History of Cumberland and Adams counties, Pennsylvania. Containing history of the counties, their townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc.; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; history of Pennsylvania, statistical and miscellaneous matter, etc., etc, Part 168

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Publisher: W. Taylor
Number of Pages: 1280

USA > Pennsylvania > Adams County > History of Cumberland and Adams counties, Pennsylvania. Containing history of the counties, their townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc.; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; history of Pennsylvania, statistical and miscellaneous matter, etc., etc > Part 168
USA > Pennsylvania > Cumberland County > History of Cumberland and Adams counties, Pennsylvania. Containing history of the counties, their townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc.; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; history of Pennsylvania, statistical and miscellaneous matter, etc., etc > Part 168

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GEORGE W .. was born September 7. 1853. He was employed in his father's store, at New Oxford, for fifteen consecutive years; was married May 13, 1884, to Alice R. Wortz, a daughter of David Wortz, a retired farmer of Hanover. They have one child: W. Roe Mr. Emmert is a member of the Methodist, and Mrs. Emmert of the Lutheran Church.

GILBERT P., was born August 19, 1858, and on leaving school had six years' exper- ience in his father's store. In 18SO he began to learn the trade of a hardwood finisher in the Ohio Falls car works, at Jeffersonville, Ind., where he remained nineteen months; was then employed in the shops of the Georgia Central Railroad, at Macon, Ga., and in 1884 accepted a position in the famous Pullman Palace Car Works, near Chicago, where he acted as foreman of the filling and finishing room at a salary of $900 per annum, having charge, on an average of from 140 to 150 men. This position he resigned, to engage in his present business, the day before the presidential election of 1884.

REV. LEONARD MARSDEN GARDNER, York Springs. Bernhard Gardner, who emigrated from Bremen, Germany, was the progenitor of all the Gardners who lived in the eastern part of Adams County. He resided the first half of the eighteenth century in Lancaster and Lebanon Counties, Penn. Ile had seven sons, all of whom, except the youngest, removed to what was then a part of York County, before 1800. (In that year this part of York County was included in the new county of Adams, then organized.) The Gardners took up their residence along the Bermudian and Conowago Creeks freared large families; and left quite a number of descendants, many of whom are still found there. Jacob and John located in the village of Petersburg, now York Springs. Jacob carried on tanning a number of years, and was followed in that business by two of his sons .John was a wagon-maker by trade, and two of his sons, Benjamin and George, also fol- lowed that business in the same village for many years, but finally began the manufacture of carriages on a large scale, each having a separate establishment. In the latter part of his life George invented and patented a machine for bulling clover seed, which was in such demand that he disposed of bis carriage factory and devoted his time to the manu- facture of his patent. The only son of George is Rev. Leonard M., the subject of our sketch. He was horn near Hunterstown, Adams County, October 10, 1831, but was reared in the village of Petersburg until his seventeenth year. He then served a three years' apprenticeship at the printing business in the office of the Star and Banner, Gettys-

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burg, Penn., and later entered Dickinson College, at Carlisle, Penn., where he remained two years. In the spring of 1854 he entered the Baltimore Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Ilis pastorates have been Mercersburg, Penn., Middletown and Lib- erty, Md., McConnellsburg, Penn., Hancock, Md., Lock IIaven and Curwensville, Penn., Exeter Street, Strawbridge, Eastern Avenue and Franklin Street, in Baltimore city, and Ryland and Mount Zion, Washington, D. C., and, by special transfer, for three years at the old Liberty Street Church, Pittsburgh, Penn. Ife is at present pastor of the Franklin Street Church, in Baltimore. During the war he was an ardent Union man, and supported the Government in every proper and patriotic way in its effort to suppress the Rebellion. On the early morning of July 4, 1863, before the result of the battle of Gettysburg was known, a messenger from Gen. Smith, en route for Gen. Meade's headquarters, with impor- tant dispatches, met Mr. Gardner in front of his father's house, in York Springs, and asked for directions to get around the rebel army to Gen. Meade. Our subject volun- teered himself as a guide, and successfully conducted him, by way of New Oxford, arriv- ing on the battle ground at 6 P. M., and during the following week, in connection with the Christian Commission, was occupied in caring for and attending to the sick and wounded soldiers of both armies. The year following, as a member of the Christian Commission, he was with the Army of the Potomac, through the battle of the Wilderness, and until the army crossed the James River. The greater part of the time he was at- tached to the field hospital and exposed to the usual dangers consequent to marching and fighting. Of all the numerous progeny of Bernhard Gardner first mentioned, now number- ing many hundreds, the Rev. Leonard M. is the only one who ever became a minister of the gospel, and, though only one from the flock, the Lord has made him a host. In the power of ministerial oratory and success as a preacher, he stands in the front rank. He owns a farm and homestead at York Springs; the house is kept furnished and ready for occupancy, and each summer and at other seasons, he returns to it for quiet, or engages in the agricultural pursuits necessary to its care, and returns after each vacation to his ministerial labors with renewed vigor. He was married December 24, 1856, to Miss An- nie M. Rhodes, an estimable lady, formerly of Greencastle, Franklin Co., Penn., a daugh- ter of William P. Rhodes. Mr. and Mrs. Gardner have two sons: George W. and Leon- ard M., Jr., both now residents of Florida.

ARNOLD GARDNER was born in what is now York Springs, where he resides, in August, 1812, and is a son of Jacob and Joseba (Fahnestock) Gardner. When about twelve years of age he began to learn the tanner's trade in his father's yard, and in his youth obtained a good common school education. In 1838, in company with Charles Kettlewell, he rented the York Sulphur springs from the Robert Oliver heirs for six years, and at the expiration of the lease he bought one-half interest in the springs from J. Boggs, and conducted and superintended the same for nine years. Under his administra- tion they became a success and a popular resort. He accommodated as many as 150 guests, and some seasons had to find accommodations for some of his patrons in the neighboring farm houses. At the end of the nine years he sold out his interest, and since that time has lived retired, with the exception of settling some estates occasionally. He has an elegant residence, erected by himself in 1859, a beautiful veranda alone costing $900: the yard and lawn are finely kept, and ornamented with pieces of statuary and works of art. Mr. Gardner is a thorough Republican, though never an office seeker. He was married, in 1844, to Elizabeth Shuler, of York. They have no children. Mr. Gard- ner has always been an advocate of educational and other interests calculated to improve the community, and contributes to all religious denominations, although not a member of any. Mrs. Gardner is a member of the Lutheran Church.

ALBERT C. GARDNER, postmaster at York Sulphur Springs, was born at York Springs June 11, 1835, and is a son of William Gardner (elder brother of Arnold Gard- ner), an old merchant of York Springs, who began business there when eighteen years of age and continued until fifty-six years old, when he died. Part of the time he did a wholesale trade, and supplied many of the store-keepers in the small towns adjoining. He carried a general stock of everything, even to hoop-poles, and his sales in one year amounted to $50,000. He was probably the most successful merchant that ever did busi ness at York Springs. Our subject, for five years after leaving college, was in the wholesale boot and shoe business at Philadelphia, and afterward in the straw goods trade, being in all very successful. He was appointed postmaster at York Sulphur Springs July 1, 1885, by President Cleveland's administration. Mr. Gardner has been twice married, and is very comfortably situated.

JOHN B. GROUP, retired farmer, P. O. Idaville, was born August 11, 1815, about one mile and one-half southwest of Idaville, in Tyrone Township, this county, a son of Philip and Elizabeth (Rex) Group, both natives of Adams County. The grandfather, Philip Grube, was a native of Germany, and settled in Tyrone Township prior to the Revolution. John B. was reared on the farm, and during his youth was quite delicate in health. He was educated in the schools of the vicinity, and at the age of twenty-four married, May 19, 1839, Mary Ann Haynes, daughter of John and Susan (Stock) Haynes. The following named children blessed this union: Howard Washington, William Mont-

Daniel Sell

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gomery, Lucy A. S., Mary J., Jesse Lunger and Hiram Leander, living, and Jolin B., Jr., deceased. In early manhood Mr. Group worked for five years for 50 cents by the day, and for three months each winter taught subscription school. When the free schools were established he was examined by the county board, given a certificate, and then taught for six or seven terms at $14 or $15 per monthi. At the age of eighteen he became a member of the Lutheran Church; but some four or five years later, becoming convinced that the doctrine of the Evangelical Association was more in accordance with the divine teach- ings, he joined that denomination. Since then he has always had a family altar and di- vine worship at his house daily. He has served for many years as class-leader, exhorter and steward of that church, and has been a trustee ever since the organization of the Zion Church congregation at Idaville. He and his wife and one other are the only ones now living of the first members of the congregation. Zion Church was organized iu 1850, and on the erection of the first church edifice Mr. Group contributed $50 toward its completion, and has always been one of its chief supporters. Ile was formerly a Demo- crat, but now a Republican, and has served as township supervisor for five years, school director, judge of election. clerk, etc. lle was always a friend of education, and when a school director favored the erection of the York Spring public school building. He is a strong advocate of temperance, and one of the oldest and best citizens of the township. The name was formerly spelled Grube, which, in German, signifies a digger of a wolf pit; it was afterward changed to Grupe, and is now spelled Group.

ABRAHAM MEALS, farmer, P. O. York Sulphur Springs, was born May 9, 1838, on the farm he now owns and occupies. At the age of nineteen he began to work for him- self, and now owns the homestead of over 400 acres in Huntington Township. He is one of the most substantial and independent farmers of the county; is a friend to education, and during the past winter established a select school at his own house for the benefit of his children, and intends having it for the future. lle is a Republican, was a firm friend of the Union, and during the war was once drafted, but procured a substitute, and after- ward furnished another. fle married, March 4, 1861, Hannah Shelley, a daughter of Ben- jamin and Catherine (Faus) Shelley, of Huntington Township. They are the parents of five girls: Katie A., Coro M .. Lottie V., Hayesanna and Georgie. The family attend the Evangelical Church. Mr. Meals' mother resides with him and is aged seventy-two years; his father died in 1855. The first of the Meals family in America was William Meals, the great-grandfather, who, with his wife Margaret, came from Germany, and! settled in Tyrone Township, Adams County, near Deals' Mills, prior to the Revolution. The grand- father of our subject, William Meals, married Elizabeth Hartzwell, and had a family of seven children: Mary (married to Adam Weigle), Henry, Margaret (married to William B. Gardner), Jacob. Elizabeth (married to George Guise), William (the father of our sub- ject) and Catherine (who married Henry Harman). William, above mentioned, was mar- ried about 1836, to Leah Yeatts, of this county, a daughter of Simon and Barbara (Spang- ler) Yeatts. To this union four children were born, two living: Abraham, and Leah, who married Samuel Brown, who is now deceased, leaving two children.

MISS EMILY E. MOORHEAD, York Springs, was born January 14, 1824, to William and Esther (Kinyon) Moorhead. She was educated at the schools of York Springs; also was a pupil for a short time under the tuition of Dr. John H. Marsden; and finished her education at Lititz, Lancaster Co., Penn. Although never having intended to become a teacher, she took, in 1845, charge of her first school, and for twenty-five consecutive years followed that vocation, with the exception of fourteen months, and continued until her father's death in 1868. She taught for several terms in York Springs, three years at Tyrone, three years at Cottage Ifill and other places, and since 1869 has lived retired in the house where her father died at York Springs. She is a very intelligent and affable lady, highly respected and honored by all. The first of the family to come to America were Robert Muirhead and wife, natives of the County Clare, Ireland, who arrived in this country about the year, or some time prior to, 1748. They entered 300 aeres of land about three miles north of York Springs near the Carlisle Pike, and some of the receipts now in existence, in part payment for the same. are dated 1748. They had one child, James Muir- head, who was born upon the ocean, and who married Elizabeth Fletcher, and lived, like his father and mother, on the old farm in Huntington Township, where they died and were buried, and where he and his wife were also buried, in Leers graveyard, in the same township. They had eight children, as follows: Robert (who married Sally Brandon), Edward (who married Sally Parsel), Fletcher (who married Sally Livingston), William (who married Sally Proctor), John (who married Sarah Morrison), Mary (who became the wife of a Mr. Kelethan), Rebecca (who married a Mr. Richardson) and Elizabeth (who married William Proctor). John Moorhead (who married Sarah Morrison) had three sans as follows: James (married to a Miss Titsworth, had four children: William, John, Mary and Sarah), William (who married Esther Kinyon, daughter of Roger and Esther (Maxon) Kinyon, of Rhode Island; they had two children: Emily Esther, whose name heads this sketch, and Eliza Jane, who resides in Kewanee, Ill., the widow of Rev. Will- iam Lieber, a Methodist minister). Samuel Moorhead, the third son of John and Sarah (Morrison) Moorhead, married Sarah Holmes and had five children: Eliza Euridica (who

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married Samuel Gray), John (who was thrice married, first, to a Miss Adams, then to her sister, and lastly to Mrs. Helen Hannah), IIolmes (who died while a soldier in the Army), Sarah Jane (married to Samuel Thompson) and Morrison (who married Jennie Osborn). The Moorheads were originally Episcopalians, but the later generations have belonged to the Presbyterian Church.

DR. I. W. PEARSON, York Springs. The first of the Pearson family in America came over with William Penn in the seventeenth century, and were probably from Eng- land. The first to come to Adams County, as far as now known, was Elias Pearson, who with his family lived in Latimore Township. He had a son, Isaac, who reared a family in Huntington Township, where he died. Isaac, second, also had a son, Isaac, who mar- ried Mary, a daughter of William Wierman, of Huntington Township, and who generally was termed " Prince William," on account of the number of Williams of the same name. Isaac and Mary (Wierman) Pearson had three children: Charlotte: Martha (who married Joel Cook, and resides in Harford County, Md.), and Dr. I. W. The Pearsons were originally members of the Society of Friends. Dr. Pearson was born June 6, 1824, and is the son of Isaac and Mary Pearson, former of whom died when our subject was but four years of age, and latter when he was bnt fourteen, so that early in life the Doctor was thrown upon his own resources. Ile was educated in the common schools, and in 1848 began to read medicine with Dr. H. C. Metcalf, of York Springs, completing his medical education at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, in the winter of 1849 and 1850, and in the latter year located at York Springs. He followed his profession in partnership with his preceptor, Dr. Metcalf, for four years, and since then has been in continuous practice, being at present (1886) the oldest practicing physician in the place. He is ex- president of the county and permanent member of the State medical societies. The Doctor takes an active part in public affairs, and generally votes with the Republican party. He has served in nearly all the offices in the gift of the borough, and was its first burgess; has heen councilman and school director, etc. Heis a member of the A. F. & A. M. and I. O. O. F. lodges at York Springs, and was a charter member of each; has served two terms as Master, and is the present secretary of the Masonic lodge; and has been a member of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, I. O. O. F. since 1850. He served thirteen years as treasurer of York Springs Building Association, which institution was a financial success. The Doctor married, in March, 1854, Mary Caroline Beales, and they have had a family of six children: Mary E., Charles G. and Isaac W. (twins, the former deceased), Harry B., Francis W. (deceased), and Charles E. Their three sons are all "disciples of Faust" (printers), although two of them are at present engaged in other pursuits.

ISAAC W. PEARSON, JR., editor and proprietor of the York Springs Comet, York Springs, was born September 26, 1858. He was educated in the schools of his native place and completed his studies at Shippensburg Normal School; then for three years fol- lowed civil engineering on railroad construction. January 10, 1878, he became the pro- prietor of the Comet, a six-column folio, with a subscription of about 200. It was nen- tral in politics and is so still. In 1880 Mr. Pearson enlarged the paper to a seven-column folio and it has gradually gained in popularity, having now a circulation of about 1,200 copies, 450 in the surrounding counties and other States and the balance in Adams Coun- ty. Mr. Pearson recently erected a new building on Main Street, York Springs, and occu- pies the ground floor for his editorial and printing rooms. June 9, 1885, he married Han- nah M. Fickel. only daughter of William A. Fickel, of York Springs, born June 28, 1860. On July 24, 1886, were born of this union, Jean and Hazel, twin danghters, an event which occasioned considerable stir in the village. Mrs. Pearson is a member of the Lu- theran Church. Mr. Pearson is a member of the I. O. O. F., at York Springs. The pre- decessor of the York Springs Comet was established at Gettysburg in 1874, by A. L. Heikes, and moved to York Springs in 1877. The Comet office at present (1886) is fitted with a Rankin cylinder press. its full capacity being about 600 per hour. The office also has two job presses with other fixtures of the most improved kinds.

HARRY B. PEARSON, hardware merchant at York Springs, was born July 8, 1861, and is a son of Dr. Isaac W. Pearson. He obtained his education in the schools of York Springs and when sixteen years old he learned the printer's trade, and opened his present store August 1, 1885. The business has steadily increased and Mr. Pearson carries a full line of hardware, ready mixed paints, guns, powder, shot. etc., etc. Mr. Pearson is a prominent member of both the I. O. O. F. and the F. & A. M. societies of the town.

HENRY C. PETERS, proprietor of fruit-canning business, York Springs, is a native of Oxford Township, born near New Oxford, this county, November 18, 1828, and is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Bottorff) Peters, both natives of this county. The father was born March 16, 1797, and the mother August 10, 1800, in Straban Township, this county. The grandparents were Isaac and Abigail (Thompson) Peters, the former of whom died in 1899 or 1830 in Baltimore City, Md., and the latter about 1858, aged ninety-three years, in Oxford Township. The maternal grandparents were John and Elizabeth (Taney) Bot- torff, who both died in Straban Township, this county, aged seventy and seventy-five years, respectively. Henry C. lived with his father until the age of nineteen, when he went to Gettysburg and learned the tinner's trade with George E. Buehler, with whom he

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remained four years. In 1851 he came to York Springs and opened a stove and tin shop, which business he conducted until 1876, when he turned the establishment over to his sons. In 1855 he became interested in the fruit-canning industry, under the firm name of Worley & Peters. In 1858 the firm became 11. C. Peters & Co., and since 1862 Mr. Peters has conducted the business alone and has been largely interested every season, in one year (1874) canning $27.000 worth of goods, and for ten years has averaged about $8,000 per annum. The business is now conducted under the name of " The Sunnyside Canning Company." They put up all kinds of fruits, vegetables, joll'es, etc. Mr. Peters was originally a Whig, but is now a Republican, and has served the township as school di- rector, and the borough three times as burgess; has been a member of the council three terms, and was elected in 1878 a justice of the peace, and in 1883 re-elected for five years. Mr. Peters takes an active interest in the affairs of the community; is a prominent mem- ber of the 1. O. O. F. Lodge of York Springs, Grand Lodge and Grand Encampment; has been a Royal Arch Mason for twenty-eight years, a Knight Templar for twenty-seven years and a Master Mason twenty-nine years; is a member of Lodge No. 465, York Springs, also of St. John's Chapter, at Carlisle, No. 171, and Commandery No. 8. In 1851 Mr. Pe- ters married Rebecca L .. daughter of Jacob Kuhns, of Cumberland Township, this county. They have had eight children, four of whom are living: John F., Charles Harry, Mary Kate and Myra L. Mrs. Peters died November 30, 1884, a member of the Lutheran Church, of which Mr. Peters is still a member; he served ten years as Sunday-school superintend- ent. He was prominent in getting a charter for the borongh: active in educational af- fairs, building of the schoolhouse, etc., and a charter member. first president and last secretary of the York Springs Building & Loan Association, and a member of the board of directors for thirteen out of its fourteen years of existence.

JOHN F. PETERS, dealer in stoves, tinware, house-furnishing goods, etc., York Springs. This business was established about 1843, by Isaac D. Worley, and ten years later, in 1853, was bought by II. C. Peters and conducted by him until 1875, when he was succeeded by his sons, John F. and C. H. Peters, under the firm name of J. F. & C. Il. Peters. In 1880, C. II. retired from the firm, and is now conducting business of the same kind at Shiremanstown, Cumberland Co., Penn. Since the above date John F. has continued the business at York Springs, and recently bought a large store building. formerly known as the Jacob Gardner property, to which he has moved, and now carries a full line of goods. He is a practical mechanic, having learned the tinner's trade when nineteen years of age. Mr. Peters was born August 9, 1851, and is a son of H. C. and Rebecca L. (Kuhns) Peters. He was educated at the schools of York Springs, and fin- ished his literary studies by a two-years' course at the Pennsylvania College, Gettysburg. Hle first began business for himself April 1, 1875. November 9, 1875, he married Lovie L. Myers, a daughter of Cornelius Myers, of Hampton, this county. They have two chil- dren, Myra Elsie and John F., JJr. Mr. Peters has been a member, since 1872, of the A. F. & A. M., and served in all its different offices, including Master, etc. The same year he became a member of the I. O. O. F .; has served in all its different official positions, and has been its secretary, with the exception of one year, since 1874. Ile is a Republican in politics; has been identified with the educational institutions of the place since attaining his majority. He was a member of the school board for twelve years, and takes a promi- nent part and interest in the politics of the vicinity and county.

COL. WILLIAM WARREN STEWART, civil engineer, York Springs, is a native of York Springs Borough, and was born August 8, 1836, a son of Dr. William Rippy and Diana (McKinney) Stewart; the former a native of Shippensburg, Cumberland County, and a son of Alexander Stewart, M. D., and Jane (Rippy) Stewart. Diana McKinney was a daughter of David MeKinney, a tanner of Strasburg, Franklin Co., Penn. The Stewarts are of Scotch, the MeKinney's of Scotch-Irish, and the Rippys of Scotch extrac- tion. Dr. William Rippy Stewart located at York Springs in 1827, and was in continuous and successful practice there up to within one year of his death. which occurred March 9, 1867. He left a widow, now (1886) aged seventy-eight, and eight children. He was an enterprising and progressive citizen and had the confidence and respect of the entire com- munity to a remarkable degree. Col. Stewart, at about the age of fourteen, became a student at Cumberland Valley Institute for one year; then at Juniata Academy, Shirleys- burg, Huntingdon County, two years. At the latter place he paid considerable attention to mathematics and civil engineering with the intention of following that profession. In 1857 he became a member of a corps of United States engineers in the survey of Govern- ment lands in Nebraska; returned in 1859, and shortly after obtained employment in the office of the Adams Express Company at Baltimore; was with them when Fort Sumter was fired upon, and ahout that time returned to York Springs. In June, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, First Regiment Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer Corps, and, two weeks after arriving in camp at West Chester, Penn., was made first sergeant: September of the same year was made first lieutenant of Company K. then stationed at Tennellytown, Va .; November of the same year he was detached from Company K, and made adjutant of the regiment, June 30, 1862. During the seven days' battle of the peninsula, at Charles City Cross Roads, he was wounded by a minie ball through the left thigh, and taken prisoner.

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Author: Publication date: Publisher: W. Taylor Number of Pages: 1280

Author:
Publication date:
Publisher: W. Taylor
Number of Pages: 1280