Henry Brenneman Eby

Henry Eby prospected for a business in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa only to return to his brother Samuel O. to work in the mercantile business with him in Bismark, Lebanon County, PA. Bismark was originally called Eby's Corner, then Independence, then Bismark, and then Quentin.

In 1864 he opened his own store in Bachmanville, Dauphin County, PA (south of Palmyra) which he operated for over 40 years. His general store thrived as it served the needs of the people in the area. He became a leader in his community serving as mentor, counselor and adviser in legal as well as personal problems. Many of his customers who had little education brought him their mail to be read and answered. Busy as he was, he still had time for what he considered his true calling: being spiritual leader for those in the community who had joined a non-denominational religious group, not a traditional church. The members met in homes to worship informally according to their beliefs. Anyone in the group could conduct the service but by common consent H. B. Eby was their leader. This group had no connection with the other "plain people" in the area. 

As time went on, his fame and influence spread far beyond his immediate area (reading in particular) throughout his life he kept up a correspondence with similar groups who sought his advice. Through his letters, he directed them in their spiritual growth as well as in their conduct in relationship with their "brethren."

Letters written by Henry B. to a brother preacher give an insight into the kind of man he was. In one of them, he talked about the evil of tobacco and he decided not to sell it in his store anymore. One wonders what he thought of his son, Grant, being a cigar maker. Another letter talks of him wrestling with the devil about carrying insurance on his store. That assumed that he did not have enough faith in god. 

When Henry Eby's first wife died leaving four small children, he hired Lydia Lehman to care for the children and keep house for him. It was not long after that they married and started a new family. They all lived together in the living quarters attached to the store.

As the family rapidly increased in numbers, daily living arrangements had to be devised. One interesting custom was that of succession at the dinner table. When a new baby was able to sit at the table, the next older child was moved from the highchair to a seat on a long bench. Each child, seated according to his age, advanced one space closer to the father at the head of the table. When the bench was filled, the oldest one moved from the bench to the first chair on the other side of his father. Luckily, it seemed that by the time the table was filled, an older brother or sister married and left home making room for the new baby.

The naming of a new baby followed an established rule. The father named all the girls and the mother chose names for the boys. Instead of a middle name, some were given a middle initial "L" for their mother's maiden name, Lehman. When one was old enough to make a decision, the individual could select any middle name that began with "L".

All the children attended school from the first through the eighth grade in a gray stone one-room schoolhouse a mile or so from their home.

    ******

 Lebanon Daily News, Lebanon County, PA, Monday, March 4, 1907

 Henry Eby's, of Elizabethtown, formerly of Bachmanville, died early Sunday morning at his home. He was about 74 years of age. Mr. Eby's was for many years storekeeper at Bachmanville, Dauphin County, not far from Campbelltown.

The deceased was a local preacher for many years in his locality, and also in reading, where he regularly visited on ministerial errands. The deceased was a man of strict integrity and principles, and highly respected in the several communities where he lived or was known.

Henry Eby prospected for a business in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa only to return to his brother Samuel O. to work in the mercantile business with him in Bismark, Lebanon County, PA. Bismark was originally called Eby's Corner, then Independence, then Bismark, and then Quentin.

In 1864 he opened his own store in Bachmanville, Dauphin County, PA (south of Palmyra) which he operated for over 40 years. His general store thrived as it served the needs of the people in the area. He became a leader in his community serving as mentor, counselor and adviser in legal as well as personal problems. Many of his customers who had little education brought him their mail to be read and answered. Busy as he was, he still had time for what he considered his true calling: being spiritual leader for those in the community who had joined a non-denominational religious group, not a traditional church. The members met in homes to worship informally according to their beliefs. Anyone in the group could conduct the service but by common consent H. B. Eby was their leader. This group had no connection with the other "plain people" in the area. 

As time went on, his fame and influence spread far beyond his immediate area (Reading in particular) throughout his life he kept up a correspondence with similar groups who sought his advice. Through his letters, he directed them in their spiritual growth as well as in their conduct in relationship with their "brethren."

Letters written by Henry B. to a brother preacher give an insight into the kind of man he was. In one of them, he talked about the evil of tobacco and he decided not to sell it in his store anymore. One wonders what he thought of his son, Grant, being a cigar maker. Another letter talks of him wrestling with the devil about carrying insurance on his store. That assumed that he did not have enough faith in god. 

When Henry Eby's first wife died leaving four small children, he hired Lydia Lehman to care for the children and keep house for him. It was not long after that they married and started a new family. They all lived together in the living quarters attached to the store.

As the family rapidly increased in numbers, daily living arrangements had to be devised. One interesting custom was that of succession at the dinner table. When a new baby was able to sit at the table, the next older child was moved from the highchair to a seat on a long bench. Each child, seated according to his age, advanced one space closer to the father at the head of the table. When the bench was filled, the oldest one moved from the bench to the first chair on the other side of his father. Luckily, it seemed that by the time the table was filled, an older brother or sister married and left home making room for the new baby.

The naming of a new baby followed an established rule. The father named all the girls and the mother chose names for the boys. Instead of a middle name, some were given a middle initial "L" for their mother's maiden name, Lehman. When one was old enough to make a decision, the individual could select any middle name that began with "L".

All the children attended school from the first through the eighth grade in a gray stone one-room schoolhouse a mile or so from their home.

    ******

 Lebanon Daily News, Lebanon County, PA, Monday, March 4, 1907

 Henry Eby's, of Elizabethtown, formerly of Bachmanville, died early Sunday morning at his home. He was about 74 years of age. Mr. Eby's was for many years storekeeper at Bachmanville, Dauphin County, not far from Campbelltown.

The deceased was a local preacher for many years in his locality, and also in Reading, where he regularly visited on ministerial errands. The deceased was a man of strict integrity and principles, and highly respected in the several communities where he lived or was known.* Reference: [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/27594140/henry-brenneman-eby Find A Grave Memorial] - [https://www.geni.com/projects/SmartCopy/18783 SmartCopy]: ''Sep 13 2023, 18:52:48 UTC''