railroader, resided in Heilmandale; 2 children by the first husband:
- Lizzie Gingrich, m. ---- Leopold; likely now living in Bethlehem, Pa.; 3 children, boys.
- Emma Gingrich, m. ---- Groh, a baker; had lived in Myerstown; children.
- Elizabeth Gingrich, m. Deacon Jacob Heagy, of Fairland.
The children of Tobias Kreider of Cleona by his second wife were as follows:
- MICHAEL KREIDER, afore, m. Sarah Horst, b. Sept. 23, 1836; d. April 16, 1916, residing beside her husband
at the Hill Church, daughter of Joseph and Catharine Shaeffer Horst; farmer on the homestead at that time
consisting of more than 200 acres, which he sold to Henry L. Long; Cleona being built on the southern part
of it; United Christian. The fact that so many of these Kreiders were United Christian, or earlier Hoffmanite,
shows that they were quite conservative on the subject of higher education; children:
- John Henry Kreider, the oldest child, b. Jan. 24, 1862; d. May 18, 1881; buried at Hill church.
- Mary Ann Kreider, b. July 30, 1864; m. Jacob Light, dec., of Union township, farmer near Bellgrove;
she for years in connection with rearing her family has operated the farm, which in its spick and span
condition is a monument to her credit; 10 children:
- Milo Light, m. Eva Brand, dec., teacher in the West Chester State Normal School, spends summers
in Connecticut, where he owns a farm; 1 child which is buried with its mother.
- Carmina Light, m. Thomas Lytle, manager of a garage in Philadelphia; 6 children: Thomas, Francis,
Wayne, Mary, Elizabeth and one that died in infancy.
- Yetta Light, m. Morris Ellenberger, teacher, later a farmer near Kauffman's church; 2 children: Myrl
and Mary. The Ellenbergers have frequently intermarried with the Kreiders. Mr. E. informs us that
the first Ellenberger of the Lebanon branch bought land of the Penns immediately north of
Annville. The name Ellenberger does not occur in Egle's list of warrantees, but Egle's list not
withstanding its great value is not complete. When Annville township was formed in 1799, the
assessment list contains three Ellenbergers-Jacob, John and Jacob, Jr. In that year Henry
Ellenberger was a single man. But going to old Lebanon township, we find Nicholas Ellenberger in
the list of 1750; and in 1759, John Elingbarger and Jacob Elingbarger. They were likely Mennonites,
for among the non-associators of 1777 are John Ellebarger and Jacob Ellebarger.
- Wayne Light, single, in charge of a reformatory for boys 20 miles southwest of Pittsburgh.
- Kreider Light, m. Annie Hostetter; farmer near Mt. Pleasant; 1 child: J. Mervin.
- Mahlon Light, d. aged 10 months.
- Elda Light, dec., m. Paul Wenger, dec., both died of the "flu" and are buried in one grave; no
children. See a former issue of The News.
- Vernon Light, single, at home.
- Jacob Light, single, at home.
- Sallie Kreider, b. Dec. 19, 1965; m. David Gingrich, driver formerly of a baker wagon in Palmyra, now
works for Miller Organ Company of Lebanon; residence Cleona; United Brethren; 3 children:
- Carmina Kreider, b. Dec. 24, 1867; m. Amos Wagner, farmer, southwest of Harper's; Lutheran; 5
children:
- David Kreider, b. May 13, 1869, m. Ida Koons; machinist in Phila.; 2 children; Henry and Iona.
- Ida Kreider, b. Aug. 22, 1873; m. Jacob Smith, farmer near Bellgrove; 2 children: Michael and Mary,
both at home.
- Minnie Kreider, b. Feb 22, 1873; m. Levi Kreider, son of John of Snitz Creek. See The News of June 9
& 12.
- August Kreider, b. Aug. 10, 1875; d. aged 20 days; buried at the Hill Church.
- Jacob Kreider, b. March 7, 1878; single, has taken up government land in Canada, on which he resides.
- JOSIAH KREIDER, afore. second son of Tobias of Cleona, m. Nov. 18 1858, by Rev. David Hoffmann, to
Maria Dutweiler, b. June 3, 1836; d. Mar. 17, 1918, outliving her husband 41 years, both buried in the United
Brethren cemetery in Annville; farmer south of the Heilig House, owning also the mill property received
from his father July 19, 1862; United Brethren; 8 children:
Descendant, Lori Sue Yordy reports Jacob spelled his name, Yordy.
- Leah Kreider, b. Sept. 9, 1859; m. Jacob Yorty, son of John, of the family west of Rocherty, farmer
near Bellgrove, now retired in the town; United Brethren; 1 child:
- Mary Elizabeth Kreider, b. May 4, 1861; d. ---- ----; buried in United Brethren cemetery at Annville;
m. William Wertz, dec., furnaceman in Lebanon; 4 children:
- Gertrude Wertz, d. of the "flu," m. Henry Simmers, dec., 1 child: Harry Samuel.
- Mary Wertz, m. Albert Watson, machinist, on Orange street, Lebanon; 2 children: Emma and
Michael.
- Harry Wertz, single, was in the army in France, now at home.
- Stella Wertz, single, clerk for Hauer tobacco firm.
- Elias Kreider, b. March 22, 1863; m. Ella Ziegler, farmer on the Bomberger farm beyond the Tunnel;
United Christian; 3 children:
- Clara Kreider, b. Dec. 10, 1864; d. August 7, 1865.
- Aaron Kreider, b. May 30, 1866; M. Ella Kline; farmer at North Cornwall; Brethren; 3 children:
- Henry D. Kreider, b. April 18, 1868; m. Lizzie Garman; foreman in the Hershey Chocolate Works;
residence Palmyra; 2 children:
- Emma Kreider, b. May 2, 1870; d. March 2, 1871.
- Kate Minerva Kreider, b. Dec. 22, 1873; d. ---- ----; buried at Kimmerlings; m. Aaron Allwein, dec.,
millman; residence Hebron; Lutheran; 5 children:
General information concerning the family of Josiah Kreider from his son Elias, the dates from the
Family Bible in possession of Mrs. Leah Yorty.
- ELIZA KREIDER, afore, m. John Yingst, b. Aug. 9, 1833; d. Aug. 30, 1888, both buried at Mt. Lebanon
cemetery; [...]; hardware merchant in Lebanon, Eighth and Cumberland streets; m. twice after death of Eliza,
first to Sallie Lehman, who died in childbirth, Sept. 6, 1873, about which time he built the handsome
residence on the south side of Cumberland street, west side of the alley between Second and Third streets,
the present Evans home; m. lastly to Amanda Klopp, by whom he had 2 children; he died on the train while
on a trip to Kansas, where he owned considerable land. Eliza had 2 children:
- Sallie Yingst, m. Adam B. Schropp, President, Treasurer and Managing Editor of The Lebanon News,
residence 829 Church street, Lebanon. To the generosity of Mr. Schropp are the Kreiders and general
public indebted to these historical sketches. He is a son of Rev. Henry Schropp, d. Nov. 17, 1890, aged
79 years, 8 months and 10 days, a devoted minister of the United Brethren, whose great grief was that
none of his boys became preachers; and of Priscilla Schropp, d. Dec. 8, 1891; aged 73 years, 2 months
and 5 days, who not only provided for her house but saved from the meager pay of a preacher of
bygone days. Muzzling the ox that treaded out the corn has kept many a young ox from the treadingout
business, to the great detriment of the church. Sallie Yingst had 3 children:
- John Adam Yingst, b. Nov. 8, 1859; d. May 29, 1912; m. Cora Strickler; miller with Strickler at 12th
and Cumberland streets, Lebanon; residence along the Cornwall pike, a short distance beyond the
city limits, where his widow still resides; children:
- Allan Yingst, m. Daisy Miller; foreman at the Cornwall Ore Banks; residence, Miners' Village; 3
children: Leroy, Ruth, dec., and John.
- Clifford Yingst, m. Bertha Gantz; blacksmith at 23 N. Seventh street; residence in the
homestead along the Cornwall pike; he, Lutheran; she, United Evangelical; 5 children: Nellie,
Ethel, Dorothy, Marion, who gave us the record of her grandfather, and Lottie, dec.
- Nellie Yingst, m. Arnold Heilman, insurance agent in New York; 1 child: Allen.
- Esther Yingst, single, with Nellie, being a stenographer in New York.
- Virgie Yingst, single, d. recently.
ELDER JACOB KREIDER, m. Nov. 22, 1860 to Elizabeth Moyer, b. May 9, 1843; d. Apr. 23, 1917;
resided at Fairland, his house being next to the oldest in the place; owned a farm south of the pike;
evidently a man of business, for he was executor of the estate of his brother Josiah. Hon. A. S. Kreider
tells that when he called on Jacob in reference to getting family records, Jacob had no time for such
worldly things. The visitor insisted that God gave us our gifts and among other gifts was that to learn
who were our ancestors. The elder was asked if he knew so and so was his cousin. He did not believe
it, wanted to know how it was, and the visitor was hardly able to get away from the house.
If the elder was not troubled with such worldly things as ancestors, neither was he troubled with
things so worldly as children. He had none. He was the bishop of the Brethren in Christ of the
Dauphin and Lebanon District. See a previous article on Elder Henry Kreider of Campbelltown. We are
of the opinion that we were told that Elder Jacob was at first United Brethren, and that the school at
Annville caused him to become River Brethren, later known as Brethren in Christ. He was elected to
the ministry in 1871, and ordained bishop in 1887. He was doubtless a good housekeeper in the
church; under him several houses were built in the district, the ones at Fairland, Hummelstown and
Harrisburg. He and his wife are buried in the cemetery at the Brethren in Christ, on the hill north of
Fairland.
SARAH KREIDER, afore, next to the youngest daughter of Tobias of Cleona, m. in 1858 to Peter
K. Shenk, b. Sept. 21, 1836; farmer east of Campbelltown, now retired in the town. Peter is in his 83rd
year, his mind is good, and he tells interesting things. He was the first of his father's family to get
religion. It was in 1860, when he was 24 years old. The meetings were held in the school house north
of Tobias Kreider's. The preacher was Rev. Lowry, of the United Brethren, whose son was a presiding
elder of the same church. On this occasion many got religion. Among the number were Jacob Kreider, later the bishop, brother-in-law of Mr. Shenk, and Samuel Herr, the veterinary, on the hill north
of the Heilig House. This was a few years before the split between the United Brethren and the United
Christians.
Peter bought his farm of 115 acres east of Campbelltown April 9, 1873, of Samuel Bowman, who
had received part of it in 1839 from his father, Jacob Bowman, Jr., and the other part in 1858, which
belonged to 225 acres received by Jacob, Jr., from his father Jacob, Sr., on March 22, 1825. Jacob
Bowman, Jr., had children, Samuel, John, Christiana and Elizabeth, both single; Catharine, m. David
Fernsler and Maria, m. Thomas Lesher, a preacher of the United Christians. Samuel and his two single
sisters, as well as Peter Shenk, left the United Brethren and went with Hoffman, who began holding
meetings at Brightbill's meeting house along the Horseshoe pike in 1867. About the time that Peter
bought his farm here, 1873, the United Christians effected an organization at Brightbill's. Peter says
that the burden of Hoffman's preaching in those days was that the college is the world, comes from the
devil, that the preacher is made by the Spirit of God, and that when education comes in the Spirit goes
out. These two United bodies should be united.
Sarah Kreider Shenk had children: