USA > Pennsylvania > Cumberland County > Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of the Nineteenth Congressional District, Pennsylvania > Part 55
USA > Pennsylvania > Adams County > Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of the Nineteenth Congressional District, Pennsylvania > Part 55
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as one of the most substantial citizens of Gettysburg. In religion he is a devout and consistent member of the Lutheran church.
May 7, 1889, Mr. Musselman married Euphemia, a daughter of Washington C. and Alice Rogers, of Fairfield, Adams county. To that union have been born four children: Roger, Amos S., Mary R. and Luther K.
E DWARD J. GARDNER, a young manufacturer of Carlisle, is the possessor of good business capacity and has had a successful career. He was born on July II, 1851, the son of Franklin and Sarah Jane (Abrams) Gardner. Mr. Gard- ner received his education in the public schools of Carlisle and at Dickinson Com- mercial College. After he graduated he took a very practical course acquiring a knowledge of the business in which he later engaged, by learning the trade of machin- ist in the works of his father, operated un- der the firm name of F. Gardner & Com- pany. He remained in the employ of this firm until 1880, when he became a partner in the business and the firm name changed to F. Gardner & Sons. Mr. Gardner was by this time thoroughly ac- quainted with the business, having risen and passed through all grades of employ- ment in the works. In 1871, at the age of twenty he became foreman, a position which he held until 1880 upon becoming a member of the firm, and its bookkeeper. In 1882 the Gardners organized the Car- lisle manufacturing company, of which he became assistant superintendent. When his father retired in 1884 he assumed the position of superintendent for the company and soon after was made treasurer, thus coming into positions which he held until 1887, when he resigned to accept the posi- tion of manager of the Huntingdon Car
Manufacturing works. In 1884, F. Gard- ner & Sons organized their axle works and in the management of this new venture Mr. Gardner proceded to assume an active part on February 1, 1893. He resigned his position with the Huntingdon company in order to devote himself to the new in- dustry and from his close attention and wise management a successful and flourish- ing business has resulted. August 1, 1896, F. Gardner, the senior member, re- tired and the firm is now F. Gardner's Sons. A further evidence of Mr. Gard- ner's position, influence and popularity in the community is afforded by his secret society affiliations. He is a member and Past Master of Cumberland Star Lodge, No. 197, Free and Accepted Masons, a Past High Priest of St. John's Chapter, No. 171, Royal Arch Masons, Past Eminent Commander of Commandery, No. 65, K. T., of Huntingdon, Pa., a member of True Friends Lodge, No. 56, Knights of Pyth- ias, of Carlisle, and a member and Past Grand of Carlisle Lodge, No. 91, of Odd Fellows. Politically Mr. Gardner is an enthusiastic and firm believer in the prin- ciples of the Republican party. Relig- iously he is firmly inclined to the Pres- byterian faith and is a member of the Sec- ond church.
His wife was Harriet Lindsay, a daugh- ter of Alexander Lindsay, of Carlisle. They were married December 2, 1875, and have two daughters: Bessie Lindsay and Sarah Bell.
C HARLES J. DELONE, a promi- nent young attorney of the York county bar, is a native of Hanover, York county, Pennsylvania, where he was born February 9, 1863, the son of Joseph and Maria (Hilt) Delone.
The Delones are of French origin and emigrated to this country from Alsace
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BIOGRAPHICAL AND PORTRAIT CYCLOPEDIA.
about 1748. The earlier members of the family located in Lancaster county and subsequently Nicholas Delone removed to and located in Paradise township, York county, where, on a large tract of land which he took up, Peter Delone, the pa- ternal grandfather of our subject, was born. He received his education in the subscription schools of the neighborhood and throughout life followed the occupa- tion of farmer and stone mason. In pol- itics he was a Whig and in religion a mem- ber of the Roman Catholic church. He married a Miss Leib, who died in 1855, a year previous to his own death. They had seven children: Henry, Joseph, Peter, Lewis, Elizabeth, who became the wife of Albert Stoner, and Matilda, who became the wife of Michael Strubinger.
Joseph Delone, the father of our subject, was born in Paradise township, York county, educated in the common schools and learned the trade of milling, but never followed it to any extent, preferring the more profitable live stock business, in which he engaged for many years. He was a man of broad mind and considerable intelligence which, coupled with his interest in local affairs, induced him to start the publica- tion of a paper in the town of Hanover, known as the Hanover Citizen. Prior to this event Mr. Delone had been elected a member of the Legislature and he was a very prominent figure in the Democratic party of York county at the time the Citi- zen was founded. The paper at once be- came a success. It was published weekly, and its editorial policy was Democratic. Mr. Delone remained in charge for many years and continued in active politics up to the time of his death in 1883. He held local office in the borough and was one of the leading factors in the growth and up- building of Hanover. He was a devout and consistent member of the Catholic
church and worshipped with the Hanover congregation.
He married Maria, daughter of Jacob Hilt, by whom he had twelve children, of whom eight are living: Alice, Martha, Leona, Harry O., Mary, Emma, Charles J., and Jacob P .; four having died very young.
Charles J. Delone received his prelimi- nary education in the common schools of Hanover and then prepared for college un- der the tutorship of Prof. L. R. Baugher. In 1883 he entered the Freshman class of Harvard University and graduated in 1887. He then entered the law department of the University and graduated in 1890. After locating and practicing in New York city one year, Mr. Delone came to Hanover and opened an office there for the practice of his profession in York county. At pres- ent he has offices in both York and Han- over and has a thriving practice from his native section of the county. He is a Democrat in politics and takes an active part in the affairs of his party.
G EORGE W. HOOVER, a leading carriage and wagon manufacturer of York, is a son of Joseph and Margaret (Bubb) Hoover, and was born in Lancaster city, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, De- cember 19th, 1840.
Among the many old and well-known families of eastern and southern Pennsyl- vania, the Hoovers are eminently worthy of notice and record. They were among the early settlers of Lancaster and York counties, and many of them served as sol- diers in the Continental armies during the Revolutionary war. Patrotic and ener- getic they became the best of citizens un- der the government of the new formed Re- public, and these commendable traits of character seemingly by inheritance passed down through succeeding generations.
OmHoover
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NINETEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
From the emigrant ancestor, who came from Germany, is descended Joseph Hoover, the father of the subject of this sketch. Joseph Hoover was born in Lan- caster county, Pennsylvania, in the year 1812, and has been a carriage manufacturer in Lancaster city for over sixty-five years. He is an industrious man of quiet disposi- tion who gives but little heed to politics and has been a consistent member of St. Mary's Catholic church for many years. He married Margaret Bubb, a daughter of William Bubb, and to their union were born eight children: John J., Sophia, who died in infancy; Annie, wife of James Flem- ing; George W., subject; Henry C., Mich- ael, Mary, who died in infancy, and Martha.
George W. Hoover received his educa- tion in the schools of Lancaster city and at fifteen years of age became an apprentice in his father's factory, where he remained until 1858, when he entered the carriage factory of David M. Lane, of Philadelphia, with whom he worked until 1860. In the following year, 1861, he attempted to en- ter the Union service, but was rejected as a soldier by the examining surgeon upon the grounds of physical disability. He sub- sequently was accepted as a clerk and serv- ed in that capacity and as orderly to Captain Barton, of the First Pennsylvania Re- serves for about eighteen months. He af- terward made application for enlistment in the 79th Pennsylvania, but was rejected on examination and then went to work in the carriage factory of A. B. Landis, of Mt. Joy, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where he remained from June, 1863, until 1865. Subsequent to this he was succes- fully engaged at his trade in Lancaster for about a year, when he removed to York and connected himself with Phineas Pal- mer's carriage factory with which he was identified until January, 1872. After sev- ering his connection with this concern he
engaged in the patent-right business in Lancaster county for a period of three years and then conducted a carriage factory at Goshen, Indiana, for an equal length of time, and subsequently another factory at Loup City, Nebraska, which latter he closed in 1880 to engage in farming. He relinquished his farming interests in 1882 and returned to York, where he worked six months for the Weaver Organ & Piano Company and afterward was engaged in manufacturing soap up to 1884, when in June of that year the flood destroyed his works. For one year he represented the soap firm of Vandersloot & Elliott, as a traveling salesman, and then opened up a wholesale and retail grocery emporium which he disposed of in 1886 to establish his present carriage factory in York, which he has been compelled to enlarge from time to time in order to accommodate an in- creasing volume of trade. Mr. Hoover began his present business upon a modest scale, but it has been attended with almost phenomenal success, the output of his es- tablishment averaging more than $75,000 worth of work annually. His plant is lo- cated on Philadelphia street, near George street, and the main factory building is a four-story structure, 35x250 feet in dimen- sions. He gives employment to fifty men and finds ample market for his goods in all tlie States intervening from Maine to Texas. Beside his carriage manufactur- ing business, Mr. Hoover is a large owner of real estate and has also been identified with a number of other industrial enter- prises in his adopted city. Politically he is a Republican, and together with his fam- ily, attends the services of the Reformed Church. He is a man of energy, business tact and foresight and has been signally successful in his present business. Prac- tically he has been the architect of his own fortune. Starting upon a very modest
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foundation, and with very unsubstantial support outside of his inherent energy and tact, he has slowly rounded the ladder of business success and has reached a position of commendable prominence among his business associates. He is a careful, shrewd business manager, possessing a large degree of business energy and owes his final success to unquestioned methods and strict fidelity to the interest of his patrons.
W TILBUR J. BRESSLER, D. D. S., a leading dentist of York, Penn- sylvania, is a son of Dr. Charles Huston and Sarah A. (Tonner) Bressler, and was born in the city of York, York county, Pa., April 30th, 1858.
Four generations back in the direct an- cestral line of Dr. Bressler, was John Bress- ler, a native of Strasburg, Germany, who married Eve Kendig, a daughter of Rev. Jacob Kendig. Among his sons was one George Bressler, who became a merchant, located in Philadelphia, and was lost at sea while on his way to Europe in quest of merchandize. He married Frances Herr, a daughter of Francis and Christiana Herr, whose other children were Mary Ferree, Catharine Wilson, Elizabeth Hartman, Re- becca, Frances Herr, Charlotte Barnet and Harriet Miller. George Bressler had sons, one of whom, George Bressler, Jr., left Lancaster county, to become a merchant in Philadelphia, where he held at one time an office in the Custom House. He after- ward went to Mill Hall, Clinton county, where he was engaged in milling, mer- chandize and operating an iron furnace. He died in 1864, aged 76 years. He wedded Elizabeth Dornick, and their children were: Elizabeth Frances, died in childhood; Sarah Ann, wife of Dunlap McCormick; George, retired merchant; Dr. Chas. Hus- ton, Hon. Henry Clay, of Lock Haven,
who served in the State Legislature, and is now dead; John J., who went to Flem- ington, this State, engaged in business, and is also deceased; Catharine Wilson, Daniel Webster, a retired business man of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Huston and Charlotte, of Mill Hall.
Dr. Charles Huston Bressler was born in Clinton county, February 4, 1821, and died in York, February 22, 1894. He re- ceived his education in common and se- lect schools, studied dentistry and medi- cine under Dr. Eli Perry, of Lancaster city, and then entered Pennsylvania and Jefferson medical colleges, graduating with honor from the latter institution in March, 1844. He practiced dentistry at Belle- fonte, Lancaster and York, and in 1849, with Dr. Perry and others secured the charter for the first Dental College in Pennsylvania. He was a Republican in politics, served part of a term as sheriff of York county, and was twice the candi- date of his party for Congress. In re- ligion he was a Methodist, and fraternally a member of York Commandery, No. 21, Knights Templar. In 1849 he married Sarah A. Tonner, a daughter of Rev. John Tonner, of Bellefonte, this State. To their union were born eight children, Dr. John T., a dentist, of Shepherdstown, Cumber- land county, Pa .; George B., an alderman of Lancaster city; Emma B .; Charles H., deceased; Clara V., a teacher; Dr. Wilbur C., subject; A. Curtin, a printer of York, and Ella M.
Wilbur C. Bressler attended the York public schools and High school, studied dentistry with his father and entered the Dental Department of the University of Maryland, from which he was graduated on March, 14th, 1884. After graduation he re- turned to York, where he has practiced den- tistry ever since. In the practice of his profession he has met with success, keeps
I Never /dench
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NINETEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
thoroughly abreast of the advances in his special vocation and is regarded by his friends and neighbors as a citizen of pro- gressive spirit. In 1885 he became a part- ner with George E. Smyser in the coal busi- ness, but nine years later disposed of his interest in their coal property and yard. He is a stanch Republican in politics and a member of the Beaver St. Methodist church. He also holds membership in York Lodge, No 266, Free and Accepted Masons, and is a director in two Building and Loan Associations of his native city.
On December 26, 1889, Dr. Bressler mar- ried Mary J. Smyser, daughter of George E. Smyser, a well known business man of York. Dr. and Mrs. Bressler have two children living: Wilbur Huston and Clark Smyser. Those deceased are Juliet R. and an infant.
S. NEVIN HENCH. York being es- sentially a manufacturing town, it is to the numerous mills and factories that its citizens must look for the continuance of the growth and prosperity that has mark- ed the last decade of the city's history. To the number of these there has been a large accession in that period. Among other firms which have gone extensively into manufacturing here, thereby constituting themselves worthy and enterprising citizens who subserve the interests and promote the welfare of the city, is that of Hench & Dromgold, the junior member of which is the subject of this sketch.
S. Nevin Hench is a son of George Wash- ington and Frances (Rice) Hench. He was born on June 27, 1854, in Saville, Perry county, Pennsylvania, and his ancestry is of French descent. His grandfather, Samuel Hench, was a native of the same county, and died in the vicinity of Saville. He pur- sued the dual occupation of black- smith and farmer and married Eli-
zabeth Yohn. Five children of which the subject's father was the young- est, were born to this union. The father was born on the old homestead farm in the same vicinity, Feb. 28, 1828, pursued the occupation of farmer and is still living, though in practical retirement from all ac- tive business pursuits. The elder Hench is a Democrat in politics and an active member and elder of the German Reformed church. He united in marriage with Fran- ces Rice, a daughter of Samuel Rice, a na- tive of Perry county, by which alliance he had twelve children, five sons and seven daughters, eleven of whom are still living.
S. Nevin Hench was educated in the common schools and remained on the farm until he had passed his majority. His father had a small work shop and the son being of a mechanical turn of mind, gave much of his time to devising and improving farm machinery. At the age of sixteen or eighteen years he had invented, patented and placed on the market riding corn culti- vators, corn planters and similar agricul- ture implements. In this way he accumu- lated sufficient capital to set up a small manufacturing business, which was begun in 1878. This enterprise was continued for twelve years, when Mr. Hench and Walker A. Dromgold, who had become associated with him, built a large establishment in the West End of York for the the manufacture of their patented implements. The plant which has had a most creditable career and has reached quite extensive proportions, at the present time covers two acres along the Western Maryland railroad and furnishes employment for about 125 hands. The manufactured output of the concern con- sists of spring tooth harrows of various kinds, circular saw mills, engines, spike tooth harrows and improved corn planters, shellers,, cider-mills, and other farm ma- chinery and implements which the combin-
26
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BIOGRAPHICAL AND PORTRAIT CYCLOPEDIA.
ed inventive genius of Mr. Hench and Mr. Dromgold has produced. The firm also operates a large lumber plant near Pied- mont in Mineral county, West Virginia.
Mr. Hench is a director in the York Trust Real Estate and Deposit Company, and is also a member of the firm of Hench, Dromgold & Stagemyer, brick and tile manufacturers, which owns and operates a large plant for the manufacture of a super- ior quality of brick and tile, near Emigs- ville, York county. Unlike his father Mr. Hench is a Republican in politics and his party appreciating his intelligent support and participation in its local affairs, elected him a member of the school board from the Eleventh ward, in which capacity he has served during the past two years. He is a member of Grace Reformed church, in which he is an elder and of whose Sunday school he has been assistant superintendent for eight years. He is also a trustee of the Theological Seminary of the Reformed church at Lancaster, Pa., and was a mem- her of the Building Committee for the new Seminary building; a member of several fraternal organizations, chief among which are: Howell Chapter, No. 199, Royal Arch Masons; Gethsemane Commandery, No. 75. Knights Templar; and Willis Council, No. 508 Royal Arcanum. Mr. Hench is a first class business man, public spirited and progressive and ranks among the success- ful manufacturers of York. He is a man possessing more than ordinary civic pride, is a liberal supporter of all worthy educa- tional and social movements and commands the esteem of his fellow-townsmen.
On June 11, 1885, Mr. Hench was joined in marriage with Emma Flinchbaugh, a daughter of Frederick Flinchbaugh, of York. They live in a handsome residence on Linden avenue, where flowers, beauti- ful shrubbery, cordial hospitality and the interior adornment of their home give evi-
dence of the refined tastes of the owners. To their union have been born four chil- dren: Nevin F., Francis R., G. Harold, and Adele M.
E UGENE A. GROVE, M. D., retired physician of Carlisle, was born at Bowmansdale, Cumberland county, Pa., February 4, 1850. The family came origin- ally from Switzerland, Hans Groff, or Graf, (as it was then spelled) emigrated from that mountain-walled Republic to Alsace, France, in 1676, on account of the religious persecution of the Menonites, to which religious persuasion he belonged. After a stay of nearly twenty years in Al- sace, he came, in 1696, to the newly found- ed city of Philadelphia, and, visiting the Pequa valley he pushed into Lancaster county until he reached a spot which is fa- miliarly known as "Groff's Thal" (Grove's Spring), within the limits of what is now West Earl township, and where he settled upon the stream which bears his name. While in pursuit of his strayed horses he found this spot, and its beauty so "impress- ed him that he determined to settle upon it, which he did a few years subsequently. Here he took up one tract of 1150 acres of land (surveyed October 4, 1718) and later a tract of 2,500 acres, which were pur- chased from William Penn. This original Hans (or Henry) Groff was the paternal ancestor of the subject of this sketch by the sixth generation. He was a wealthy and prominent man in that section of the pro- vince, and is mentioned by Rupp in his history of Lancaster county, and in the Colonial Records. Not only the run on which he settled and the "Groff's Thal" but the township was named after him, the English word "earl" being equivalent to the German word "graff" or grove. He was one of the persons selected to lay out in 1733 the "King's Highway" from Lancas-
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ter to Philadelphia, then the largest city in the United Colonies. He died in 1746. Six sons survived him: Peter, David, Hans, Jr., Daniel and Samuel, who was known as Graaf (der jaiger), the hunter. As soon as his six sons were grown up he turned his attention to dealing in blankets for the In- dians and other merchandise which he pur- chased at Philadelphia and took to Harris ferry (now Harrisburg) on the Susque- hanna.
Hans Groff, Jr., was the father of Jacob, Henrich and John, and Henrich married Anna Maria Stadtler, and left five children: Jacob, Catherine, Elizabeth, George and Henry, Jr., who were all born in his York county home. His will of August 20th, 1780, gives his name as Henry Grove, but his signature to the same is Henrich Groff. Henry Grove, Henry Grove, Jr., married Catherine Hake, daughter of Andrew Hake, of York county, and in middle life re- moved to Yellow Breeches creek where he purchased the Quigly mill and property. He died May 1859, and his widow lived until October 25, 1877. They had two children: Henry Hake and Susan C., widow of Rev. John Ulrich and now a resident of Baltimore. Henry Hake Grove was born in Baltimore city, April 21, 1817, and died in Carlisle, March 21, 1876. He was an active business man. He conducted lime quarries at Bowmansdale, on Yellow Breeches creek until 1859, and then remov- ed to Baltimore where he was successfully engaged in the coal, commission and gro- cery business but being a Union man was compelled to remove in 1862 to Carlisle. He there followed photography and the manufacture of paper sacks until his death. He was a member of the Lutheran church and in May 1841 wedded Eliza Ann Beltz- hoover, eldest daughter of Michael G. and Mary (Herman) Beltzhoover. Mrs. Grove died March 21, 1876, aged 55 years. To
Mr. and Mrs. Grove were born two chil- dren: Henry B. and Dr. Eugene A. The eldest son, Henry B. Grove, a highly re- spected and esteemed young man, was foully assassinated in his own picture gallery in Baltimore city, Md., on October 29, 1865. While finishing a picture he was shot through the back of the head and instantly killed by a pretended friend and robbed of one hundred and twenty-five dollars, and a gold watch, chain and ring. The assassin fled but was apprehended under a reward of five hundred dollars offered by the mayor, and after trial and conviction for murder escaped through some legal techni- cality. But the murderer met his deserved fate in 1896 when he was shot while com- mitting burglary and died in a New York hospital from the effects of the wound.
Dr. Eugene A. Grove received his liter- ary education in Dickinson college. He read medicine with Dr. S. B. Kieffer, of Carlisle, was graduated in 1870 from the medical department of the University of Pennsyl- vania, with the degree of M. D., and prac- ticed in Carlisle until 1876, when he gave his entire attention to mining iron ore at Hunter's Run and operating a charcoal fur- nace in Adams county. Five years later he resumed the practice of medicine in Car- lisle, but owing to large monetary interests which devolved upon him, he retired in 1890, and has not since resumed the prac- tice of his profession, which, until it was interrupted, was one of growing and recog- nized success.
On April 12, 1894, Dr. Grove wedded Zuleime Kieffer, a daughter of Benaville J. and Sarah M. (Bixler) Kieffer, the former of whom was at one time a prominent druggist of Carlisle.
W TILLIAM CLARENCE SHEELY, ESQ., of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, is a son of Aaron and Lucy A. (Deardorff)
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