Biographical Sketch of George W. Landis; Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris . *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** Source: "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsylvania, comprising a historical sketch of the county", by Samuel T. Wiley and edited by Winfield Scott Garner, Gresham Publishing Company, Philadelphia, PA, 1893, pp. 308-310. "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."