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 174

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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 174
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 174

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NEWTON A. TAWNEY, farmer, P. O. Gettysburg, was born October 22, 1845, in Mountjoy Township, Adams Co., Penn., son of Abraham Tawney, a native of this county and of German descent. Abraham Tawney, who has been a successful mason and con- tractor, erected many of the important buildings of this county, and among those in Get- tysburg may be mentioned the gas works, churches, court house, etc. He is now seventy-six years of age: is self-made in every respect; starting out in life a poor boy, en- cumbered with debt, he has, by hard work, perseverance and an indomitable will, made a place for himself in the world, and to-day enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him. Ile never was a politician, but has ever taken an active interest in public affairs, and is identified with the Republican party. He was married in this county to Miss Catharine A., daughter of David Zuck, a member of an old pioneer family and an old wagoner to Pittsburgh; he kept hotel on the Pittsburgh Pike. Abraham Tawney is now seventy-six years old, and his wife about sixty-five; they are members of the Ger- man Reformed Church. The children born to this couple, four in number, were; Newton A., Susannah E., Selena M., and Clinton J., who was a born mechanic and died when thirteen years of age. Our subject, Newton A., was educated in his native county; has learned no trade, but is a mechanic naturally, though he has followed farming the greater part of his life. He was married, in this county, to Clara J., daughter of Daniel Stall- smith, and by this union there are four children: Alverta G., Clinton E., Carrie E. and Charles B. Mr. and Mrs. Newton Tawney are members of the St. Mark's Reformed Church. Politically he is a Republican.

DR. JAMES G. WATSON, physican and surgeon, Bonneauville, was born August 1, 1851, in Quincy, Franklin Co., Penn., son of Robert Watson, who was born in Washing- ton Township. Franklin Co., Penn., from where his father, who was a farmer, had removed, in about 1820, to Ilamiltonban Township, where he spent the balance of his days, dying March 22, 1869. at the ripe old age of one hundred and two years. The grand- father of our subject was a native of Londonderry, Ireland, and came to America when fifty years old. Ile was married here to Mrs. Mary Hindman (nee Gibson), who died aged sixty-eight, the mother of five children: Robert, James and Eliza (twins), John and George. Of these Robert, who has been a dentist in Fairfield, this county, about forty years, was married in Franklin County, Penn., to Hannah Mentzer, who has borne him five children, of whom four are living: James G., John, Mrs. Anna E. Musselman, Dr. D. Start. He has taken quite an active part in local politics; has tilled nearly every town- ship office, and is one of its prominent citizens. Our subject received his primary educa- tion in this county; then attended the Mercersburg College, Franklin County, Penn., and later the first session at the University of Pennsylvania, and second session at the Phila- delphia University of Medicine and Surgery, whence he graduated in the spring of 1876. He then located at Montgomery Square, Montgomery Co., Penn., where he remained but eighteen months, however, and then went to Sabillasville, Md., and after three years practice came to Bonneauville, this county, in April, 1881, where he has enjoyed a lucra- tive practice ever since. The Doctor was married, in Philadelphia, Penn., November 18, 1875, to Miss Marie E., daughter of August Dichm, a native of Germany, and they have three children living: Robert J., Anna L. and William Stuart. Dr. and Mrs. Watson are members of the Reformed Church. Politically he has always been a Democrat.

DAVID C. WENTZ, farmer, P. O. Bonneauville, was born November 9, 1832, in Carroll County, Md., a grandson of Frederick Wentz, a native of America, but of Ger- man descent, a farmer by occupation, who died in Carroll County. . Md., when nearly

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eighty years old. David, the son of Frederick Wentz, was born and died in Carroll County, aged eighty-two years. He was well known in the community, was a prominent member of the Lutheran Church. He was married to Catharine Crouse, a native of Car- roll County, Md., daughter of Michael Crouse, and who is yet living in Carroll County, the mother of eleven children, all of whom are living but two: Valentine C., John D., David C., Samuel, William, Noah, Henry, Louis and Mrs. Lydia Kemford. Our subject was educated in his native State, and there farmed and worked at carpentering for fifteen years. In April, 1870, he came to Mountpleasant Township, this county, where he has 176 acres of land. He was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Bankert, also a native of Carroll County, Md., daughter of Peter Bankert. Of the twelve children born to this union ten are now living: Mary J., William P., Anna, Emma, Edward, Martin, Laura, Clara, Ellen and Alverta. Mr. and Mrs. David C. Wentz are active members of St. Luke's Lutheran Church. Politically he is identified with the Democratic party, and has filled the office of supervisor two terms, being re-elected in the spring of 1885.

CHAPTER LXV.

TOWNSHIP OF OXFORD & BOROUGH OF NEW OXFORD.

MRS. LEAH DIEHL. John Adam Diehl and wife emigrated to this country from Germany in the year 1731. Their descendants to-day are numerous and are singularly prosperous, and are, with a few exceptions, stanch Lutherans. They are always to he found on the moral side of all public questions. The erection and maintenance of the Lutheran Church in New Oxford was and is due in a marked degree to the energy and liberality of that portion of the family residing in and around the village.

This original couple took up 360 acres of fertile land in what is now known as Spring Garden Township, York County, Penn .. paying an English agent £12 ($60) for it. To this pair were born four sons: Peter, Daniel, George and Nicholas. Daniel settled in Seven Valleys, York County; George in Virginia, and Peter and Nicholas in Hellam Township, York County, having purchased the original tract from the heirs after the death of their father.

Peter, the grandfather of our subject's husband, was born in Germany, and was probably three years old when his father, John Adam, came to this country. He was married in 1748, and had a family of six children: Peter, Nicholas, Jacob, Daniel, Eliza- beth, married to Henry King, and Catharine, married to John Brillinger.

Peter, the father of our subject's husband, was horn in Hellam Township, York Coun- ty, and had a family of three sons and four daughters: Daniel (our subject's husband), George, Jacob, Elizabeth Golden. Sarah Blair. Mary Albert and Susau Diller. This fam- ily moved into Adams County, Penn., in all probability about the year 1801, settling in Ox- ford Township, having purchased a large tract of land lying along the Gettysburg Turnpike and reaching from the village of New Oxford to the banks of the Little Conowago, em- bracing several hundred acres of choice land. Mr. Diehl paid half a bushel of silver for the tract, and brought the money from Hellam Township to New Oxford in saddle-bags. thrown across the back of his horse, It is said the animal presented a sad sight, having heen sorely hlistered by the weight and friction of the coin. Daniel was born in the old mill near York, which (being rebuilt) is still in possession of the name, and was fifteen years old when the family moved into Adams County. His birth occurred on the 20th of August, 1791. His first marriage was with Elizabeth Carl, October 26, 1809, by whom he had fifteen children, seven of whom are yet living: Amanda Baehr, Amelia Butt, Cath- arine Schaeffer, Deliah D. Feiser, Mary E. Wagner, Jesse (a practical farmer) and Carl, a professional teacher of high rank in the schools of Illinois. These remaining seven chil- dren are all married and prospering. Mrs. Diehl died September 19, 1833. Mr. Diehl married again on the 22d of February, 1835; this time Leah (Myers) Baugher, whose name heads this sketch. Her parents, John and Margaret Myers, now deceased, were residents of Bucks County, Penn., and at an early day moved to York County, settling in Warrington Township. Mr. Myers was an educated man, being able to converse in three different lan- guages. Two of his sons lost their lives in the war of 1812. The original Myers stock came from Holland a century and a half ago. From this union of Dauiel Diehil with our subject six children were born: Rebecca (now deceased); Joseph R., proprietor of the well-known "Diehl's Mill," on the banks of the Little Conowago; Elijah, a scientific farm- er, aud a newspaper correspondent of some note; Emma, wife of Henry Weikert, a suc- cessful farmer; Samuel A., a rising young minister in the Lutheran Church, who has already made for himself a name for usefulness, and Miriam, wife of Jacob Heltzel.

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OXFORD TOWNSHIP.

PETER DIEHL, retired farmer and tanner, P. O. New Oxford, is a native of York County. Penn., where his birth occurred in 1802, having descended from the prominent and influential family of Diehl, who settled in an early day in York County, and whose history is recorded elsewhere in this work. His parents were Daniel and Rosanna Diehl. Peter was reared in York County: was there married in November, 1823, to Anna M. Smyser, whose family was one of prominence in York County, Daniel Smyser having been a judge on the bench and his father, George Smyser, one of the early associate judges of that county. Our subject, in February, 1824, after his marriage, located in the neighborhood where he now resides, being the first member of his family to settle in that vicinity. Ile purchased a small farm and in connection with it a tannery, that was es- tablished in 1800 by John Slagle, which business he carried on successfully for many years, retiring therefrom in 1864. A portion of his land lying adjacent to New Oxford, he had it laid out into lots and platted, and it now forms an addition to the borough. In 1830 he erected the brick mansion in which he now resides, where he and his wife are spending the evening of their lives together, surrounded with all comforts, the fruits of their industry and economy in former years. Each has been a member of the Lutheran Church since 1820, and they have contributed liberally to its support. Time has dealt gently with this aged couple, who have journeyed together through a period of sixty odd vears, and are in reasonably good health and in full possession of all their faculties. Mr. Diehl is now the oldest person living in New Oxford. Ile remarks, with great pride, that since 1830 he has been an earnest advocate of the cause of temperance and was the first person in his neighborhood to openly annonnce his principles, which were instilled in his posterity, and some of his sons, all grown, never have tasted intoxicating liquors. Our subject, in his younger life, was an active local politician, and held almost every of- fice in the township. He has been a good business man, and is one of the substantial citi- zens of Adams County. Ile was at one time a director of the Ilanover branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. In 1842 he was chosen one of the county commissioners, and in 1875 he was elected a director of the First National Bank of Gettysburg, a position he still retains. To this conple have been born seven sons and four daughters (ten living), viz .: Martin, Israel, Jeremiah, Henry, Andrew, Edward, Charles, Sarah 1., Louisa S., Anna M. and Elvira J. October 7, 1883, there was a family reunion in the old mansion, each living representative heing present. Israel was one of the most renowned temper- ance orators in the United States, and traveled extensively in Europe. llaving heen edu- cated for a Methodist minister, he accomplished a great work prior to his death, which occurred Jannary 4, 1875. Five children yet remain in Adams County ; all are married and doing well. Sixty-three years of married life have sat lightly on Mr. and Mrs. Diehl.

GEORGE W. DIEIIL (deceased) was a native of Adams County, Penn., born on the homestead located on the banks of the Little Conowago Creek July 23, 1818. IIis par- ents were Daniel and Elizabeth (Carl) Diehl, the history of whose ancestors is given in the sketch of Mrs. Leah Diehl. Our subject was twice married-the first time to Susanna, daughter of George Emig, which event occurred in 1840, and to this union were born three daughters: Leah E., Sarah E. and Amanda. Mrs. Diehl died in 1854, and in 1858 Mr. Dichl was married to Sarah, danghter of John Emig, and a cousin to his first wife. To the second marriage one son, John M., was born, who died in infancy. The mother of this child died in 1883, and two years later Mr. Diehl died, leaving one daughter, Miss Sarah E., the only surviving heir. Mr. Diehl was a substantial citizen and a useful mem- ber of society, highly esteemed and respected by all. His daughter, since 1885, has re- sided in New Oxford.

ELIJAH F. DIEHL, P. O. Leesburg, Kosciusko County, Ind., son of Daniel and Leah Diehl, whose family history is given in the sketch of the latter. was born near New Oxford, Adams Co., Penn., March 13, 1841. lle attended the schools of the neighbor- hood, supplemented by several terms in Dr. Pfeiffer's College, at New Oxford. At the age of seventeen he began teaching in Mountpleasant Township, which occupation he followed until 1862. In August of that year he enlisted in Company B, One Ilundred and Thirty-eighth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served in the Army of the Potomac. After his service in the army he went to Leesburg, Kosciusko Co., Ind., and there tanght school one term; thence he went to St. Joseph, Mo., where he was again for a time engaged in school-teaching. He then returned to Leesburg, where, in 1867, he was married to Miss M. Annie Berst, and to them have been born the following named children: Willis Edwin, Leah IEnlda, Miriam Alice, Henry Albert, Mary, Laura Kate, Rnth (deceased) and Carl Sanford. After his marriage Mr. Diehl took charge of one of his father-in-law's farms, and for several years during the winter months, in con- nection with farming, was employed in teaching school. Since 1880 he has served as as- sessor, and during that year and in 1886 was land appraiser, and is now filling his third term. Conrad Berst, paternal grandfather of Mrs. Diehl, was born near Strasburg, Ger- many, in 1779, and immigrated to America in 1798, and in 1807 married Catherine Gun- ther, of Lancaster Connty, Penn., whose birth occurred in that county in 1785. Her father was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and died of wounds received at the battle of Bunker Hill. IIenry Berst, the forth of thirteen children and father of Mrs. Diehl,

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was born in Lancaster County August 28, 1814. In 1829 the family moved to Butler County, and in 1832 to Erie County, Penn .; thence Henry went, in 1836, to Kosciusko County, Ind., where he purchased a large tract of land on Big Turkey Creek prairie and adjoining it. In 1837 his parents, two brothers and two sisters, located in this locality, where the mother died in 1849, and the father in 1859. Henry Berst's marriage with Mary A. James occurred June 14, 1840, and to them were born eleven children. of whom Mrs. Diehl is the fifth, born June 17, 1848. Her maternal ancestors came to America prior to the war for independence, the Jameses from England, the Wards from Ireland. Her grandfather. James Ross James, was born in Sussex County, Del., in 1796, and his wife, nec Lavina Ward, in the same county in 1797. They were married in 1817, moved to Pick- away county, Ohio, in 1822, and to Kosciusko County, Ind., in 1837. Mrs. James died in 1864, and her husband in 1871. Mary A. James, mother of Mrs. Diehl, was born January 31, 1819, in Sussex County. Del. The Berst and James families stand high in the estima- tion of the people of their respective communities, and members of both families filled important official positions in the war of the Rebellion.

JOSEPH R. DIEHL, miller, P. O. New Oxford, is a native of Adams County, Penn., born June 3, 1838, near the old mill in Oxford Township, which, since 1790, has been in possession of the Diehl family, first owned and carried on by Peter Diehl, the grandfather of Joseph R. The parents of the latter were Daniel and Leah (Myers) Bangher Diehl, the history of whose ancestors appears in the sketch of Mrs. Leah Diehl. Joseph R. at- tended the common schools of his neighborhood, and completed his studies at the college or academy of Dr. Pfeiffer, located in New Oxford. In 1854, he was employed as clerk for one year for William D. and Alexander S. Himes, and then entered the employ of Aaron leagy, with whom he remained three years. After this he learned the miller's trade, with George W. Diehl. In 1860 he again engaged in mercantile business with Mr. Heagy, and March 4, 1862, was united in marriage with Katie, danghter of Elias and Eliz- abeth Slagle. The domestic life of our subject and wife was commenced in the old Diehl mansion, and Mr. Diehl took charge of the mill near by. In 1863, after the death of his father, he purchased the mill, since which time he has been engaged in the milling business. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Diehl have been born three sons and one danghter: Charles E., Martin D., Alverta L. and Ervin J. Charles E. has received a com- mercial education, and is now engaged in mercantile business in New Oxford. The oth- ers are still with their parents. Both Mr. and Mrs. Diehl have been lifelong members of the Lutheran Church, of the council of which he has been a member for a quarter of a century. Mr. Diehl has for many years been earnestly devoted to and interested in the cause of education, and has since 1870 been secretary of the school board and a director. A Republican by education and principle, he has always voted with that party, and was. in 1884 their candidate for county commissioner, but was defeated by a small majority in a strong Democratic county.

JOSEPH S. GITT, civil engineer, P. O. New Oxford, is descended from one James Gitt, who, with his wife, Mary Magdalena, came to this country, he from Ireland and his wife from Germany, about the year 1740, and settled in the "Pigeon Hills," near Han- over. His memory was a most retentive one, and to him his descendants are indebted for many reminiscences. The red man still occupied the land, and the site of Hanover was still a primeval forest. At that date he was a constable in the service of his Britannic Majesty. Hanover was controlled by the British, and the town in its early settlement was known as a "town of refuge," or "rogues' harbor." William, their only son, was born in a cabin among the hills, October 15, 1746. Five years later his parents came to Hanover, and the father disappeared and was never heard from. His son purchased a farm in Adams County, and was there married to Magdalena, who was born November 13, 1757, and died October 14, 1826. Mary, the wife of James Gitt, was born September 27. 1720, and lived to the remarkable age of one hundred and three years. William and Magdalena Gitt were the parents of Jacob, George Henry, William and Daniel, and left seventy grand and great-grandchildren to represent them. William and Magdalena. grandparents of Joseph S., died on the farm of Daniel Gitt, in Adams County, he at the age of ninety-eight years, and she when upward of eighty years. Our subject was born near McSherrystown, Penn., September 9, 1815, a son of Daniel and [Lydia Gitt, the former horn near New Oxford, this connty, the latter, a daughter of David and Catherine Slagle, and now living at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. Daniel and his wife resided ' more than half a century upon the spot where they first settled; then moved to McSher- rystown and finally to Hanover, in York County. The children, Joseph S., Henry, David. Maria, Permelia, Alexander, Nathaniel, Howard, Walter and Belinda were born and reared in this county, and are all living but three. Joseph S. was educated at Gettysburg College, and in 1836 was rodman on the "Old Tape-worm " Railroad. He taught school near his father's farm two years, and was editor and proprietor of the Herald, Democrat, Planter and Weekly News, at Hanover for four years. In March, 1841, he was married to Anna M. Bachman, and one daughter, Alice L., now the wife of Frederick G. Stark, jew- eler at Hanover, was born to them in that borough. In 1846 Mr. Gitt removed to Car- lisle, and commenced the publication of the Pennsylvania Statesman, a semi-weekly Dem-

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OXFORD TOWNSHIP.

ocratic paper, and also the American Democrat, which he sold four years later, and moved back to Ilanover and published a campaign paper, and also conducted a book-store and bindery. The absorbing topic of that day was the building of the Hanover Branch Railroad, and he was engaged as assistant engineer upon that line continually until its completion, when he moved to Media, Delaware Co., Penn., and accepted a position as chief engineer of the Philadelphia & Westchester Railroad. When the Gettysburg & Littlestown Railroads were built, he assumed charge of them in a similar capacity, and later performed his first service on the Western Maryland Railroad. He afterward per- formed a similar service on the European & North American Railroad, from Bangor, Me., to New Brunswick; later he assumed the same position on the Harrisburg & Potomac and Hanover & York Railroad; also on the Bachman Valley Railroad, the Emittsburg, Md., Railroad, the Berlin branch, and numerous surveys for proposed lines, traveling, while making these surveys, 48,580 miles, he is still engaged by the flanover Junction, Hanover & Gettysburg Railroad, but will soon retire from active service. Four children, the one- above mentioned. Luther B. (deceased) was born at Carlisle; Maria L. was born at Hanover, and Ada M. (deceased) born at New Oxford, comprised the family, of whom Maria L. is the wife of William G. Smyser, civil engineer, now located at Topeka, Kas. During his busy life Mr. Gitt has been a very successful man, and will now retire with a competence hon- estly carned. Ile was the first president of the borough council of New Oxford, and has been a member continuously up to date. For nearly forty years Mr. Gitt has been a member of the I. O. O. F., and with his wife a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he is a Republican. He is liberal and progressive in all affairs of public benefit and improvement. He is also a trustee and on the building committee of the new Meth- odist Episcopal Church in progress of erection in New Oxford.

JACOB HIELTZEL. The ancestors of our subject-citizens of the Palatinate-shipped on board the " William and Sarah " with 400 other Palatines in the year 1727, and came to this country to find a retreat from religious persecution. These early progenitors of the Heltzel family settled in the county of York, Penn., on a large tract of fand, and were the parents of four sons: Nicholas, Stephen, Philip and one whose name is not known; the last son and two uncles on the maternal side were slain in the Revolutionary war; the two latter in the battle of Long Island. The old gentleman, prior to bis shipping for America, being somewhat prominent in the Palatinate, was, on account of the persecu- tions, deputized to petition the Crown for protection. Nicholas Heltzel was married to Catharine Hershinger, and with the grandfather of our subject moved to Adams County in 1822, settling in Mountpleasant Township. Five children were born of this union, viz .: Christina Greenawalt; Jacob, a bachelor; Daniel, a farmer and hatter, who, after a retired life of twenty-five years, died July 26, 1879, at the age of eighty years; Catherine McMaster; and Nicholas, a printer the former part of his life, and during the latter part an extensive farmer: he represented Adams County in the Legislature during the years 1877-78, and filled other important places of trust.

Daniel, our subject's father. married Elizabeth Voglesong (whose ancestry came from Germany), January 10, 1824, To this couple eleven children were born, viz .: Lucy Anu Marks; Rufus, deceased: Nicholas, a soldier in the regular army, who lost his life on the frontier; Caroline, deceased; Daniel, who served three years in the infantry service of the United States during the late war, and who was captured at Winchester and taken to Danville, where he died the miserable death of starvation; Franklin, a carpenter and tradesman; Alfred, a car inspector on the Pennsylvania Railroad, and who gave four years of his life in the defense of his country; Martin, a confectioner, who served in the emergency of eastern Pennsylvania; William, a carpenter and soldier for three years; John (deceased), a printer and telegraph operator, and who was employed as proof-reader on the new constitution of Pennsylvania, and Jacob. The latter was born September 23, 1843, and was married to Miriam Diehl (youngest daughter of a family of twenty-one children) June 4, 1871. Ilis life was made up of clerking, teaching, justice of the peace. census enumerator, in 1850, and of filling the different offices of the district in which he resides. He is at present engaged in manufacturing infants' and children's shoes for the wholesale trade. The family are strict adherents to the faith of the Reformation.

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

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