Benjamin Franklin Bleacher Jr. ^{1 2 3}

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Census in 1850 in Martic Twp., Lancaster, PA. ² The 1850 census recorded Benjamin Bleacher, 39, living with wife Mary, 34; Abraham W., 9; Benjamin F., 7; Eliza A., 5; and Susan M., 2. Living next door is his father-in-law, Isaac Herr, 63, wife Catherine, 65, and their son Jacob, 32. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania.

2. Book: Biographical Annals of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania: bio of Benjamin Bleacher Jr., 1903.
BENJAMIN F. BLEACHER, in his life-time a prominent and respected farmer of East Drumore township, Lancaster county, was born Dec. 18, 1842, a son of Benjamin and Mary (Herr) Bleacher. The father settled on the farm in East Drumore township, where Walter Winters now lives, and became one of the prosperous farmers of this section of the county. To him and his wife were born eight children, of whom Benjamin F. was the second. The others are mostly living in the West.

Benjamin F. Bleacher attended the school at Buck when a boy, and in early manhood enlisted in Co. F, 122nd P. V. I., his regiment being assigned to the 3d Brigade, 13th Army Corps. Mr. Bleacher participated in the battles of Clouds Mill, Va., second battle of Bull Run, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. In this last conflict he was wounded by a bayonet in the right leg, and so injured, that he was ordered discharged in February, 1863.

In December, 1865, Mr. Beacher was married to Miss Ellen E. Graybill, who was born April 15, 1848, in East Drumore township, a daughter of Christian and Mary A. (Young) Graybill. Her father was born in 1808 in Lancaster county, while his wife was born in Northumberland county, the following year. They made their home in East Drumore township, where he lived until his death, in June, 1889. The wife and mother passed to her reward in August, 1879. They left two sons and one daughter: Amos, Samuel of York county, and Mrs. Bleacher.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Bleacher settled on a farm in East Drumore township, which has been the home of the family to the present time. Mr. Bleacher died Feb. 13, 1890, leaving a widow and nine children, as follows: (1) Oliver F., born in September, 1866, located in Philadelphia in his early manhood, where he is engaged in the barber business. He married Jennie Gamber, and they have three children, Ella, Nellie and Mary. (2) Erastus J., born in January, 1868, is now a resident of the city of New York. (3) William H., born in October, 1870, is a farmer and lives in East Drumore township, where he married Sarah Shop, and they have three children, Sarah, Martha and Walter. (4) Benjamin, born in August, 1872, lives in East Drumore township ; he married Mary Walton, and is the father of three children, Earl, Ira and Alta. (5) Mary E., born in November, 1874, married Walter Graybill, lives with Mrs. Bleacher, and has one •daughter, Ella. (6) Ephraim, born in September, 1876, died when eighteen years old. (7) John, born in September, .1879, is single, and is a typewriter and photographer, and helps support the family at home. (8) Catherine N., born in April, 1883, married Milton Graybill, and has her home in East Drumore township. (9) Samuel A., born Aug. 7, 1888, is at home.

Mr. Bleacher was always a Republican, and was a devoted member of the Methodist Church at Mount Hope. He was well known, and widely respected for his many good qualities and his excellent character.

Benjamin married Ellen E. Graybill in Dec 1865 in , Lancaster, PA.¹ (Ellen E. Graybill was born on 15 Apr 1848 in East Drumore Twp., Lancaster, PA,^{1 4} died in 1926 in , Lancaster, PA ⁴ and was buried in Quarryville: Mount Hope United Methodist Cemetery, Lancaster, PA ⁴.)