BIO: Francis Mentzer, Cumberland County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/ ______________________________________________________________________ History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania. Containing History of the Counties, Their Townships, Towns, Villages, Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc.; Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men; Biographies; History of Pennsylvania; Statistical and Miscellaneous Matter, Etc., Etc. Illustrated. Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1886. http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/beers/beers.htm ______________________________________________________________________ PART II. HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA. CHAPTER XLVI. FRANKFORD TOWNSHIP. 478 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: FRANCIS MENTZER, lumberman, Bloserville, one of the enterprising citizens of the township, who has done much to develop the resources of the section in which he lives, was born in the township he has lived in all his live. His ancestors on the paternal side came from Hungary, and on the maternal from Germany, before the Revolution. His great- grandfather, John, was twice married. This branch of the family is descended from the second wife, whose name was Christiana Wasinger. One of their sons, also named John, grandfather of Francis, was born in Lancaster County December 15, 1780, and died in this township February 5, 1861, aged eighty-one years. His wife was Elizabeth Ernst, a daughter of John Ernst, who came from Germany when eighteen years old. She was born March 14, 1793, and died July 6, 1880, aged eighty-seven years. They had nine children: Frederick, father of our subject; John, born November 12, 1818, married Eliza Seitz, and after her death Eva Householder, and died in 1879; Henry, born July 29, 1820, married Polly Lemon, of West Pennsborough Township, where they are living; Simon, born October 2, 1829, married Barbara Radabaugh, of this township, and lives here; David, born November 24, 1832, married Ann Fry, and lives in West Pennsborough Township; George, born February 27, 1835, married Harriet Oiler, and lives on the Bloser mansion farm; Barbara is the wife of John D. Snyder of this township; Catherine was the wife of William Kost, and both are deceased; and Sarah, who is unmarried, lives with her brother George. Frederick, father of Francis, was born August 31, 1813. He lived on his father's farm until after his marriage, when, after many changes, he bought the Laied farm, now owned by his son, Francis. In 1864, he retired and bought a small place south of Bloserville, removing to the village two years later, and died July 7, 1874. He was a thorough-going man, pretty sure to accomplish whatever he undertook, and enjoyed the confidence of his fellow-citizens, and was several times elected to responsible township offices. He was a religious man, a member of the Lutheran Church. January 26, 1837, he married Martha Bowman, of this township, whose father was born December 11, 1788, and died April 21, 1846. Her mother, Martha, also was a widow, a Mrs. Messner, and originally a Miss Bloser, who died January 26, 1856, at the advanced age of ninety-seven years. They had six children: William, born July 15, 1838, married Ellen De Sanno, and died February 28, 1865 (his widow, now the wife of William Lucas, resides in Peoria, Ill.); William was a practicing physician in Carlisle, a graduate of Jefferson Medical College, and had visited the medical schools of the principal European cities; John was born May 29, 1842, married Annie Keck, of Perry County, and was accidently drowned in the Conodoguinet Creek, (his widow and family still reside on his farm in West Pennsborough Township); Abraham, born July 14, 1844, married Sarah, daughter of Hezekiah Koch, of Mifflin, and is now living on Francis' farm; David, born April 4, 1847, married Mina Chronister, of Adams County, and is living on the homestead farm, also owned by our subject; Mary Elizabeth, born July 8, 1849, is the wife of A. P. Schimp, and is living in South Middleton. Francis, who is the second son, was born February 4, 1845. He lived at home until his marriage, when he began farming on two or three farms, finally removing to Mount Rock, Penn Township, where he stayed seven yeas, and in 1870 came back to the old farm which he had bought from his father two years before. Here he remained six years, then in Bloserville eighteen months, during which time he went West; on his return he went back to the farm and remained there until the spring of 1885, when he removed to the place where he now resides. In 1884 he had bought an interest in the business now carried on under the name Stambaugh & Mentzer, which he sold in the spring of 1886 to his son Frederick. November 22, 1860, he married Mary, daughter of William Drawbaugh, of this township; she was born February 28, 1840, and died November 11, 1881, accidentally burned to death by her clothing taking fire from an exploded lamp. They had following named children: Abner D., born September 13, 1862; Frederick, born March 18, 1865, who has taught school and now succeeds his father in mercantile business at Bloserville; Martha E., born May 14, 1867; William H., born May 21, 1870, and died July 15, 1870; Harvey, born December 17, 1871; Francis, born December 31, 1873; and Minnie Catherina, born September 30, 1876, all living at home. December 21, 1882, Mr. Mentzer married Kate D. Mentzer, a cousin, a daughter of John Mentzer, and born February 8, 1851. They had one child, Mamie, born May 19, 1884, who died May 4, 1885. Mr. Mentzer has always been an active man. He has built many houses and barns, is now engaged in the lumber business with his brother-in-law, Joseph Drawbaugh, in Mifflin Township, has taken an active part in the affairs of the townships, and has held several offices. He and his wife and several members of the family are members of the Evangelical Association. Mr. Mentzer is universally esteemed as an upright, trustworthy man and a consistent Christian.