My Genealogy Hound

LEWIS M. BRICKER, one of the successful business men of Shiremanstown, conducting a prosperous bakery business, was born July 23, 1877, at Camp Hill, son of Martin F. and Martha (Musser) Bricker.

Martin F. Bricker was a son of Lewis Bricker, of Adams and Cumberland counties, who married twice and died at Mechanicsburg, a retired farmer. Martin F. married Martha Musser, of Camp Hill, and located at New Kingston, Cumberland county, and later on his father-in-law’s farm. There he died July 6, 1890, aged fifty-one years. He was a man of sterling character, a consistent Christian and a member of the Church of God. He cast his vote with the Republican party. His widow still survives, aged sixty-three years, and resides with our subject, her youngest son. The family consisted of these children: Harry died aged seven years; George died aged three years; Benjamin died young; Mary died young; Susan is Mrs. W. J. Swinn, of Harrisburg; and Lewis and John were twins, the latter dying in infancy.

Lewis M. Bricker attended the village school until he was about sixteen, and he recalls two of his teachers, P. C. Cobble and B. F. Heckert. From childhood, through his activity and industry, he had been able to earn small sums of money doing chores after school, but when sixteen years of age, he decided to learn the bakery business. With this intention he went to Harrisburg and entered the establishment of Irving Bender, on the corner of 13th and Market streets, but homesickness made him return to his native place after one week of work. He was then engaged for three months at Miller’s nursery, but later went back to the bakery business with D. W. Holler, of Camp Hill, for thirteen months, and completed his training with Kochenour, No. 512 Peffer street, Harrisburg, where he worked for fourteen months.

Mr. Bricker then returned to Camp Hill and managed the Holler bakery for eight months, and Kochenour’s bakery for nearly a year. In the spring of 1897, Mr. Bricker opened a bakery of his own in Shiremanstown, and remained there two years, and then bought his present residence and a back lot, on which he erected a first class bakery plant, this being completed in 1899. Since then he has added a bakery store, and controls much of the bakery business of his portion of the borough. His industry and energy have brought him prosperity, and his excellent products enable him to keep the trade.

On Sept. 11, 1897, Mr. Bricker married at Camp Hill, Alice Beidelman, daughter of David G. and Elmira Beidelman, both of whom are residents of Camp Hill. Mr. and Mrs. Bricker have three daughters: Margaret, Elmira and Bessie S. Both our subject and wife are members of the M. E. Church, at Camp Hill, and he is treasurer of the U. B. Sunday-school at Shiremanstown. Fraternally he belongs to the K. of P., and the Jr. O. U. A. M.