Biographical Sketch of Daniel BENNER (1893); Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris . Copyright. All Rights Reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ********************************************************* Source: "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsyl- vania, comprising a historical sketch of the county," by Samuel T. Wiley and edited by Winfield Scott Garner, Gresham Publishing Company, Philadel- phia, PA, 1893, pp. 801-802. "DANIEL BENNER, who has been a well-known undertaker for fifty-one years, and a leading member of the German Reformed church for half a century, is the only son of John and Susannah (Hofaker) Benner, and was born Octo- ber 22, 1820, in East Coventry township, Chester county, Pennsylvania. He grew to manhood in his native county, and received a good English education in the public schools, after which he went into the shop with his father and thoroughly learned the carpenter and cabinet making busi- ness in all its details. He then became an undertaker, and followed that occupation continuously for more than half a century, retiring in April, 1890, after devoting fifty-one years to the business. His trade was large and at times very remunerative, extending over a wide territory in Chester county, and reaching parts of three or four adjoining counties. He now owns two fine farms in East Coventry township, and is at present conducting a creamery, the second enterprise of the kind ever attempted in this township. He also owns a storehouse and several residences in Pottstown, Montgomery county, all of which he rents. In his political affiliations Mr. Benner has always been democratic, and may be regarded as one of the old wheel horses of democracy in this section. He has served his township as school director for several terms and is a member of the German Reformed church, which he has serv ed in the capacity of elder for nearly half a century. "Daniel Benner married Sarah Ellis, a daughter of James Ellis, who was a native of Ireland, but emigrated to America and resided for a time in East Coventry township, this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Benner was born a family of children, only two of whom now survive: Anna, married Andrew Wornvanon, a coal and feed dealer of Pottstown, Montgomery county, and has one child - Storer; and Clara, who wedded Maris Brownback, a pros- perous farmer of East Coventry township, and has two children, both daughters - Anna and Sarah. "The Benner family has been resident in Chester county since an early day, and is of German origin. Daniel Benner, paternal grandfather, for whom the subject of this sketch was named, was a native of this county, and died in East Coventry township at an advanced age. He was an extensive and prosperous farmer, owning a fine farm of one hundred and twenty five acres of superior land. He married and reared a family of children, among his sons being John Benner (father) who was born in East Coventry township about 1789, and passed away in 1843. "He received a good common school education, and afterward learned the trade of carpenter and cabinet maker, which occupation he followed in connection with undertaking during most of his life. In political affairs he was always a democrat, and in religion a strict member of the German Reformed church. He was a man of sound judgment, wonderful energy and good business ability. He married Susannah Hofaker, a daughter of Philip Hofaker, of South Coventry township, this county, and reared a family of seven children, one son and six daughters. A remarkable thing about this family of girls was the fact - which is perhaps without a parallel in the history of the county - that they were three pairs of twins, and all lived to reach maturity. They were: Elizabeth, now deceased; Maria, who is the widow of Ephraim Mattis, and lives in North Coventry township; Ann, married Samuel Rigg, a farmer of Union township, Berks county, where they reside; Barbara, the widow of M. Hawk, who lives at Reading, this State; Sarah, married David Wanger, a successful farmer of East Coventry township, this county; and Susan, who wedded Mahlon Miller, a clothier of Phoenixville, this county, where they reside."