Lewis Edward Derr

From History of Frederick County. p. 1157:

Lewis Edward Derr, deceased, was a farmer. He was born, February 9, 1837, and died in 1894. His parents were Philip and Elizabeth (Crone) Derr.

The Derr family is of German origin and was early settled in Frederick County, Md. Philip Derr and his wife, Elizabeth Crone, were the parents of these children: Catharine, deceased, was the wife of Henry Summers; Lewis Edward; John, deceased; Rebecca, the wife of John P. Flook; Thomas, of Myersville; Jane M., the wife of Daniel Kepler; and two who died in youth.

Lewis Edward Derr spent his life in agricultural pursuits. He was industrious and was successful in his vocation. He was a man who was highly esteemed by all who knew him. Politically, he was an adherent of the Republican party. Religiously, he was a consistent member of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Derr was married in 1865, to Ann R. C. Mentzer, daughter of John Sarah (Ridenour) Mentzer. They had one daughter, Sarah A. E., the wife of Charles S. Miller, whose biography appears in this volume.

John Mentzer, the grandfather of Mrs. Derr, was the father of ten children: Barbara, Catharine, Sarah, Elizabeth, Magdalena, Mary, Susan, Jacob, Samuel, and John. Susan, widow of the late Henry Barger, resides with her daughter near Jefferson, Md., and has reached the ripe old age of ninety-six. John and his wife lived for some time south of Myersville, where he was engaged in farming. He afterwards removed to a farm situated near the boundary line of Carroll County, where he was extensively engaged in raising tobacco. He and his wife died in 1830, on the same day, when their son, John, was but ten years of age. Both were buried in one grave.

After the death of his parents, John Mentzer. the father of Mrs. Derr, made his home with Mrs. Smith, one of his married sisters, who lived near Rockville, on the south of Middletown. He remained with her until he married. He was a blacksmith and was a thrifty farmer of Middletown District. He was married, February 28, 1843, to Sarah Ridenour, daughter of John and Sarah Ridenour. They had two children, one of whom reached maturity, Ann R. C, married, March 30, 1865, to Lewis E. Derr, who died July 10, 1885.

John and Sarah Ridenour, Mrs. Mentzer’s parents, had ten children: Henry; Mary; Sarah (Mrs. Mentzer); Barbara; Susan; Frederick; John; Jacob; Daniel; and Rebecca. Sarah, wife of John Mentzer. died January 21, 1880. John Mentzer, her husband, died September 16, 1894.

Mrs. Lewis Edward Derr resides on the home farm near the foot of the South Mountain, where the battle of that name was fought in 1862. On this farm much of the struggle took place, and the old log house, which stood on the site of the present dwelling, was used as a hospital. On the morning of the battle, the family left the house and went behind the Union lines until after the battle was over. When the family returned, the household goods and furniture were all practically destroyed or stolen by the bands that always follow an army. They did not get possession of the house for three days, and, as before stated, did not have utensils enough to cook a meal. Just below the house in the meadow, lay the carcasses’ of several cattle which had been killed for the use of the army, but could not be gotten through to the regiment to which they were assigned. Until quite recently, many relics have been picked up on the farm. Mrs. Derr is a most estimable woman, who is held in high regard by every one in the community.