-r ill ' '^™w*MR' -ajr J'?!IMP'.^lW!li 'J'!lll!f. ;i[lSJ|!||liKti,„ r" Cornell University Library CS71 .L257 1888 '<' ,, Landis family of Lancaster County : a co 3 1924 029 842 402 olin mm. *\m • "TB sSuL • CS /v 71 .v, L2.S7 IS© 8 Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924029842402 Comprehensive History of the Landis Folk FROM THE MARTYRS' ERA TO THE ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST SWISS SETTLERS, THEIR NUMEROUS LINEAL DESCENDANTS; ALSO, AN ACCURATE RECORD OF MEMBERS IN THE REBELLION, a Sketch of the Start and Subsequent Growth of Landisville and Landis Valley, A COMPLETE DIRECTORY OF LIVING LA NDIS ADUL TS, By D. B. LANDIS, Ex-Editor of the Landisville Vigil. ' Non Nobis Solum.' LANCASTER, PA. Published and Printed by the Author. 1888. Copyrighted by D. B. LANDIS, 1888. Pr ss « of Bindery of THE WEEKLY INQUIRER, HALLOWELL & WEST Lancaster, Pa. Philadelphia'. MEMORYTO THE Sturdy Swiss Settles, IJlS gROTBERS, enjattjtn attdts, Jr., FEOM WHOM HAVE HONORABLY 8PEUNG THAT VAST RELATIONSHIP KNOWN AS The Landis Family of Lancaster bounty, THESE HISTORICAL PACTS ARE RE- SPECTFULLY INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR. "TArom our Ancestors come our Names, J? But from our Virtues our Honors." PREFATORY. ^|~UST ten short months since, while the writer's mind s0\^ during some leisure moments was diverted to the gen- s' ealogy of his family forefathers, he became suddenly convinced that a history of the stock, embracing all persons in this county bearing the name of Landis, was a necessity. He, therefore, at once undertook the voluntary task of com- piling this work, with no other material at hand than a little information concerning his i'mmediate family predecessors. Had it not been for a host of friends, both old and new, who aided by tongue and pen, this little volume could not have been issued in the specified time; especially since it was prepared amid the manifold interruptions incident to a busy typographer's life. The author acknowledges his particular obligations to: Rev. John L. Landis, Binkley's Bridge; Eev. John B. Landis, East Petersburg; Levi S. Beist, Oregon; Hon. John H. Landis, Millersville ; M. B. Landis, Washing- ton, D. C; Israel C. Landis, Landisville; Prof. F. W. Bushong, Wichita, Kansas; John F. Landis, Elizabethtown; A. G. Landis, Sterling, Kan.; Jacob F. Landis, Abilene, Kan.; Eli B. Landis, Philadelphia; Henry H. Landis, Landis Valley; James D. Landis, Lancaster; M. B. Landis, Richland, Lebanon county; Ezra F. Laadis, Lancaster; D. K. Landis, Strasburg; Martin Gr. Landis, East Lampeter; Benjamin K. Landis, Bird- in-Hand; Emma Lehman, Landisville; and a number of others, for valuable aid in obtaining information from their respective families or localities. Among the publications from which extracts have been made, are: Martyrs' Mirror, Rupp's History of Lancaster County, Harris' Biographical History of Lancaster County, Evans'' History of Lancaster County, the Lancaster Inquirer, New Era, and Landisville Yigil. It has been the writer's desire to give a useful compendium of local knowledge that will benefit others besides those of his name. In addition to two parts of genealogy, a complete record of Landis soldiers is appended; also, an original ac- 6 THE LANDIS FAMILY OF LANCASTER COUNTY. count of the progress of Landisville and Landis Valley; a directory of living adults; and general information. A brief biography, in plain language, is given of each individual; also, the exact generation of every family from the earliest inhabitants. Nick-names are introduced throughout these pages more for the purpose of distinguishing similarity of surnames than to show their oddity. Should the reception of this volume, with its necessarily limited first edition, prove favorable, a second volume may follow. In the meantime the present book can be had for 65 cents cash, or the illustrated autograph edition for $1.25. D. B. L. SSO B. Chestnut St., Lancaster. Pa., February 1, 1S88. CONTENTS. PART I. Ancestry and Early Settlers. pAGB Persecutions of Mennonites in the Seventeenth Century, - . 9-11 Migration of Landisea to America, . 11-13 1 Rev. Benjamin Landis, of Lancaster County, . 12-14 Felix Landis,' of Dauphin County, 14-15 John Landis, 1 of Bucks County, 15 John Landis. of Ephrata, . 15 PART II. Growth of tele Landis Family. Genealogical Sketches, . ... 16 4 Lineal Descendants of John (continued from page 14), - 17-20 Descendants of Benjamin, 5 20-22 5 ..... Descendants of Henry, ... 22 4 Descendants of "Bennie," . 23-24 Descendants of "Blind" Henry,* . • - 25-28 4 Descendants of Benjamin, farmer, - . .- 28-30 Descendants of " Musser" John,* . 80-31 4 Descendants of " Brick " John, . 81-36 4 Descendants of Abraham, - 80-88 3 Descendants of Henry, - .... 38-40 1 Lineal Descendants of Felix, of Dauphin (continued from p. 15), 41 The Spring Creek Family, ..... 41-42 Descendants of Henry, of Dauphin, .... 42-48 1 Lineal Descendants of John, of Buoks (continued from page 15), 48-50 The Ephrata Stock (continued from page 15), - . 50-51 Descendants of Abraham, near Ephrata, 52 Lineal Descendants of " Hill " John. 52-63 1 Lineal Descendants of John, of Dauphin, . 64-65 John A. Landis, of Berks, - . 65-66 Descendants of Elias, of Montgomery, 66-67 Benjamin and John, of Montgomery, 67-68 John Landes. of Montgomery, 68 PART III. Landis Soldiers of the Rebellion. A Complete List of Men who Served the Union Faithfully and Honorably from Lancaster County—When They Were Mus- tered In, Promoted and Finally Discharged, 69-71 PART IV. Landisville and Landis Valley. Centreville—Landisville, 72-78 Postmasters, 73 8 THE LANDIS FAMILY OP LANCASTER COUNTY. PAGE. Places of Worship, 73 Camp-meetings, - - 74 Musical and Literary Societies, 74 Industries, ... 75 Mineral and Earth Deposits, 75 Notable Fires, - 76 Growth of the Village, 76 Landis Valley, 76-77 PART V. Directory of Living Adults. Adamstown Borough, - 78 Clay Township, 78 Cocalico (East) Township, - 78 Coleraine Township, - 78 Columbia Borough, - 78 Conoy Township, - 79 Donegal (East) Township, - - 79 Donegal (West) Township, - - 79 Earl ( West) Township, - .... 79 Ephrata Township, - . 79 Hempfleld (East) Township, - . 80 Lampeter (East) Township, - 80-81 Lampeter (West) Township, - - 81 Lancaster City, - - . - 82 Lancaster Township, .... 83 Leacock Township, . 83 Leacock Upper, ... 83 Manheim Borough, ..... 83 Manheim Township, - 83-84 Manor Township, . - 84 Mount Joy Borough, ... 84 Mount Joy Township, 84 Penn Township, 84 Pequea Township, - - 85 Rapho Township, . 85 Strasburg Borough, - - 85 Warwick Township, . 85 Washington Borough, - - - 85 PART VI. General Odds and Ends. Origin of the Name of Landis, - gg Disciples of Menno Simon, . 86-87 A Treasured Bible, - g7 Public Officers, - 87-88 Practitioners in Medicine, . gg Fire Companies, . 88-89 Recent Marriages and Deaths, - . 89-90 Facts and Figures, <m Final Wish, A Pq THE Landis Family of Lancaster Bounty. Part I. ANCESTRY AND EARLY SETTLERS. Persecutions of Mennonites in the Seventeenth Cen- tury—MIGRATION OF LANDISES TO AMERICA—FlRST SET- tlers ix the conestoga valley—llneal descendants of the Eighteenth Century. C ^ITN the latter part of the Sixteenth century the Landises, S^ among others in Switzerland, were noted for their piety, Gr and were appropriately called Pietists. The first histor- ical mention of individual members of the Landis family is made of Hans Landis,* a "pious witness of the Divine truth," who existed at that time. Hans was a Pietus or Mennonite preacher, who moved to the Ehine, in Switzerland, and lived there to feed and refresh others who were seeking after right- eousness. The Council of Zurich, who be it known were not Catholics, but of the Eeformedf church, ordered Hans' arrest, thus thinking to stop his teachings. But that good man could "Martyrs' Mirror," translated by Rupp, 1837; p. 1003. t After the fearful persecutions of Protestants by Catholics during the Sixteenth century, some of the Reformed placed themselves on record at Zurich and Berne as continuators of the cruel practices known to the martyrs' era. Various edicts were issued from 1601 to 1660 by the Re- formed against the Anabaptists (derisive of Baptists or Mennonites), creating fines, confiscation of property and other stringent penalties, in- cluding banishment. Others, however, of the Reformed belief, especi- ally the regents of the United Netherlands, exerted their influence for the protection of the innocent Mennonites. : 10 THE LANDIS FAMILY OF LANCASTER COUNTY. not be deterred from his sincere convictions, and "he was taken prisoner by his enemies and sent in irons from Zurich to the papists at Zolothurn." After being liberated by the aid of some kind-natured persons, he was again retaken and sent to Zurich, where he was rigorously examined as to his doctrine. • In September, 1614, he was beheaded* with a sword, as a true follower of Christ. The authorities then tried to persuade the common people that Hans was decapi- tated for his obstinacy towards them, but it remains a fact that he suffered death for religion's sake. It is interesting to know that Hans Landis was the last person to be beheaded for religious convictions in that locality, but persecution did not cease with his death. In May, 1637, among three other brethren, "Hans Landis, the second, a steadfast minister of the church in Horgerberg, and his daughter, Margaretha," were confined full sixty weeks at Othenbach. "Meantime the authorities sold their property for 7000 florins, and applied it to their own use."f In 1640, "Oswald Landis, his wife, and two daughters-in- law, were incarcerated in Othenbach. Jacob Landis, Oswald's son, and all his family, were banished. The two daughters- in-law, with their infants, escaped from prison; which good for- tune afterwards befell the old man and his wife.