BIO:  David A. KREIDER, Lebanon County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Abby Bowman

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
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Biographical Annals of Lebanon County Pennsylvania.
Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1904
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Page 45 - 46

DAVID A. KREIDER, one of the most substantial men of Palmyra, was born in 
Palmyra, July 15, 1866, and received his education in the common schools of that 
city, and at the Reading Business College.  In the spring of 1886, he embarked 
in a coal, grain and lumber business with his father, but two years later, 
established a general store in Palmyra, and operated it alone.  After about 
eighteen months, however, he again entered the coal, grain and lumber branch of 
commercial activity, locating at Cleona, Pa., just after that town had been laid 
out, and before any buildings had been erected.  Mr. Kreider built and then sold 
to the new residents a number of pleasant homes, and was largely instrumental in 
the establishment of the prosperity of the place.  Later, he returned to the 
farm at Palmyra, and for some time was employed in attending to it and erecting 
some eight or ten houses in his vicinity.

The next occupation of Mr. Kreider was that of clerk in the Kreider shoe 
factory, and occasionally he went upon the road as a traveling man.  This 
continued for about a year, when he purchased the planing mill and lumber yard 
of W. H. Erb, and the following year, he and his father bought the coal and 
grain business of J. Landis & Son.  The planing mill was rented to W. H. Erb, 
but he and his father continued the coal and grain business for two years, and 
then began operating the new flouring mill also.  However, a year later, the 
flouring mill was rented to Hoffer & Stauffer.  After a few months spent in 
well-earned rest, Mr. Kreider became the fourth member of the firm of W. L. 
Kreider & Sons, shoe manufacturers, which style was changed, June 12, 1900, to 
that of W. L. Kreider's Sons, upon the retirement of the senior member.  Mr. 
David A. Kreider attends to the business of the office as well as the 
purchasing, and is a very energetic young man of excellent ability.

David Kreider married Minnie Erb, daughter of Isaac Erb, formerly a coal and 
lumber dealer of Swatara Station.  The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Kreider 
were:  Willie E., David, Minnie, Irwin, Paul, Harry, Ruth, Raymond and Violet 
Edith, the last named dying at the age of three years, three months and three 
days.  Mr. Kreider is a consistent member of the River Brethren Church, and he 
and his family are important factors in the social life of Palmyra.