Biographical Sketch of Daniel BENNER (1893); Chester County, PA

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris 
<jMcDmorris@comcast.net>.

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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."