My Genealogy Hound

MRS. ELIZABETH H. FEILBACH, proprietor of nursery, post office Bennett, was born Oct. 12, 1814, in Allegheny county, Pa., a daughter of Benjamin Herr. (See his sketch.) The Herr family were of Swiss descent, and settled in Lancaster county, Pa., in 1709, where their descendants were ministers and bishops of the Mennonite Church. Benjamin Herr came to this county in 1780, while on his way to Kentucky; low water compelled him to remain a short time, and he finally established himself in a permanent business. He was a leading citizen, identified with every good cause, building schools and churches, and having stock in the first bridge across the Allegheny river. He was a millwright, and owned Herr’s island and a large tract along the river. He married Magdalena Lichten, of Germany, who died in 1842, aged seventy-two years. They had seven children: Benjamin, Barbara, Henry, Daniel, John, Elizabeth and Magdalena. Of these, Elizabeth married Louis Feilbach, a native of Germany, who came to America while young, and was a horticulturist. He died April 11, 1886, aged seventy-five years. Six children were born to them: Esther, Elizabeth, Mary, Henrietta, Benjamin and Kate. These are all living and married except Kate, who died April 14, 1874. The subject of this sketch was born in a hewed-log house on the property still occupied, and the log house was subsequently removed to the island (Herr’s) opposite, to make way for the Pennsylvania state canal, and there remains in good condition, occupied—one of the few pioneer land marks.