William Long Kreider takes place as one of the foremost citizens and business leaders of Palmyra, Lebanon county. His great grandfather, Jacob Kreider, was a descendant of one of four brothers of the name who came to this country from either Germany or Switzerland. Jacob Kreider settled on Snitz Creek in what is now North Cornwall township, Lebanon county, and there, on September 25, 1774, was born Henry Kreider, his death occurring April 9, 1835. Henry married Christianna "Wittemeyer, daughter of Ludwig Wittemeyer, "born August 3, 1777, and died August 3, 1864. Jacob Kreider, son of Henry, was born in 1812 in South Lebanon township and died in 1874. He married Mary Long, who was born in 1819, a daughter of Joseph Long, of South Annville township, and who died in 1889. The maternal grandfather of William Long Kreider was Joseph Long, a son of Christian, grandson of Christian and great grandson of the Christian Long who took up 400 acres of land from the Penns, which was then located within the confines of Lancaster county but now forms a part of Lebanon county. The children of Jacob and Mary (Long) Kreider were as follows: Joseph L., Henry L., William Long, Abraham L., Benjamin, and Sarah who married Adam Moyer, of Palmyra. William Long Kreider was born on a farm in South Annville township, September 26, 1838, and was there reared to manhood. He attended the public schools and the old Annville academy. He was a clerk for two years with Christian Hoverter, spent a year with Killinger & Kinports, of Annville, operated a fulling mill on his father's land for two years, and in 1865, the year following his marriage, he removed to the farm of his father-in-law, David Wilhelm, of Palmyra, and the succeeding fall built a store and dwelling house at Palmyra, where he engaged in the mercantile business with his brother, Abraham. Realizing the advantageous position of their business with respect to transportation facilities, the brothers bought the grain warehouse and coal siding of Martin Early, combining all their lines, although they sold the mercantile part of the enterprise to Jerome and Michael Deininger in the spring of 1867. After continuing in the coal and grain business for some time, Abraham withdrew and entered the grain brokerage field in Chicago but retained his half interest in the property. He was succeeded by his brother, Henry. On returning to Palmyra, he, with Henry, took charge of the business, and William retired from active participation though still retaining his interest in the concern. He engaged in farming for a few years but subsequently bought the warehouse and resumed operations in grain and coal, later taking his son, David A., into partnership under the name of W. L. Kreider & Son. After four years, they went out of this business and rented the warehouse to Jacob Landis & Son. Succeeding this, Mr. Kreider engaged in no active business for a few years, but in 1888, when the shoe factory was organized in Palmyra, he became a director and later served two years as president. He withdrew from this company in 1891 and built a factory near the railroad with dimensions of 32x50, which was doubled in 1893. Two years later, because of the growth of the business, two additions, 34x50 feet, three stories high, were made, and in 1897, another building, 30x65. The combined floor space was then more than 24,000 square feet and manufactured infants', children's, misses' turned shoes, moccasins and soft soles, employing between 175 and 200 skilled workers. His business ability enabled Mr. Kreider to operate many lines successfully. In 1897, he added a flouring mill of 125 barrels daily capacity to the warehouse, became an organizer and president of the Londonderry Water company, one of the first directors of the Lebanon & Annville Electric Railway company, and was for a time a director of the Palmyra bank. He also owned a lumber yard and planing mill which he sold to W. H. Erb and was actively interested in the real estate development of his section of the county in association with Henry H. Long, the platting of the town of Cleona being one of the achievements of the pair. In 1864, he married Catherine Wilhelm, the daughter of David and Fanny (Deininger) Kreider, of Palmyra, who was born in that city March 9, 1846. They became the parents of the following children: David A., born July 15, 1866; William H., deceased, December 22, 1869; Mary A., February 3, 1873 (died October 21, 1881); Harry Clayton, September 1, 1875; Katie M., April 17, 1878, and married Eugene Bowman, cashier of the Palmyra bank, now deceased; and Edwin Franklin and Violet, twins, who were born September 16, 1883, the former dying January 11, 1888, and the latter January 2, 1887. The three sons, David A., William H., and Harry Clayton, all became associated with their father in the shoe manufacturing business under the firm name of W. L. Kreider's Sons.
A History of the Lebanon Valley In Pennsylvania, Volume II. By Dr. Hiram H. Shenk. Pages 73-75.