My Genealogy Hound

SAMUEL E. LANDIS. The Landis family, some branches of which spell the name Landes, of which Samuel E. Landis, a member of the firm of Landis & Company, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a worthy representative, was founded in America by Hans Landis, a native of Holland, who left his native land during the early years of the eighteenth century, locating in Douglass township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. He was the owner of a tract of land located near Congo, which he disposed of to members of the Bauer family, in 1773, for six pounds and seven and a half bushels of wheat as part payment on the property.

Among his descendants was Samuel H. Landis, father of Samuel E. Landis, born in 1819. He received his preliminary education in the schools of his neighborhood, pursuing advanced studies at Freeland Seminary. He purchased about eighty acres of land located near New Berlinville, Berks county, Pennsylvania, adjoining which was a tannery. He tilled his farm and operated the tannery until the latter years of his life, finally taking into partnership his son, David Landis, they conducting the business of tanning leather under the firm name of S. H. Landis & Son, and this connection continued until the death of Samuel H. Landis, at which time the tannery was disposed of. Mr. Landis and his wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Ehst, born July 1, 1821, a daughter of John and Mary Ehst, were the parents of children as follows: Kate, Mary, John, Elizabeth, Samuel E., Henry, Emma, David, George, Sue, Eli, Amanda, Magdaline, Tobias, and Annie. After passing an honorable and useful life Samuel H. Landis died June 12, 1880, in the sixty-first year of his age. He was survived many years by his wife, whose death occurred September 9, 1902, in the eighty-second year of her age.

Samuel E. Landis, second son of Samuel H. and Elizabeth (Ehst) Landis, was born in the vicinity of New Berlinville, Berks county, Pennsylvania, March 17, 1847. The educational advantages enjoyed by him were obtained in the common schools adjacent to his home, at Freeland Seminary, under the supervision of Henry Hunsicker, and at the Pierce Business College of Philadelphia, from which institution he was graduated in 1866. His first employment was as bookkeeper for the firm of Spare & Derr, wholesale boot and shoe dealers, in the city of Philadelphia, where he remained two years. He then went to Ada, Hardin county, Ohio, where he engaged in the grocery business, but after remaining there about one year he disposed of his interests and returned to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at once securing employment as book-keeper in the firm of Graybill & Company. In 1884 he formed a copartnership with Calbon L. L. Landis, under the firm name of Landis & Company, locating at 420 and 422 Market street, Philadelphia, where they are conducting a wholesale business in carpets, oil cloths, wood and willow ware. By reliable methods and trustworthy transactions, they have won an enviable reputation in business circles, and their trade is steadily increasing year by year. Mr. Landis is a member of the Mennonite church of Philadelphia, and a Republican in politics.

On September 10, 1871, Mr. Landis married Addie T. Geary, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Geary, and the issue of this union was three children: Preston G., born April 10, 1873; Joseph Edgar, born August 31, 1874; and Grace Lillie, born December 19, 1876, who became the wife of William D. Geyer, April 10, 1901.