BIO:  Samuel R. KOCHER, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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Part II, Biographical Sketches, Wrightsville Borough and Hellam Township, Pg 78

SAMUEL R. KOCHER was born in York County, May 18, 1844.  His parents were 
Christian and Mary (Abel) Kocher, of German descent, who had three children, of 
whom Samuel R. is the eldest.  He was brought up on a farm, and educated at the 
public schools; he followed farming until 1881, although he began other business 
for himself before he was twenty-one years of age.  In 1870, he began a cigar 
manufactory in Lower Windsor Township, and in 1871 he opened up in Wrightsville, 
but continued the country factory until 1879.  In 1878, he erected the building 
which he has since occupied at Wrightsville.  He is also engaged in packing 
tobacco and is considered the largest dealer in the leaf in the county.  He 
packs about 1,000 cases of tobacco, and manufactures from 4,000,000 to 5,000,000 
cigars annually, employing about 100 hands.  He was married May 26, 1864, to 
Susan, daughter of Daniel and Anna (Sherick) Lefer, of Lower Windsor Township, 
and has three children:  Emma D., Samuel C. and Annie M.  Mr. Kocher was the 
originator of the Wrightsville & Chanceford Turnpike Company, of which he was 
the first president, and still holds that office.  He owns about fifty acres of 
land about three miles below Wrightsville, and two shad fisheries, and also has 
one-half interest in 345 acres of choice land in Orange County, Fla., containing 
a grove of 200 bearing orange trees, and within convenient railroad facilities.  
He is treasurer of the Riverside Lodge of Masons, and a member of S. of T., and 
was a judge of elections and assessor, and is altogether a prominent and active 
business man.  Mr. Kocher’s grandfather, George Kocher, came from Wurtemberg in 
1817, bringing with him his brother John and sister Rosana, and, arriving at 
Philadelphia, he moved to Peckway Creek, Lancaster County, where he lived 
several years, when he moved to Hellam Township, York County, (near Stoner’s 
Station).  He lived several years in Hellam, when he again moved to Lower 
Windsor Township, on the road leading from Wrightsville to Margaretta Furnace.  
Mr. Kocher’s father was born at Peckway, Lancaster County, in 1818.  Mr. Kocher 
has three uncles:  George, living in Perry County, Emanuel, living near Dayton, 
Ohio, and Jacob, living in Nebraska.  He also has a brother, Henry P., living in 
Dayton, Ohio; a sister married to Mr. Shultz, is living in Lower Windsor 
Township.  The portrait of Mr. Kocher appears elsewhere as a representative of 
the tobacco interest of York County.