USA > Pennsylvania > Cumberland County > Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of the Nineteenth Congressional District, Pennsylvania > Part 67
USA > Pennsylvania > Adams County > Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of the Nineteenth Congressional District, Pennsylvania > Part 67
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NINETEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
W TILLIAM H. FLORA, a prominent real estate and insurance agent, of Wrightsville, York county, was born in that borough August 1, 1863, the son of Henry N. and Helen (Drenning) Flora. The family is of French Huguenot origin and formerly the name was written de Flury. Abraham Flora, great-grandfather of our subject was born in Germany, from whence he emigrated to America and set- tled in Lancaster county. He left one son Daniel Flora, who farmed in Lancaster county. Afterward he removed to York county and farmed near Wrightsville very extensively during the remainder of his life. He was identified with the Republican party and in religion was a Menonite. Henry M. Flora, father of our subject, was born in Lancaster county October 6, 1814, and died May 23, 1868. He acquired his education in the common schools. Like his father he was a Republican, but instead of subscribing to the latter's religious be- lief he became a Presbyterian. Mrs. Flora was a daughter of William and Mary Drenning, of Lancaster county, and mar- ried to Henry N. Flora in 1861. Their union, one of constancy and felicity, was blessed with three children: William H., and Walter, twins, and Granville, a moul- der, of Wrightsville. Mrs. Flora has sur- vived her worthy husband twenty-nine years and is still living at Wrightsville.
William H. Flora, acquired his education in the common schools of Wrightsville and then began the battle of life on a farm near the borough. He followed the plow for four years and then engaged in the groc- ery business in Wrightsville for two years. Selling his store he located at Tacoma, Washington and for the next four years engaged in the hotel business. When he retired from that business he returned to Wrightsville and opened a real estate and insurance agency, in which business he still
continues. He was one of the organizers of the Wrightsville and Hellam Mutual Fire Insurance company, at present being a director and secretary, also agent of Phil- adelphia Underwriters, Phoenix Assurance Co. of London and other companies. He does a large business in real estate, loans and mortgages, and is one of the busiest men in the borough. Mr. Flora has charge of a large number of properties owned by non-residents. By strict attention to busi- ness he has succeeded in gaining the entire confidence of the business community. Mr. Flora is one of the most active Republi- cans in York county and is regarded as a strong leader in Wrightsville. His ad- vice is always sought in local party con- tests and he has shown himself to be very astute in his political judgments. He is at present a member of the Republica .. County Committee and secretary to the Republican County Chairman. Naturally his activity has won for him more than mere notice in Wrightsville and he has held a number of public positions in that bor- ough. At present he is secretary of the board of health, is now serving his second term as tax collector and has been notary public since Governor Pattison appointed him in 1893. his commission having been renewed by Governor Hastings at the ex- pirationof histermi in'97. In 1894, Mr. Flora was a candidate for county treasurer but be- ing in the minority party failed of election, though his vote under the circumstances was a flattering one. In religion he is an active Presbyterian and at present is assist- ant superintendent of the Presbyterian Sun- day school at Wrightsville.
His fraternal affiliations are with Chihua- hua Lodge, No, 317, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has taken an active part since he joined and has passed through all the chairs; and with Susqueh- anna Council, No. 89, Junior Order United
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BIOGRAPHICAL AND PORTRAIT CYCLOPEDIA.
American Mechanics, of which he is the present Councillor.
PROF. SAMUEL B. HEIGES, scholar, scientist and ex-pomologist of the National Agricultural Department, was born at Dillsburg, Pa., February 16th, 1837, the son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Mumper) Heiges.
Prof. Heiges took hold of the active du- ties of life early in his years. In the local school he was a scholar and teacher until his sixteenthi year, when he was placed in full charge of a school in Perry county. In 1854, the first year of the county superin- tendency in Pennsylvania, he became a teacher in Cumberland county; and the next year was assigned as principal to an academy previously presided over by the superintendent of that county. During several years he spent the summer sessions at the Cumberland Valley Institute, Me- chanicsburg, then in a highly flourishing condition, and for a few sessions was there engaged in the capacity of tutor, availing himself, meanwhile, of the opportunity to pursue a course of instruction in natural sciences, under the able tuition of Profes- sor Dornbaugh. He was next chosen pro- fessor of mathematics in the Cumberland County Normal School and occupied that chair during three sessions. In 1861 he removed to York and organized a very flourishing school at Cottage Hill college, where he remained until commissioned superintendent of the schools of York county, June 4th, 1863, to which position, three years subsequently, he was unani- mously re-elected. After retiring he filled the chair of mathematics and natural sci- ences in the York County Academy for three years and for twelve months held the same post in the York High School. On the completion of the York Collegiate In- stitute, the professorship of the same
branches was tendered to, and accepted by, him; but the labor of both departments in so extensive an institution proving too ex- acting, he, at the close of the first year, re- signed the professorship of mathematics, retaining the chair of natural sciences until he took charge of the Soldiers Orphans' School at Camp Hill, Cumberland county.
When the Camp Hill School became a State institution Prof. Heiges relinquished his control and returned to York. Subse- quently President Cleveland appointed him pomologist of the National Agricultural Department, a position Mr. Heiges held until shortly after the incoming of the Mc- Kinley Administration ..
Much of Professor Heiges' time has been devoted to investigations in vegetable and animal physiology and his widespread repu- tation for deep learning in those branches has naturally brought him into much prominence in the circles interested in those departments of knowledge. As a member of numerous agricultural and horticultural societies his opinion is sought, his views adopted and his word as an authority un- questioned. He served for several years as corresponding secretary of the Agricultural Society and for some time as president of the Pennsylvania Fruit Growers' Society. He has been frequently called upon to de- liver lectures before tachers' conventions and institutes in various portions of the State and has held the position of vice pres- ident of the Pennsylvania Teachers' Asso- ciation. By numerous scientific and liter- ary societies of colleges and State normal schools, he has been elected and enrolled in honorary membership.
OHN M. HEIGES, deceased, was born in Dillsburg, York county, Pennsyl- vania ,December 2, 1829 and died De- cember 28, 1882, on his farm in West Manchester township, the land of which,
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NINETEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
at the present time, forms a large part of the built-up portion of the 9th ward of the city of York. Mr. Heiges was survived by widow and mother, Elizabeth Heiges, a sister, Laura J. Heiges, both of whom have since died,and three brothers: J. D. Heiges, a well known and leading dentist of York; Prof. S. B. Heiges, ex-county superintend- ent of public instruction and late pomolo- gist of the National Department of Agri- culture at Washington; and George W. Heiges, a prominent lawyer and an ex- burgess of York; and a sister, Elizabeth A., wife of William N. Seibert, a leading lawyer of the Perry county, Pennsyl- vania, bar.
Mr. Heiges learned the trade of cabinet making in the city then the borough of York, during his teens and for many years followed that business successfully in his native town of Dillsburg. In politics he was a Democrat who was recognized to be a politician of unusual foresight and shrewdness. He took a prominent and active part in the councils of his party and in his time held numerous offices as a reward for his services and a title to his ability and worth. In 1864 he was elected register of wills and filled the office very acceptably for three years. Subsequently by appointment of the county commission- ers, he became clerk of the board for two years. At various times thereafter he served by appointment as deputy register of wills and deputy prothonotary of the county.
The later years of his life were devoted to experimental farming on his farm of about twenty acres, now wholly within the limits of the city of York. In this he met with great success, especially in the culti- vation of small fruits and wheat. His experiments with wheat lead him to invent a cultivator upon which he obtained letters patent and which he
used for cultivating wheat sowed in rows same as corn. By this method of agricul- ture he produced unusually fine grain, the greater part of which he annually disposed of to the United States Government at an advance far beyond the market price. Mr. Heiges was a member of the York County Agricultural Society, one of the most pro- mising and successful societies of its kind in the United States.
Jacob Heiges, the father of Mr. Heiges, was a prominent chair manufacturer of York county, and his mother, Elizabeth (Mumper) Heiges, was a daughter of John and Jane (Beelman) Mumper both of Ger- man parentage. Jacob Heiges died a comparatively young man, at the age of 52 years and about three months. His father died January 12, 1856, aged about sixty- five years, and his mother died September 9, 1886, aged about eighty-one years. John and Jane Mumper lived to be about eighty- one and eighty-two years respectively.
R OBERT J. F. McELROY, ESQ., one of the younger members of the York County Bar, is a son of George W. and Anna M. (Fisher) McElroy, and was born in York, York county, Pennsylvania, August 12, 1868. The McElroy family is of Scotch-Irish origin and was founded in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, by Daniel McElroy, who was a native of County Donegal, Province of Munster, Ireland,and married Rebecca Wisherd, a native of Glas- gow, Scotland. After coming to Lancas- ter county, Pennsylvania, they continued to reside there during the remainder of their lives. Of their nine children, the youngest was George W. McElroy, ex-district at- torney of York county. He was born in Lancaster county, July 23, 1818, was edu- cated in the public schools and from 184I to 1844, served as principal of Ephrata Academy. Subsequently, he read law with
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BIOGRAPHICAL AND PORTRAIT CYCLOPEDIA.
Colonel Reah Frazer, and was admitted to the bar of Lancaster county where he practiced several years, during which time he was also editor of the Lancaster Intelligencer. From Lancaster he moved to Meadville. Crawford county, but in 1853 returned to the former place where he practiced until 1861.
At the outbreak of the late civil war, he enlisted in Battery A, First Pennsylvania Artillery, as a private, and remained in the Federal service until December 3, 1864, when he received an honorable discharge. He then located permanentlyin York,where he became a resident member of the Bar on December 20th, 1864. In 1883 he was elected District Attorney of the county, succeeding Edward D. Ziegler. Esq., and continued to fill that office for three years. He died November 1, 1887, a short time after the close of his term of office.
In 1866 Mr. McElroy married Anna M. Fisher, a daughter of Michael and Anna Mary Fisher, of York, Pa. They have had eight children, five son and three daugh- ters.
Robert J. F. McElroy attended the pub- lic schools of York, and then entered the High school of the same place, from which he graduated in the class of 1885. After leaving school he read law with his father. and subsequently with A. C. Fulton and W. A. Miller, Esqs., at York, and was ad- mitted to the Bar December 19, 1892, since which time he has been in the active prac- tice of his profession. He is a young man of promise and ability, and for some time after his admission served as special county detective under appointment of the District Attorney.
He is a member of Codorus Council, No. 115, Junior Order of United American Mechanics, and Keystone Conclave, No. 12, Improved Order Heptasophs. He is a member of Trinity Reformed church of
York, Rev. J. O. Miller, D. D., pastor.
He has always been a Democrat in poli- tics but during the late Presidential cam- paign supported the ticket of the National Democracy, and is a warm advocate of the single gold standard of currency.
J ACOB M. GOODYEAR, sheriff of Cumberland county, is a veteran of the late Civil war and a descendant of that sturdy pioneer stock which has made Lancaster and other eastern counties one of the rich agricultural districts in the United States. He is a son of Samuel and Mary Ann (Morett) Goodyear, and was born in South Middleton township, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, Novem- ber 21, 1845. In the tide of emigration from Germany to Pennsylvania was Lud- wig Goodyear, who settled, about 1750, in Warwick township, Lancaster county, where he and his wife Regina lived peace- ful and industrious lives. Their sons, John and Jacob, came to South Middleton town- ship and purchased adjoining farms which they tilled until death summoned them to another world. John Goodyear was born in Warwick township, Lancaster county, March IIth, 1784, and died in South Mid- dleton township, December 29, 1864. He married Ann Burkholder, whose parents were Christian and Franca Burkholder, originally from Dauphin county. John and Ann Goodyear were blessed with a family of six sons and two daughters: David, John, Catharine, Jacob, Abraham, Samuel, Benjamin and Regina. Samuel Goodyear, the fifth son, was born July 16, 1818, and lived to nearly reach his 74th year, dying September 14, 1895. He followed agri- cultural pursuits up to 1865, in which year he moved to Carlisle where he was engaged successively in the lime and the baking business He was a prominent member of the Knights of Pythias, and in politics sup-
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NINETEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
ported the Democratic party. He wedded Mary Ann Morrett, who is a daughter of Jacob Morrett, of Churchtown, and was born 1825. To their union were born six sons and six daughters, of whom but three sons and three daughters reached ma- turity: William, Jacob M., Mrs. Ann Mar- tin, of Harrisburg; John, of Bloomington, Illinois; Mrs. C. D. Cameron, and Rebecca, who resides with her mother.
Jacob M. Goodyear was reared on the farm, received a practical business educa- tion, and followed farming until September I, 1864, when he enlisted in Company A, 209th Pennsylvania Volunteers. His regi- ment joined Butler's forces and on Novem- ber 17, 1864, he was captured on the picket line and confined successively in Libby pri- son, Castle Thunder and at Salisbury, North Carolina. He was exchanged March 15th, 1865, came home on a furlough to recruit his health which had been badly impaired by prison treatment, and then re- joined his regiment which was discharged at Alexandria, Va., on May 1865. Re- turning from the army he located at Car- lisle where he was engaged in the manu- facture of pumps for two years. He then removed to South Dickinson township and after five years spent in farming returned to Carlisle where he embarked in the lime business to which later he added a coal yard. In these two lines he was success- fully engaged up to 1894 when he was elected sheriff of Cumberland county.
On September 26th, 1867, Mr. Good- year married Ellen C. Miller, a daughter of 'Squire Levi Miller, of Mt. Holly Springs. To their union were born ten children: Fisk and Samuel, successors to their father in the lime and coal business; William; Annie; Frank; Carrie; John; Charles; Nor- ton and Norman, who died in infancy.
Sheriff Goodyear has always been a Democrat and is discharging the duties of
his important office with satisfaction to the public and with credit to himself. He gives to the sheriff's office the same attention and management that made his business enter- prises so successful Sheriff Goodyear is a member of Carlisle Council, No. 574, Jun- ior Order of United American Mechanics; True Friends Lodge, No. 56 Knights of Pythias; and a member and past officer of Capt. Caldwell Post, No. 201, Grand Army of the Republic. He is a member of the First Lutheran church, of Carlisle, and ranks among the useful citizens and effi- cient public officials of Cumberland county.
J
ARED F. BLASSER, the present effi- cient Clerk of the Courts of York county, is a son of James Alexander and Sarah (Stabler) Blasser, and was born in Shrewsberry township, York county, Pennsylvania, February, 1862. He is of German and Scotch-Irish descent, and while the record of emigration has not been preserved on either side of the house, yet the names of Blasser and Stabler have al- ways been ones of respectability in the his- tory of the county. In direct lineal descent from the emigrant ancestor of the Blasser family is James Alexander Blasser, who was born in Shrewsbury borough, this county. He obtained a good English edu- cation and learned the trade of tailor which he followed for some years. He is a strong and active Democrat, and served from 1882 to 1885 as the Clerk of Courts of York county. Since leaving the clerk's office, he has been variously engaged and is now a resident of York, Pa. He married Sarah Stabler, a daughter of George Stab- ler, of Shrewsbury township. To their union were born several children, of whom but three lived to reach maturity: Clara, deceased; Jennie and Jared F.
Jared F. Blasser was reared in his native county, received his education in the com-
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BIOGRAPHICAL AND PORTRAIT CYCLOPEDIA.
mon schools, and when twenty years of age, became an assistant to his father in the county clerk's office. In due time he became sufficiently well versed with the affairs of the office to be made deputy clerk, and was appointed to that office by all succeeding clerks of the county courts, from the close of his father's term in 1885, down to the year 1893. In the latter year he offered himself as a candidate for clerk at the primaries of his party, and in the convention received on first ballot the votes of 131 of the 174 delegates composing that body. At the ensuing election he was elected by a good majority, and entered upon the duties of his office on January I, 1894. Perfectly familiar, through twelve years of continuous service as deputy, with the affairs of the office, he commenced his duties as clerk with ease and efficiency. Mr. Blasser, although solicited by some to offer himself for a second term, firmly de- clined in deference to the unwritten but time sanctioned usage of the Democratic party, which has always been opposed to the Clerk of Courts holding two consecu- tive terms. Although not a candidate for re-election, yet he takes his usual interest in the county, State and national political affairs, and believes in the supremacy of the Democratic party as necessary to the greatest prosperity of the people and the successful administration of the body poli- tic
Mr. Blasser is popular as a leader in his party, stands well as a county official, and is respected as a citizen. He is a member of Keystone Conclave, No. 12, Improved Or- der Heptasophs, in which he has passed all the chairs. In 1893-1895 he was the repre- sentative of the above mentioned order to the Supreme Conclave of the United States, which met at Atlantic City, New Jersey, and New Haven, Connecticut.
On April 14, 1886, Mr. Blasser was united
in marriage with Annie C. Boeckel, whose tather, Emanuel Boeckel, is a resident of Springgarden township, this county. Their union has been blessed with one child, a son, born March 9, 1888, and named Gor- man B., after United States Senator Gorman, of Maryland, who has been promi- nent in public affairs for over a quarter of a century.
OSEPH ELCOCK, a highly esteemed and one of the oldest citizens of Me- chanicsburg, is a native of York county, having been born in Warrington township, Nov. 10, 1813. The Elcocks are of Irish extraction. The father, Rich- ard Elcock, came to America from Ireland when eighteen years of age and located in York county, where he married Mary, a daughter of Peter Wagner, a farmer and pump maker of near East Berlin. Though he was a weaver by trade, Mr. Elcock turn- ed to agricultural pursuits and followed the plough the remainder of his life. He died on his farm in Warrington township, where he had resided for many years, in 1843, aged seventy-two years. He was the father of five sons and three daughters: William, born 1799, who died in early manhood; Jolın, late a farmer in York county, born 1801, died 1881 ; Elizabeth,deceased; David, a teacher and farmer late of York county, who died at the age of eighty-six; Jane, de- ceased, wife of the late Joseph Krall, for- merly of York county, but later a resident of Mechanicsburg; Thomas, a Presbyterian minister and resident of Van Wert, Ohio; and our subject. It will be seen that the Elcocks are hardy people and as a rule long lived.
Joseph Elcock was reared on the farm and educated in the township schools. At twenty years of age he was apprenticed to learn tailoring and followed that occupa- tion five years, when he returned to his
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NINETEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
father's homestead and conducted the farm for two years. At the solicitation of the elder Elcock he then moved upon another of his farms on which was located a hotel. Here he farmed, conducted the hotel and carried on tailoring. In two years he bought a farm for himself and moved upon it. There was a pottery near and in ad- dition to farming he engaged in the man- ufacture of earthen ware for about fifteen years. At the end of that time he moved to Mt. Pleasant and engaged in the mer- cantile business for eleven years. From Mt. Pleasant he moved to Mechanicsburg and carried on the dry-goods business for a number of years, when he turned it over to his son, Thomas, and son-in-law. David Biddle. Mr. Elcock then turned his atten- tion to the manufacture of farming imple- ments, in which he was engaged until 1884, when he retired from all active business. Mr. Elcock has been identified very promi- nently with the public interests of his adopted home. He is the only living or- ganizer of the Second National Bank, of which he has been a director since its or- ganization. He is also a director of the Mechanicsburg Water company and of the East Pensboro Fire Insurance company. His religious affiliations are with the Church of God, of which he has been a consistent and active member and elder for fifty-five years. He was twice married. His first wife being Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob Strominger, of York county. By this wife he had four sons and two daugh- ters: Mary Ann, wife of David Biddle, merchant of Mechanicsburg; Jacob, a busi- ness inan of Seattle, Washington; John, a brick manufacturer of Springfield, Illinois; Theodore, a resident of the west; Thomas, a merchant of Mechanicsburg; Elizabeth Jane, wife of David Myers, a York county farmer. His second marriage was with Mary, a daughter of Peter and Mary (Gin-
ter) Brenneman, of York county, by whom he had four daughters: Samantha Lizzie, who died at the age of twenty-five; Lulu, wife of Samuel Hauck, hardware merchant of Mechanicsburg; Sarah Ellen, who died at the age of twenty-two; and Ann F., at home.
Mr. Elcock, who is now almost eighty- four years of age, can look back over a well spent and useful life. Energy, frugality and honorable dealing have gained him wealth, honors and friends. When he came to Me- chanicsburg it was but a village. He has seen it grow and double its proportions and has the consciousness of knowing that to its expansion and growth he has contri- buted no inconsiderable share.
W ILLIAM E. WEBB, M. D., exam- iner for the Pennsylvania Railroad company at York, is a son of William and Phoebe (Pownall) Webb, and was born near Unionville, Chester county, Pennsyl- vania, April 14, 1863. The Webb family is of distinguished English ancestry and came to the Province of Penn at an early day in its history. The Pennsylvania branch of the family is of Quaker stock, and its early members while of peaceful profes- sion yet were active in civil affairs. Like the Webbs the Pownalls were sturdy Eng- lish Quakers, but came at an early date to Pennsylvania, being passengers with Penn when he came over in 1682. The Webbs and Pownalls settled at an early day in Chester county, from which many worthy representatives of both families have gone to other counties, where they have led lives of usefulness and been active members of society.
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