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David W. Crider
David W. Crider, who is familiarly known as a publisher and bookseller of York, is a son of Jacob and Catherine (Mouer) Crider. His father was a native of Lebanon County and his mother of Cumberland County, both of German ancestry. The son grew to manhood on his father's farm, in Franklin County, where he was born in 1842. He received the rudiments of his education in the public schools, subsequently attending the Cumberland County Normal School.
While there he enlisted in Company E. One Hundred and Thirtieth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, 113th Regiment, as a private, and served nine months. His regiment was in the Army of the Potomac, and participated in the battle of Antietam, where 196 of his regiment were killed. In this engagement he was wounded in two places, the neck and leg, and was at first officially reported dead.
After his term of enlistment expired, and the country demanded more soldiers, he responded by re-enlisting, and joined the Two Hundred and Seventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, 207th Regiment, in which he remained until the close of the war. He was present at a series of battles in front of Petersburg, the battle of Chancellorsville and many minor engagements and skirmishes.
He had the honor of being present at the surrender of Gen. Lee, and was at the grand review of the Union troops at Washington, D. C. In the last enlistment he was quartermaster-sergeant of his regiment, which was mustered out of service at Alexandria, Va.
After returning to his home he entered Lebanon Valley College, and subsequently taught school one year in Maryland. In 1865 Mr. Crider became a member of the firm of Kephart, Crider & Bro., the members being S. L. Kephart, H. M. Crider and D. W. Crider. Mr. Kephart soon after retired from the firm, and the name became Crider & Bro. In 1876 D. W. Crider became sole proprietor, with the firm name unchanged, retaining all copyrights. The first named firms were engaged in the publishing business, and had taken out copyrights on three beautiful marriage certificates. The firm of Crider & Bro. have had issued to them thirty-three copyrights upon these certificates. Upon embarking in business alone, Mr. Crider added the general book trade. He now has twenty-eight copyrights on his marriage certificates, which are sold in all the States and Territories, Nova Scotia, Mexico, New Brunswick, Canada, Europe and nearly all over the civilized world. "The Oak and Vine" and "Cedar and Vine" have reached an immense circulation. "The Orange Blossom," copyrighted in 1882, has reached the largest sale, and his certificates of other issues, many of which are of beautiful design, have also reached a large sale.
In 1879 Mr. Crider obtained a copyright on "The Song Treasury," an excellent Sunday-school, prayer and praise-meeting book. This book has attained a circulation of 63,000 copies. "Bright Gems" was copyrighted by him in 1881, and "Silvery Echoes" in 1880; the latter, for infant Sunday-schools, has reached a large sale. "Songs of Love and Praise," an excellent work for Sabbath-schools and the home circle, is also handled by him in large quantities direct from the publishers.
Mr. Crider has one of the leading bookstores in southern Pennsylvania, and carries a valuable stock of books, stationery, fine Russia leather goods, and a large, attractive and well displayed line of fancy goods, which are sold at wholesale or retail. In public affairs Mr. Crider is public-spirited, and as an active business man he is well and favorably known. He takes a prominent interest in Sunday-schools, and is the president of the York County Sunday-school Union.
In December, 1870, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Spangler, only daughter of Nathaniel Spangler, a prominent farmer and lineal descendant of the earliest settlers of York County. They have six children: Horace W., Charles E., Flora I., David N., Sadie C. and Lillie M. Mr. Crider is a member of the United Brethren Church, and his wife of the Reformed Church, of York. He was one of the originators of the Emigsville Camp Meeting Association, a liberal contributor to its support, and is now vice-president of its board of managers. He is also a trustee of Lebanon Valley College.
Source: York County, Pennsylvania Biographical History, John Gibson, Chicago: F.A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.