USA > Pennsylvania > Cumberland County > Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of the Nineteenth Congressional District, Pennsylvania > Part 51
USA > Pennsylvania > Adams County > Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of the Nineteenth Congressional District, Pennsylvania > Part 51
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belle, wife of Charles H. Mayer, of York; James H. and Michael, subject.
Michael was educated in the York County Academy, and the Cheltenham Mil- itary Academy, of Philadelphia, graduat- ing from the latter institution in the year 1890. Immediately subsequent to his grad- uation he returned to his home and was employed in the car works with his father up to the year 1893. In that year he pur- chased a one-half interest in the Keystone Farm Machine works and later became the sole owner of that business. After becom- ing proprietor of this well-known industry, valuable improvements were made in mat- ters of equipment and capacity, placing it upon a firm footing and in a fair position to do competitive work with other and larger concerns of a similar nature. The Keystone works necessitate the employ- ment of from 125 to 150 men, the products of whose labor are sold in various parts of the United States in addition to large ship- ments to foreign countries.
Mr. Schall is a Republican in politics but does not take an active interest in his party beyond the judicious exercise of his right of suffrage. He is a member of St. John's Episcopal church and is also connected with Harmonia Lodge, No. 853, Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows. Among the younger business men of York he takes a first rank in point of enterprise, executive capacity and integrity. He is a young man of most creditable mental equipment, culti- vated tastes and good social standing whose characteristics as a business manager place him among the successful business men of his native city.
H ENRY C. BRENNEMAN, ESQ., a successful lawyer of the York County Bar is the eldest son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Berkheimer) Brenneman, and was born in Washington township, county
of York, Pennsylvania, January 14th, 1858. His parents were of German extraction and belong to the sturdy class of citizens that have done much toward the industrial and material progress of Southern Pennsyl- vania. His father, Jacob Brenneman, in early life was a manufacturer of woolen goods and afterward turned his attention to farming. He was born in 1833 and died in the year 1886, while his wife was demised in 1893. Three sons still survive: Henry C., Martin L., and Andrew J .; an only daughter Mary J. died in infancy.
Henry C. Brenneman left the public schools at 16 years of age, and after attend- ing Central Pennsylvania College, at New Berlin, Union county, Pa., one term, en- tered the State Normal School at Millers- ville, Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated in the class of 1880. He then took a post graduate course at Millersville and became principal of the Adamstown public school, Lancaster county, which po- sition he acceptably filled for one year. At the expiration of this time he was elected vice principal of the York High School, in which he taught mathematics and history for a period of six years. In 1887 he be- came a candidate for and was elected to the superintendency of public schools in York county, and his conduct of educational af- fairs during his first incumbency was such that he was unanimously re-elected in 1890.
Toward the close of his second term as county superintendent he concluded to leave the educational field in which he had been successful as teacher and superinten- dent, to take up the profession of law. He registered as a law student in the office of N. Sargent Ross, Esq., and was duly ad- mitted to practice in August, 1895. Short- ly after his admission, a partnership was formed with his former preceptor, Mr. Ross, which resulted in the present legal firm of Ross & Brenneman-one of the leading
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BIOGRAPHICAL AND PORTRAIT CYCLOPEDIA.
law firms of York county. A few months after entering into practice, Mr. Brenneman was appointed county solicitor, a position which he still holds. Politically he is a Democrat, and has been identified with the active work of his party. He is a member of the York Social Club, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Improved Order of Heptasophs, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Knights of Pythias, and is a high degree Mason. He is a member and past officer of York Lodge 266 Free and Accepted Masons; Howell Chapter, No. 199, Royal Arch Masons; York Comman- dery, No. 21, Knights Templar; Harris- burg Consistory, and Lulu Temple, An- cient Order of Arabic Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Philadelphia.
On May 21, 1891, Mr. Brenneman was united in marriage with Ida Lee Sanks, daughter of Rev. James Sanks.
C HARLES FREDERICK SPANG- LER, M. D., one of the youngest successful physicians of the city of York, is the son of Harrison and Mary (Sechrist) Spangler, and was born in York, Pennsyl- vania, December 30, 1859. The Spanglers are of German lineage, and the name is of frequent occurrence in the medical and other leading professions of this county. Dr. Spangler was reared in his native county, received his academic education in the York schools and in July, 1876, began the study of medicine under the preceptor- ship of the late Dr. Charles M. Nes, who at that time was one of the most eminent phy- sicians of the county.
In 1879 he entered Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, from which insti- tution he was graduated with honor in the Class of '81. Being an ardent lover of his profession, studious and a hard worker his association with that institution was at- tended by marked distinction. His qualifi-
cations invited the confidence of the faculty to a degree that responsible duties were as- signed to him, affording exceptional op- portunities for acquiring practical knowl- edge. His acknowledged thorough mas- tery of the various branches of the science, with a comprehensive manner of imparting information to his associates, gave him a foremost position in a class of six hun- dred and twenty. Immediately after grad- uation he returned to York, where he opened an office and took the initial steps in the practice of his chosen profession. In addition to a large general practice Dr. Spangler has devoted special attention to the diseases peculiar to women and in this particular department of medicine has been favored by more than ordinary success.
He has been in active and continual prac- tice the past sixteen years. He has been a contributor to a number of the leading medical journals of the country resulting in an extensive professional correspond- ence. During the past year, he has been taking special instruction in Gynaecology and Clinical Microscopy in the Johns Hop- kins University. He is a member of the York County Medico-Pathological Society, the York County Medical Society, the American Medical Association, and a mem- ber of the Association of Directors of the Poor, of Pennsylvania. He was physician to the York County Hospital for five years, and enjoyed the distinction of being Coro- ner of the county from the year 1884 to 1888 and from 1892 to 1895 inclusive, serv- ing in both positions with honor and credit. During his first term of office the Doctor continued in the custom of his predecessors in office, a custom that had been in vogue since the erection of the county, that of holding inquests in all cases of sudden, vio- lent, or accidental deaths, in accordance with the old English Common Law; there not having been any special legislation
1
Chastspangler.
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NINETEENTII CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
enacted defining the duties of the Coroner for York county. Doctor Spangler having been seriously impressed with the embar- rassing features of holding inquests indis- criminately, determined to interpret and carry into effect the modern conception of the meaning of the law, that of holding in- quests only when cause of death was sur- rounded by suspicious circumstances; this rule was so rigidly adhered to that but thirty inquests were held during the three years of his second term.
He thus established a precedent as a guide for future administrations that serves to dispel the feeling of dread hitherto as- sociated with that functionary and virtually reducing the emoluments of the office to that of a sinecure.
He was one of the first directors and original promoters of the Westinghouse Electric Light Company, and assisted ma- terially in the substantial establishment of that institution here.
He was also actively interested in the or- ganization and promotion of the Eastern Market.
In politics Dr. Spangler is of Democratic proclivities and has always taken an active and intelligent interest in the principles and success of the party with which he has affil- iated, and presumably an evidence of his popularity is noticeable in the Presiden- tial election of 1884, when he ran several hundred ahead of the ticket and carried the Second ward which has always been the strongest opposition district in the county.
He has been a member of St. Paul's Lutheran church since early life. In 1880 he was married to Frances H. Wilson, of Franklin county, to which union two chil- dren were born Joseph H. and Frederick C.
W ILLIAM A. KEYWORTH, cashier of the First National Bank of York, Pennsylvania, is a son of Charles A., and
Mary J. (Castor) Keyworth and was born in York, on June 22, 1868.
Charles A. Keyworth, father of our sub- ject, was born in York, on February 27, 1837 and died in the same place, February 22, 1876. He was educated in the public schools of his native city and at the York County Academy, but the more important part of his education was obtained through self tuition and attrition with people and places. He was a wide and diverse reader of literature, refined tastes and safe busi- ness instincts. He succeeded his father in the jewelry business at No. 8 East Market street, York, which he conducted success- fully until the time of his death. In addi- tion to his duties in connection with his main occupation, he invested largely and judi- ciously in real estate, which in after years vielded a comfortable legacy in itself. He was a director in the York County National Bank in whose affairs he always manifested an active and intelligent interest. He was also president of several Building and Loan Associations, was one of the first promot- ers of the Peach Bottom railroad and the York and Chanceford turnpike, and sus- tained important relations to a number of other industries in his native city and its environs. Politically he was a Republican, served for some time as a member of the school board and took a very general in- terest in the educational affairs and the moral improvement of the community. He was a member and officially connected with Zion Lutheran church throughout the greater portion of his life. He was united in marriage with Mary J. Castor, a daugh- ter of Peter Castor, of Philadelphia, by whom six children were born: Mary Leah, wife of Dr. Niles H. Shearer, wholesale druggist of York; Bessie Anna, deceased, in 1884, at the age of eighteen years; Wil- liam A., subject; Edward Thomas, an ar-
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BIOGRAPHICAL AND PORTRAIT CYCLOPEDIA.
chitect with J. A. Dempwolf, of York; S. Louise and Charles A., an architect of York.
William A. Keyworth was educated in the public schools, and at York Collegiate Institute. Subsequently he was employed for a period of six months by the A. B. Far- quhar Company (Limited). He then en- tered the First National Bank as assistant to the cashier, which relation he sustained for two years. At the end of this time he was made discount clerk and for a period of nine years performed the duties of that position with efficiency and integrity. In 1896, upon the retirement of Mr. J. J. Frick from the cashiership of the First National Bank, Mr. Keyworth was named his im- mediate successor and has continued to act in that capacity ever since. He is a careful and painstaking official, ample business and financial training and possesses in a very large measure the confidence and respect of the bank's patronage. For some years past Mr. Keyworth has operated consider- ably in real estate, but since his elevation to his present post has devoted his entire time and attention to the onerous and ex- acting duties of his present position.
Mr. Keyworth is a Republican in politics and thoroughly devoted to the principles of that party but does not take an active inter- est in its councils or organizations. He is a member of Zion Lutheran church, and a Mason in high standing.
On November 5, 1896, he was united in marriage with Bella Weiser Carl, a daugh- ter of Jere Carl, of York, whose sketch ap- pears elsewhere in this volume.
Mr. Keyworth is a young man of proper energy and ambition, good business quali- fications and unquestioned fidelity to the in- terests of those he serves. In manner he is affable. in his business relations always courteous and in private and domestic life
manifests a high degree of culture and re- finement.
For five years he was a Director in the Young Men's Christian Association.
I
OHN A. HOOBER, ESQ., a promi- nent young member of the York county bar, is the only son of Henry and Malinda (Holtzapple) Hoober, and was born at Wrightsville, Pennsylvania, January 27, 1867. His parents were both of German descent, natives of York county, and members of old and highly respect- able families. Henry Hoober, his father, was born in 1839, and died in 1869, and at the time of his death was a resident of Wrightsville. He was active in religious affairs, and a member of several fraternal orders. His marriage with Malinda Holtz- apple, a daughter of William Holtzapple. was celebrated in 1866, and resulted in the birth of one son, John A., the subject of this sketch.
John A. Hoober was bereft of his father when under three years of age and conse- quently was compelled to begin life single- handed even in boyhood. He attended the public schools of York and entered the York Collegiate Institute in 1885, from which he was graduated in 1887. In the Fall of 1887 he became an attache of the York Gazette, and for two years was cor- respondent for the press of Pittsburg, Phil- adelphia, New York and other cities. At the expiration of this time, in 1889, he en- tered the Law Department of Yale Uni- versity, New Haven, Connecticut, from which he was graduated with the degree, Bachelor of Laws, in 1891. Subsequent to this time he pursued a two years post- graduate course in the Yale Law and Academic schools, receiving the degree of Doctor of Civil Law in 1893, during which two years he filled an instructorship in the Law School, Returning home in 1893,
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NINETEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
he was admitted to the bar of York county, and since that date has been in active and successful practice. In addition to his professional duties, he is also a lecturer on patent law at Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, a lectureship for which he is well qualified, both by reason of natural ability and special study in this direction under ex-United State's Commissioner of Patents, Hon. W. E. Simonds, and Hon. William Townsend, of the United States District Court of Connecticut and Southern New York.
Mr. Hoober is a Democrat in politics, an ex-president of the Young Men's Dem- ocratic Society, of York, and a member of the Union Lutheran church, in whose Sun- day school he has been a teacher for a num- ber of years. He is a director and secre- tary of the Board of Managers of the Young Men's Christian Association, of York, and is president of the Alumni Society, of the York Collegiate Institute. Aside from professional duties, he is an in- terested observer of current events, and a frequent contributor to leading legal maga- zines and journals. He is a clear, facile and attractive writer, as well as a trust- worthy and competent lawyer.
At college Mr. Hoober was elected grad- uate editor of the Yale Law Journal, and was made the Wayland prize speaker of 1891. Some of his energies were spent in other lines-in filling his duties as vice president of the University Young Men's Christian Association and in active partici- pation in field and track athletics.
INTON HENRY RITCHEY, a suc- cessful druggist of Carlisle, Penn- sylvania, is the son of Josiah and Emily Jane (Seavers) Ritchey. He was born in the town of Bradford, Pennsylvania, Oc- tober 26, 1851. The Ritcheys are of Eng- lish origin and were among the early set-
tlers of Bradford county, where they were agriculturalists. Jacob Ritchey, great- grandfather of our subject, was a native of Bedford county and an extensive farmer, owning a large tract of land near Bedford. He was also a distiller and miller, traded in grain and shipped a great quantity of cereals and produce to Baltimore and Phil- delphia. He was quite an esteemed and enterprising man in his day and was a member of the Reformed church. He died on his farm, aged eighty years. He reared a family of four or five children whose descendants are scattered over the State of Pennsylvania. Three of them are still living. The grandfather of the sub- ject was also a native of Bradford county and succeeded to his father's various busi- ness interests. He was a member of the First Reformed church and died on the farm. He married and had five children: Rebecca, who married Richard Siller, of Bedford; Maggie, who married John Yont, of Bedford; Eliza, who married John Fenny, of Altoona, Pennsylvania; William, who died, a carpenter of Altoona, a first- class mechanic, contractor and builder. He erected some of the best business blocks and large buildings in the city of Altoona. Josiah Ritchey, father of our subject, was a third child and was born on the homestead in Bedford county, 1826. He succeeded his father in the milling, distilling and farming business, which he conducted for a period of about twelve years. He sold out about 1860 and removed to Morrison's Cove, Bedford county, Pa., where he was en- gaged in farming until 1893, when he dis- posed of his farming interests in Bedford county and removed to Carlisle and re- mained one year. He then established himself at Harrisburg to look after his property interests in that city, where he still resides. By trade he was a tailor, but never followed that vocation. He was a
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BIOGRAPHICAL AND PORTRAIT CYCLOPEDIA.
man of large business experience, has been very successful in his financial ventures and always retained the confidence of his friends and acquaintances. In religion he is a member of the Reformed church, in which he takes a very active interest. He is also a member of the Independent Order Odd Fellows. He married Emily Jane, daughter of Jacob Seevers, who still sur- vives at the age of sixty-nine years. Her father was of German descent and a farmer of Cumberland county. They had nine children: Dr. M. M., of Harrisburg; the subject, V. H .; John, Pennsylvania rail- road carpenter, of Altoona; Clara, wife of John Garn, of this county; James, busi- ness manager of a manufactory, of Harris- burg, and Dr. Frank, of New Kingston.
Our subject received his education in the Morrison Cove common school, Mar- tinsburg Academy and Dickinson Semi- nary at Williamsport. At the age of 19 he began the study of the drug business with Jacob Biddle, of Loysburg. Soon after he went to Altoona, where he re- mained two years, then to Philadelphia, where he spent two years and came to Car- lisle January 20, 1879. He started the drug business in Carlisle, which he has fol- lowed ever since, carrying a full line of all kinds of drugs, stationery and toilet arti- cles. Religiously he is a member of the Lutheran church. December, 1879, he was married to Martha Ellen, a daughter of Jacob C. and Catharine Lehman, of Boiling Springs, by whom he has had four children: Catharine, deceased, died at the age of 2 years, 7 months and 13 days; George, Jacob, C. L. and Irene Constance.
J OSEPH R. STRAWBRIDGE, ESQ., district attorney of York county, and a member of the law firm of Geise & Strawbridge is a son of John and Grizella (McDonald) Strawbridge, and was born in
Fawn township, York county, Pennsyl- vania, July 25, 1858.
On his paternal side Mr. Strawbridge is descended from an English ancestry, while on the maternal side his progenitors were of Scotch lineage. John Strawbridge, grandfather, was a native and life-long resident of Fawn township, where he was engaged in agricultural and kindred pur- suits until the time of his death. He mar- ried Rachel Alloway, of York county, who bore him three sons and one daughter: John, Joseph, James and Sallie, all de- ceased. His maternal grandfather, Aquila McDonald, was a native of York county, also a farmer by occupation.
John Strawbridge, father of our subject, was a well-known farmer and merchant of southern York county, was born in Fawn township in 1806, and died in March, 1878. His wife preceded him to the grave in 1877, at the age of sixty-six years, and is interred with her husband in the cemetery of Center Presbyterian church, in his native town- ship. During President VanBuren's ad- ministration the elder Strawbridge was ap- pointed postmaster at Strawbridge, now known as New Park, and continued in that position down to the election of President Grant. He was a Democrat in politics, filled many local offices in his vicinity and was a familiar figure in political and busi- ness circles of his community. He was a man of commendable habits and com- manded the intelligent respect of all those with whom he came in contact. His mar- riage with Grizella McDonald resulted in an issue of five sons and four daughters: John C., a farmer of Hopewell township, York county; Mary, not married, a resident of Baltimore, Maryland; Rachel A., wife of Richard W. McDonald, of Harford county, Maryland; Aquila M., a resident of Fawn township; Richard A., a resident of Mary- ville, Mo .; Sallie J., Franklin P .; Louisa
Milton Bisous
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NINETEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
M., wife of John C. Wiley, of Fawn town- ship, and Joseph Ross, subject.
Joseph R. Strawbridge was brought up on the farm and received his elementary education in the public schools of Fawn township. He subsequently studied at Fawn Grove Academy, Stewartstown Eng- lish and Classical Institute and the York Collegiate Institute, from which latter he was graduated in 1880, and was made the valedictorian of his class. Subsequent to graduation here he entered the junior class of Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania, and received his degree in 1882. In the interims of his school life he taught in Adams county, Illinois, and in Fawn Grove Academy, York county, Penna., where he was formerly a student. In 1882 he en- tered upon the study of law with Captain Frank Geise, of York, his present legal partner, and was admitted to the bar of York county September 1, 1884, and has since continued in the active and success- ful practice of his profession. He has been admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the State and has already argued several important cases before that court. In 1885 he was made counsel for the county commissioners of York county and served in that capacity at different times for a period of five years. In 1895, after a spir- ited contest, he was elected district attorney for the same county by a majority of 2,054 and continues in the discharge of the im- portant functions of that office.
Mr. Strawbridge is a Democrat in poli- tics and has been intelligently identified with the activities of that organization. He is a lawyer of recognized ability and in- tegrity, possesses ample equipment and ranks with the successful members of the legal fraternity. He is a member of the First Presbyterian church, of York, and teaches a class of men in its Sunday school.
On November 9, 1887, Mr. Strawbridge
was united in marriage with Elizabeth Smyser, a daughter of Lewis E. Smyser, of York. This union has been fruitful in the issue of three children: Mary S., born Sep- tember 20, 1890; Elizabeth M., born Au- gust 26, 1893; and Edwin S., born July 5, 1896.
M ILTON B. GIBSON, president of the Weaver Organ & Piano Com- pany, of York, Pennsylvania, is a son of Francis F. and Catharine (Baker) Gibson, and was born at Landisburg, Perry county, Pennsylvania, June 8, 1860.
The Gibson family is one of the oldest and most notable in Pennsylvania and has reflected credit upon a race of pioneers no less distinguished in citizenship than the Scotch-Irish. His great-great-grandfather, Col. George Gibson, son of George Gib- son, Esq., of Lancaster, Pa., was one of the early martial figures in the history of our country. As a young man he was en- gaged in the trade to the West Indies and afterwards was a trader with the Indians at Fort Pitt. Returning to the East he bouglit a farm and settled at Gibson's Rock, Perry county, then a part of Cum- berland. During the Revolution he en- listed at Fort Pitt a company of one hun- dred daring men, who were sharp shoot- ers and known as "Gibson's Lambs." He was commissioned Colonel of the First Virginia regiment, joined Gen. Washing- ton before the evacuation of New York and took part in many of the leading bat- tles of the Revolution. In 1791 he took command of a regiment under Gen. St. Clair in his campaign in Ohio against the Indians of the North West Territory, and lost his life at the battle of Miami Village, dying at Fort Jefferson, Ohio, December 14th, 1791. He left surviving three sons, John Bannister Gibson, who became chief justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsyl-
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