Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens
Lawrence County Pennsylvania 1897
[p. 639] wagon manufacturer and repairer of New Castle, was born in Saxony, Germany, April 23, 1836, and is a son of Andrew and Rachel (Senkel) Drescher, and grandson of Joseph Drescher. Our subject's grandfather never came to America, but his son, Andrew, who was born in Saxony, came to the United States when Henry, our subject, was a baby. Andrew Drescher was a carpenter and settled in Butler County, and followed his trade, buying a home in Saxony-burg and owning a small farm. At the age of fifty-five he fell from a load of hay and sustained fatal injuries, which soon brought on death. His wife lived to enjoy eighty-two years; she obtained her second eyesight and could see so as to read and hear very well, and on her 80th birthday, when her son, the subject of this sketch, gave her a birthday reception, she waltzed as lightly as in her youthful days. She was the mother of six children, namely: Christina; Hannah; Maj. Henry; William F.; Pauline; and a son, who died when an infant.
When a young man our subject looked about him for a suitable trade to engage in and become familiar with, and deciding on the wagon-maker's trade, he worked at that occupation fourteen years in Butler County before coming to New Castle in 1881. When he moved to this county he opened up in business directly for the manufacture of heavy wagons and all kinds of wagon repairing; each year he turned out a large number of orders, that were executed in a first-class manner, and were in every way substantial and serviceable, and many of his wagons, made during his first year's residence in New Castle, are being used at this date, and bid fair to last much longer, and give their owners all the service that could possibly be expected. He now devotes his time and labors principally to repairing. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. E, 169th Reg. Pa. Vol. Inf., for a nine months' term of service, and upon its expiration he re-enlisted in Co. E, 78th Reg. Pa. Vol. Inf., and was mustered out of the service at the close of the war as drum major. He is a natural musician, and in his younger days was associated with the band. Upon deciding to remain in New Castle he bought himself a home on Lawrence Street, where he has lived since. He has been a member of the Knights of Pythias order for twenty-six years, and has been through the chairs three times; for twenty years he has officiated as secretary and keeper of the records.
In March, 1858, Maj. Drescher was joined in the holy bond of matrimony with Miss Mary E. Eriser, daughter of Frederick Eriser, and three children have come into the home to cheer and brighten it, namely: Annie, who died in youth; William, who married Mary D. Quimbley, is a wagon-maker by trade, and has two children, Edna and Bruce; Joseph, the youngest of our subject's children, did not live to grow up, but was taken back to Him who gave him.
Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens Lawrence County Pennsylvania
Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo, N.Y., 1897
Previous Biography | Table of Contents | Next Biography
Explanation/Caution | Lawrence Co. Maps | Lawrence Co. Histories
Updated: 26 Jul 2001