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MARSHALL COLLEGE
Class of 1855 Obituaries
Rev. Isaac Getz BROWN, the youngest child of William
and Magdalene (Getz) Brown, was born August 14, 1828, near Lewisburg, Pa., and died at Wichita, Kan., May 7,
1885. Under the influence of the Rev. Dr. Henry Harbaugh, who had confirmed him, he decided to study for
the Gospel ministry. He fitted for college at the Lewisburg Academy, and continued his studies to the end of the
Sophomore year at the University of Lewisburg (now Bucknell). In the fall of 1853 he entered the Junior class
of Franklin and Marshall College. He was graduated with honor in 1855, the Franklin oration being awarded him.
He was a faithful member of the Goethean
Society. He pursued his theological studies at Mercersburg, and
was called to the pastorate of the Reformed Church in that town and of three churches in the surrounding country, in
April, 1857. He was licensed by the Classis of Mercersburg, May 19, and ordained June 20, the same year. For
more than quarter of a century he remained in that charge, resigning in the summer of 1882.
In the spring of the year following he entered the
missionary service of the Reformed Church, and began his labors in southern Kansas, making his headquarters at
Wichita. When he came to Wichita he saw a section of the country to the westward, with a rapidly increasing
population, but in 25 miles square not a single church of any denomination. Here he began his work, preaching in
school houses, in homes or wherever else he could obtain a hearing. He organized a congregation at Cheney and,
on November 24, 1884, one at Wichita. His arduous labors and constant exposure brought on sickness to which in a
few years he succumbed. The new church at Wichita is named for him, Brown Memorial church.
On May 20, 1862, he was married to Elizabeth Matilda
Loose, in Springfield, Ill. They had five children, one of whom is dead. Mrs. Mary Merrill lives in Colorado
Springs, Colo., Joseph L. is a manufacturer in Fort Worth, Tex., Paul (1893), and Silas (Kansas Univ., 1895), are
lawyers at Wichita, where they reside with their mother.
[The Fathers, 6: 273; Paul Brown.]
Mark KERNS, son of Abraham and Naomi (Ish) Kerns,
was born in Bedford, Pa. He fitted for college at the Chambersburg Academy, entered the Junior class of Franklin and
Marshall in 1853, and was graduated in 1855. He was a member of the Diagnothian Society and of the Phi Kappa
Sigma fraternity.
After graduation he engaged in the real estate business
at Council Bluffs, Iowa, and afterward in farming near Boonville, Cooper county, Mo. At the breaking out of
the Rebellion, in 1861, he entered the Federal service, July 26, in Philadelphia, as Captain of Battery G., 43d Reg., 1st
Pa. Artillery. He fought in the battle of Gaines' Mills, Va., June 27, 1862, and was wounded. He fought again in the
second battle of Bull Run, August 30, 1862, was mortally wounded, and died in the hands of the enemy. His body
was never recovered. He was unmarried.
[Bates, 1: 1000; Rev. Charles G. Fisher, D.
D.]
William Foxhall RICHSTEIN, A. M., son of George and
Mary Ann Foxhall (Sturman) Richstein, was born in the city Of Baltimore, Md., June 27, 1836, and died December 6,
1877. He entered Marshall Preparatory School in 1845, but owing to absence from college, on account of impaired
health, did not finish his course until ten years later. The degree of A. M. was conferred upon him by his Alma Mater.
He was a member of the Diagnothian Society and of the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity.
He was engaged in the book business in his native city
from the time of his graduation till 187o, except from 1860 to 1864, when he conducted a book store in Washington.
After 1870 he dealt in household goods. From 1857 to 1866 he was a contributor to the columns of the Reformed
Church Messenger. In 1855 he wrote for the Saturday Express, of Lancaster, Pa. From 1857 to 1861 articles
from his pen appeared in the Waverly Magazine. During the same years he wrote also for the New York Mercury.
In 1859 he contributed articles to the Mattoon Gazette of
Neoga, Ill. He wrote " Gleanings From the Field of Truth," a guide for visitors to Washington. The subject
of his graduation oration was " The Heroine of Lorraine."
On March 19, 1862, he married Miss Jemima Reese Lester, of Baltimore, a graduate of Brooks College, of the
Monumental City. There were four children: Ella Lester, Jemima Foxhall, Mary Elizabeth, and George Foxhall.
Mr. Richstein was an active worker in the Third Reformed
church and Sunday-school, of Baltimore.
[Rev. C. Clever, D. D.]
Uriah SANDT, Esq., son of Charles and Anna (Schug)
Sandt, was born at Sandt's Eddy, about five miles north of Easton, Pa., December 30, 1835. He prepared for
college under Rev. John Vanderveer, D. D., at Easton, entered the Sophomore class in 1852, and graduated with his class
in 1855. He was a member of the Goethean Literary Society.
Soon after graduation he entered the office of Edward J.
Fox, a prominent lawyer at Easton, and began the study of law. He was admitted to the Northampton county bar,
November 15, 1858. Being naturally bright, and of good attainments he soon made for himself an enviable place
among his fellow-barristers. He was elected to the office of prothonotary of Northampton county for two successive
terms, 1866 to 1872, which office he filled with credit. He was a Knight Templar, a member of Hugh De Payens'
Commandery, of Easton.
He was married, December 27, 1865, to Miss Emma Dawes, of Easton; but the last few years of his life he lived
with his mother on the old homestead at Sandt's Eddy, where he died March 6, 1879. He was buried at the Forks'
(Reformed and Lutheran) church, a few miles west of his native place.
[Rev. T. O. Stem.]
John SCHALL, son of John and Rebecca (Raush)
Schall, was born at Orwigsburg, Schuylkill county, Pa., June 5, 1834. He entered the Freshman class of Marshall
College in 1851, became a member of the Goethean Literary Society, and graduated with his class from Franklin and
Marshall in 1855. After graduation he was engaged as a clerk, and during the Civil War, served in the 27th
regiment of the State militia. While in the army he contracted a cold and was never well afterwards. He was unmarried,
and died of consumption, September 28, 1875.
[Private sources.]
Hiram Herman SCHWARTZ, son of John and Hannah (Keck) Schwartz, was born near Kutztown, Berks county,
Pa., December 21, 1830. When he was about four years old his parents moved to a farm in North Whitehall
(now Whitehall) township, Lehigh county, Pa. After attending both the free and subscription schools of his
district, he entered the boarding school of Dr. Vanderveer, at Baton, Pa., to prepare for college. He was a student in
Dr. Vanderveer's school till the winter of 1852-3, when he entered the Sophomore class of Franklin and Marshall
College. At college he took special interest in everything that pertained to college politics, and was a most active worker
in the interests of the Diagnothian Literary Society.
After his graduation, in 1855, he taught public school
for two terms. In accordance with his intention of eventually making the law his profession, on August 5, 1856,
Hon. Samuel A. Bridges registered him as a student at law, at Allentown, Pa. At the expiration of his second term as
a teacher in the public schools, his qualifications as an educator had become so well known that, on May 4, 1857, the
school directors of Lehigh county ,elected him to the county superintendency, and on the 3rd day of June
following, he was commissioned for the full term of three years.
While attending to his duties as superintendent he
prosecuted his law studies, during his leisure hours, and on May 5, 1858, before his term of office as superintendent had
expired, on motion of Hon. John D. Stiles, he was admitted to the Lehigh county bar, at Allentown. Upon the
expiration of his term as superintendent in 186o, he removed to Kutztown. Here, in the county and township of
his birth, he began the practice of law.
Although starting out in a new field of labor, his interest
in education did not cease. In 1861 he was appointed a school director for one year, and at the end of the year, he
was elected for a full term. It was mainly due to his efforts that a new four-roomed school-building was erected in
Kutztown, in which building was subsequently developed the Keystone State Normal School.
When the movement for the Normal School of the Third
District took definite shape, he became one of the leaders, and upon the organization of the same, in 1866, he was
elected a trustee, in which capacity he was connected with the institution until the time of his death, excepting part of
the year 1871. During his trusteeship he served as president of the Board, always chairman of the Finance
Committee, and for the last ten years, chairman of the Committee on Instruction and Discipline. His devotion to the
Normal School was such that he frequently sacrificed the claims of political obligation for what he believed to be to
the best interests of the institution, and during his last illness his one anxious inquiry was, " How is the School? "
He was elected justice of the peace in 1869 for three
years, and was three times re-elected. In the fall of 1869 he was elected a member of the State Legislature, and was
twice re-elected, serving in all three years, 187o to 1873. He was appointed a member of the Committee of
Education, at the instance of State Superintendent Wickersham, and during his membership of the Legislature, he
contributed in forming the educational policy of the State.
His term as Representative having expired he returned
to his law practice. On June 13, 1883, the State Legislature passed an act creating the officers of Judge of
Orphans' Court of Berks county. Sixteen days later Governor Robert E. Pattison commissioned Hon. H. H.
Schwartz judge of this newly created office, to serve till January, 1884, and on July 2, 1883, he took the oath of
office. At the fall election Judge Schwartz was elected to succeed himself. Of almost 19,000 votes cast, he received a
majority of nearly 6000. On the first Monday of January, 1884, Governor Pattison commissioned him for the full
term of ten years, which office he filled until his death.As a man, Judge Schwartz was noble and courageous.
Kind-hearted to a fault, he was an enemy to himself rather than to his fellow. A friend to all, he was loved and
respected by all who came in contact- with him. As a fitting testimonial to his services, memorial services were held in
his honor, in the Normal School chapel, at Kutztown, on Sunday, September 6, 1891, when eulogies in his honor
were delivered by Judge James N. Ermentrout, Dr. N. C. Schaeffer (1867) and Col. Thos. Zimmerman.
Judge Schwartz was never married. He died at Kutztown, August 25, 1891. His earthly remains rest
peacefully by the side of his parents, who had departed this life before him, in the cemetery at Egypt, Lehigh county, Pa.
(College Student, 12: 17, 20; Prof. J. Hiram Schwartz.]
Rev. Henry WISSLER, A. M., son of Henry and Susan
(Neff) Wissler, was born near Millersville, Lancaster county, Pa., June 5, 1831, and died April 13, 1889. He fitted
for college at Millersville and entered the Preparatory Department of Marshall College in 1849. In the fall of
1850 he entered the Freshman class of College. The following year he taught school, and then returned to college, entered
the succeeding Sophomore class, and was graduated in 1855 from Franklin and Marshall. He was an active member
of the Goethean Literary Society, and frequently served as one of its officers.
He pursued his theological studies in the Seminary at
Mercersburg. He was licensed to preach the Gospel by Mercersburg Classis, at a special meeting in Shippensburg,
Pa., May 16, 1856, and was ordained at Phoenixville, Pa., October 12, the same year. During his ministry he served
charges as follows: St. Vincent's church, Chester county, Pa., October, 1856, to March, 1858; Manchester charge,
Md., three years, followed by three as principal of the Manchester Academy; Sheperdstown charge, W. Va., six years;
Lovettsville charge, Va., two years; Duncannon charge, Pa., three years; Mechanicstown charge, Md., nine years, from
October 1, 1875. Some of these charges embraced as many as six congregations. He retired from the last field, October
1, 1884, suffering from a severe nervous affliction. He was treasurer of the Virginia Classis in
1870, and in 1883 was a delegate to the Potomac Synod, which met at Newton, N. C.
The theme of his graduation speech was " The Eloquence
of Decay." The degree of A. M. was conferred upon him in 1858, in course. He contributed articles to The
Guardos, frequently putting his thoughts in the form of verse. He wrote " Sacred Seasons, or Reflections on Sunday and
the Principal Fasts and Feasts of the Church year," which remains in MS. He also delivered occasional lectures
before literary organizations.
On June 14, 1859, he was married to Cornelia Amanda
Everhart, of Manchester, Md. Seven children were born to them, of whom five are living: Kate Anna (A. M., Kee
Mar Coll., 188o; M. D., Woman's Medical Coll. of Penna., 1895); Mary Cornelia (A. M., Kee Mar Coll., 1882; Art,
Cornell University and the Carl Hecker Art School, N. Y.); George Everhart (A. B., F. and M., 1888; B. L., Michigan
University, 1891); Rev. Harry Waiter (A. B., Heidelberg University, 1892; Theological Seminary, Lancaster, 1895);
and Jessie Louisa (B. L., Heidelberg University, 1894; School of Design, Philadelphia, 1897).
The Rev. Henry Wissler was pre-eminently a
conscientious man. He was a faithful pastor, an earnest preacher and successful in the work of his several pastorates.
[College Student, g: 157; Geo. E. Wissler, Esq.]
Source: Franklin and Marshall College
Obituary Record, Edited for the Alumni Association, Vol. 1, No.1, Lancaster,
Pa. Published by the Alumni Association of Franklin and Marshall
College, June 1897.
Obituaries
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