Notizen zu dieser Person
"GEORGE W. LANDIS, a successful business man of Pottstown Landing, and one of
the progressive farmers of Chester county, is the eldest of the two sons of
David Catharine (Latshaw) Landis, and was born near Boyertown, Berks county,
Pennsylvania, July 13, 1832. He was principally reared in North Coventry
township, this county, and received his education in the public schools there
and in Samuel Aaron's boarding school at Norristown. After leaving school he
learned the trade of coachmaker with Isaac Heistand, near Phoenixville, but
followed it only one year. In 1854 he embarked in the mercantile business at
Madisonville and Pottstown Landing, and soon drifted into the coal and lumber
business also at the latter place, in connection with the store. This combined
enterprise he successfully continued until about 1866, when he disposed of it
and went to North Carolina, where he engaged with several others in the
manufacture of lumber in connection with a grist mill and general store, on the
Pantego river, in Beaufort county. After conducting these mills for a year and
a half an opportunity was afforded to dispose of them, which was done.
Returning to Pennsylvania he was again, for a period of three years, in the coal
and lumber business at Pottstown Landing. In 1868 he was made superintendent of
teams for the Schuylkill Navigation Company, which position he filled until this
company sold out to the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company, in 1870, when
he became and remained superintendent for the latter company until 1876. Since
the latter year he has been purchasing the mules, feed and other like supplies
for the canal and railroad company, as well as for the Philadelphia & Reading
Coal and Iron Company. Mr. Landis also owns and operates a fine farm of one
hundred and eighty-two acres of highly productive land in North Coventry
township. In his political affiliations he has always been a republican, and
served as justice of the peace from 1865 to 1870. The following year he was
again re-elected, but resigned the position in 1874, and declined to serve
longer. In religion he follows the footsteps of his ancestors, and is a member
of the Mennonite church.
"On December 22, 1853, Mr. Landis was married to Hannah L. Funk, a daughter of
John Funk, of East Coventry township, Chester county. To Mr. and Mrs. Landis
were born two children, one son and a daughter. The son, John D. F., was born
June 29, 1859, and on October 14, 1886, wedded Florence M. Swindells, a daughter
of Rev. W. Swindells, D. D. He is now chief clerk in the office of the
Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Company, and resides at Trevose, Bucks county.
The daughter is Susanna F., now living at home with her parents.
"David Landis (father) was also a native of Berks county, born near Boyertown
May 15, 1804. In that county he passed his life, principally engaged in the
tannery business, though he owned and successfully managed a fine farm. He was
a man of energy and good business ability, lived an active and useful life, and
passed away on October 4, 1839, at the early age of thirty-five years. Almost
in boyhood he embraced the political doctrines of the old whig party, and
remained an ardent supporter of that organization all his life. In religious
faith he was a Mennonite and an active member of that church. April 21, 1831,
he married Catharine Latshaw, a daughter of John Latshaw, of this county, and to
this union were born two sons, George W., the subject of this sketch, and Rev.
John L., who now resides at Cape May, New Jersey, where he is engaged in
pastoral work as a minister of the Presbyterian church. The latter was educated
at Collegeville, and early adopted the gospel ministry as his chosen life work.
He married Florence Miles, of Potter county, Pennsylvania. Three years after
the death of David Landis, April 28, 1842, Mrs. Catharine Landis married Rudolph
Reiff, who died January 12, 1884, aged seventy-six, having been born April 3,
1808. She now lives at Pottstown Landing, having reached the eight-second year
of her age in January last.
"The maternal grandfather of George W. Landis, John Latshaw, was a native of
Chester Springs, this county, born March 26, 1785. He purchased a large farm
near Chester Springs, where he was engaged in farming. For a time he lived near
Pottstown Landing, retired, but returned to Chester Springs where he died May
13, 1860, aged seventy-five years. He married Susan High, and reared a family
of two sons and six daughters, the eldest of whom became the wife of David
Landis, adn the mother of George W. The others were: Madeline, married John
McCurdy, a farmer, justice of the peace, surveyor, and real estate dealer (now
deceased), and now lives in Tredyffrin township, this county; Susan, who wedded
Rudolph Harley, a retired farmer of Cairo, Illinois; Jacob B., deceased;
Elizabeth, married Isaac Heistand, and they are both now deceased; Mary, wedded
Israel Beidler, a Mennonite minister (now dead), and lives in Cleveland, Ohio;
John, a farmer of West Pikeland township, who married Elizabeth Jones; and
Sarah, who wedded Horatio Adams, a machinist, residing in the city of
Philadelphia."
Herbert
Latscha
