History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 35

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Evans, Samuel, 1823-1908, joint author
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1320

USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 35

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The history of the churches will be found mostly in Mrs. Nevin's sketch. In 1877 the Methodists erected a large and commodious edifice. The pastors since 1866 have been the Revs. J. S. Lame, J. Dyson, B. T. Spring, A. L. Wilson, J. E. Devine, S. W. , County, and at Rhine's mill worked until his labors Smith, and the Mr. Cookman who is at present in , sufficed to discharge the debt of his passage-money. charge. After that he pursued his trade as miller at various places, became eventually a farmer of some promi- nence in Caernarvon township, and died on his farm near Churchtown. His wife was Catherine Miller. llis son, Frederick, farmed the present Isaac Evans farm for many years, and in 1825 purchased the farm now owned by David Styer, his grandson.

In that year Frederick Styer built the mansion on the place last named, and in 1827 removed perma- nently to the farm. He married Elizabeth Weiler, and died upon the homestead in 1832. His widow died in New Holland, July 4, 1867. They had two sons, John and David, both now deceased. David Styer was born upon the Evans farm, Sept. 12, 1807, and during his whole life followed the peaceful pur-

CAERNARVON TOWNSHIP.

695

suits of the husbandman. That business of his life he made, moreover, a profitable and enduring suc- cess, and, as a recompense for his capable and skillful conduet thereof, he won an ample competence. lle was enterprising in his methods, watchful and un- tiring in his labors, quick to adopt the advanced ideas of the day, and put into practical use such as promised the material development of his own indus- try. He speedily won recognition as a spirited citizen, endowed with comprehensive judgment, and an earn- est advocate of all matters tending to the promotion of the public good. Ile was frequently called to serve his township in positions of trust, and won an envia- ble record for the faithful and zealous discharge of his duties. He was chosen a county commissioner in 1849, and was president of the board of commissioners under whose direction the present court-house was constructed. He was active and alert in the arduous labors attendant upon that enterprise, and received liberal and warm approbation for the important ser- vices he rendered the county in that connection. It has long stood, and will long stand, as a monument to his memory. He served also during one term as connty poor director, and as assistant revenue asses- sor of the Ninth District. In church work he was an ardent worker, and in the cause of public educa- tion he gave freely of his means, time, and energies. From his boyhood he was a valued member of the Lutheran Church, and for years was deacon, trustee, and treasurer of the Centre Church. He was married Dec. 6, 1832, to Fannie, daughter of John Shirk, of Lancaster County. Mr. Styer died July 4, 1882. His widow survives him. Of their seven children four are living, to wit, John A., Mary A., William, and David.

EDWARD D. WHITE.

Among the living representative men of his section Edward D. White, of Churchtown, Caernarvon town- ship, stands in a conspicuous place. He was born in Caernarvon, Jan. 30, 1810, upon the farm now owned by Robert Yocum. ITis father, John White, was a native of Berks County. Upon his maternal side he is descended from the old German family of De II .- ven, the progenitor of which in Pennsylvania came to the State from the kingdom of Hanover at a very carly day. Of John White's eight chiklren but four are living,-Edward D., of Churchtown ; Mrs. Eliza- beth Pierce, of Berks County; Dr. John White, a prominent dentist of Philadelphia; and Mrs. Harriet Baldwin, of Salisbury township, Lancaster Co.

Edward White was at a youthful age deprived of the care of his parents, and taught, even before his limited school-days were ended, the lessons of urgent self-reliance learned by the children of the poor. Ile knew what hard work was as soon as he was able to tax his physical energies. At the age of thirteen he shouldered his axe, and for two years thereafter cut

cordwood on the mountain, his wages aggregating two shillings a cord. At the age of fifteen he engaged as a farm hand in his home neighborhood, and after laboring thus three years he was apprenticed to Wilson Hamilton, of Morgantown, to learn the trade of a wheelwright. After completing his apprentice- ship in 1831, he continued to work for Mr. Hamilton, and remained with him until 1837. The ensuing

C.D. Ulice

year he spent in Ohio, and returning to Pennsylvania in 1838, he opened a wheelwright's shop that year in Geigertown, Berks Co., and carried ou the business for six years, or until 1814. In the year last named he sokl out his shop, and purchasing the store busi- ness of Edward De Haven, at Churchtown, began his career as a merchant. Energy, industry, and prog- ress had been his mainsprings of action, and to his How enterprise he so earnestly applied those princi- ples that he gained success as he extended his expe- rience, and expanded his trade to more than ordinary proportions. In 1854 he retired from merchandising to join Witham Jacobs as a partner in the conduct of the "l'ont Forge." The latter business was aban- doned in 1sås, and in that year Mr. White resumed store-keeping in Churchtown, and followed it with much success until his permanent retirement in 1864. Since that time he has continued to have his home in Churchtown, and having earned a release from restless activity, has enjoyed, in the leisure that com- petence yields, the fruits of his industry. He has not, however, in the interval been altogether inactive, for from 1866 to 1881 he served as justice of the peace, is

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HISTORY OF LANCASTER COUNTY.

now notary public, and from time to time has been called upon to act as trustee in the settlement of estates. In 1867 he was chosen president of the Honeybrook Bank, and remained at the head of that institution until 1877. He was one of the incorpo- rators of the Delaware River and Lancaster Railroad (now about to be built), and is now one of the direc- tors thereof. In the cause of public education he has ever been an active worker, and in its behalf has de- voted not only time and labor, but liberally of his means. He has been a school director for about fif- teen years, and to his present term was elected without opposition. Ile was for some years a trustee of the Presbyterian Church, is now a trustee of the Church- town Methodist Episcopal Church, and at various times has furnished generous financial assistance to- wards the erection of houses of worship in his town- ship. He was appointed postmaster at Churchtown in 1844, and held the office seven years. He was a stanch Democrat until the outbreak of the late civil war, but that episode changed his polities, and since then he has been strongly Republican. In 1858 he was received into Social Friends Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 404, of Honeybrook, and still holds his member- ship therein. March 12, 1840, he was married to Margaret, daughter of John and Catharine Ammon, of Berks County. No children have been vouch- safed them. Their adopted daughter, Sarah White Hoffman (Mr. White's niece), is now the wife of Hon. Aaron W. Snader, of New Holland.

SAMUEL LINCOLN.

The Lincolns of Berks County were, in their day. among the best known and most highly esteemed citizens of that section. They boasted an ancestry that flowed backward to the carly days of New Eng- land's history, and upon the pages of that history as now preserved the name of Lincoln will be found among the names of those who gave to the Granite State her stanchest sons and bestowed upon her pros- perity and strength, the elements of industry, integ- rity, and patriotic zeal. Transplanted from the East to the growing province of Penn, the Lincolns of New England rendered yeoman's service in pushing old Berks forward in the struggle for supremacy, and upon the current of events that noted the best phases in the progress of that county they made a worthy mark. James Lincoln, of that family, was a well- known citizen of that portion of the county adjacent to Morgantown. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Caleb Jones, of Berks County, and died in 1862 at the age of ninety-four. They had eight children, of whom but three are living,-Abraham, of Lancaster County, near Churchtown; Aun, living at Church- town; and David, of Bird-borough, in Berks County. Samuel Lincoln, one of James sons, was born in Au- gust, 1798, in Berks-County, and upon his marriage to a daughter of Thomas Jackson made his home : management of the iron-works until about the time

upon the old Jackson homestead, near Joanna Furnace, in Berks County. Ile was a man of earnest purpose and enterprising energy. Asa leading farmer he held a worthy place, and during his life amply exemplified the spirit of thrift and industry. In matters affecting the publit weal he was ever to be found among the foremost, and although he hesitated to put himself forward as a political representative, he manifested at all times a keen interest in the progressive spirit of the age, and whenever he felt the call of duty upon him cheerfully accepted the burden of such local public trusts as fell to his share. Such trusts he zeal- ously performed, and with such faithfulness that he gained general approbation. For many years he was identified with the substantial interests of Caernarvon township, and as one of its prominent farmer-citizens was well known and highly esteemed. ITe died in April, 1882, upon his farm near Churchtown, aged upwards of eighty-three. His death was the loss of an upright man, and in the community that had known and applauded him for his worth he has left a valuable memory that will be cherished for more than a brief space. One son and two daughters sur- vive him,-Edward Lincoln, of Caernarvon; Mrs. Abner E. James, of Berks County ; and Mrs. John llertzler, of Caernarvon.

HANSON B. JACOBS.

Hanson B. Jacobs, son of Richard Jacobs, was born at Spring Grove Forge, Lancaster Co., June 6, 1812, and died at Churchtown, June 27, 1879. His grand- father, Cyrus Jacobs, was one of the best known of the famous iron-masters of Lancaster County's early history. He succeeded to the iron interests possessed by the Olds family in Lancaster County, at what were known as the Spring Grove and Pool Forges, on the Conestoga near Churchtown. Cyrus Jacobs was a man of more than ordinary importance, and com- manded the respect and favor of the intelligent and progre-ne element in his county. He was a man of large landed property. Upon the estate stood three mansions ot more than ordinary pretensions to archi- tectural excellence and substantial construction. There was one at Spring Grove, and two near Church- town. They are all to-day in a state of excellent preservation, and still challenge attention as model homes. Federal Hall and White Hall are within easy sight of Churchtown. At the latter lived Cyrus Jacobs, and there he dispensed royal hospitality and lived as became a veritable "lord of the manor." His son Richard ( father of Hanson) died Nov. 22, 1818, in his thirty-fourth year. Cyrus continued in netive business until his death, May 6, 1830, at the age of seventy. Ilis property passed to his grandson ITanson, then but eighteen years of age, and still at- tending school. Hanson took no active part in the

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CAERNARVON TOWNSHIP.

of his marriage, in 1836. From that time forward'he occupied by him, and during the winter of 1878-79 bestowed close personal attention upon the conduet | attending a course of lectures at Jefferson College, of the enterprise, and managed it with success until Philadelphia. In 1865 he married Anna, daughter of . Maj. William Ringwalt, of Caernarvon township. Although the pressing demands of business have thus far interfered with the completion of his medical studies, it is Mr. Zell's purpose to pursue them to the end of the required course, and in due time to enter the ranks of the profession as a practicing physician. the business of iron manufacture in those parts ceased to be profitable. He retired thereupon to private life, and at the Windsor place passed the remainder of his days in comfortable ease. Mr. Jacobs was a prominent figure in the militia when to belong to the militia was considered the pleasurable duty of every citizen. He held a general's commission for some time, and at military gatherings in various sections of the county was a familiar and gallant figure. For several years ROBERT JENKINS. he served as justice of the peace, and in other ways Robert Jenkins (born July 10, 1767, and died April 18, 1848) was in his time one of the foremost men of Lancaster County. He came of Welsh ancestry, his great-grandfather, David Jenkins, having migrated was prominently identified with the administration of local affairs. Mr. Jacobs was married, Sept. 29, 1836, to Catharine, daughter of Robert Jenkins, of Caernarvon township. She survives him, and has her home upon the Windsor place in Churchtown, where her father and her grandfather before her re- sided. Ilanson B. Jacobs and his wife had seven children. The living are Robert J., Catharine (., Charles S., Anna 11., Mary B. B., and John H.

DANIEL D. ZELL.

Among the early settlers of Lancaster County the name of Zell will be found prominent. The Zells are intimately identified with the history of Little Britain township. Isaac Zell, well known in early life as a farmer in Little Britain, was educated for the ministry, and served many years as a preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church. He died in Little Britain in 1875, aged seventy-six. His widow (a daughter of Joseph Swift, whose ancestor, were of Lancaster County's pioneers) is still living upon the old homestead, at the advanced age of eighty-two. Isaac Zell had eleven children, all of whom are living and have their homes in Lancaster County. His seventh son was Daniel D. Zell, now and for many years a resident of Caernarvon township. Daniel D. Zell was born in Washington borough, Lancaster Co., Feb. 8, 1838. He was educated in his youth at the home district school, completed his education at the Union Academy, Columbia, and upon his father's farm learned the rudiments of self-reliance through the industrious and valuable experience of busy labor. At the age of twenty-one he left home to : make his own way in the world, and for a start en- gaged in the cultivation of tobacco in Caernarvon township. For a period of eleven years he divided his time between that occupation and serving as clerk in the store he now conducts near Churchtown. In 1870 he migrated to the West on a prospecting tour, and returning in 1871, embarked in business as a huekster in Caernarvon, and followed it to 1875. In 1875 he determined to fit himself for a physician', career, and from 1575 to 1878 studied medicine with Dr. L. Z. Ringwal, of Churchtown, becoming wie in. while (1876) a merchant at the location since then

Robert Jenkins

from Wales to Pennsylvania, and settled in Chester County. John Jenkins, son to David Jenkins just named, moved into Laneaster County in 1731, and in that year i prived from William Penn a grant for a large traut of land lying along the Conestoga Creek, in the northeastern portion of Lancaster County. John Jenkins made his home near the present site of the village of Churchtown, in the midst of a wilder- ness the lived at first with his family in a cave, wbence be removed, as soon as he could build the structure, to a block-house. Previous to the Revolu- tion an English company leased land of John Jen-

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HISTORY OF LANCASTER COUNTY.

kins, and founded thereon the Windsor Iron-Works, which they conducted with more or less success until about the outbreak of hostilities between Great Brit- ain and America, when they sold the property to David (born July 6, 1731), son of John Jenkins. David managed the works with much profit, and at his death left them, as well as three thousand acres of land, to his son Robert, the works then including what are known to this day as the Upper and Lower Forges, on the Conestoga, near Churchtown. David, father to Robert Jenkins, married Martha Armon, of Pequea (of Scotch-Irish ancestry), and had three sons, -Robert, William, and David. Robert became an iron-master, William an eminent lawyer, and David a farmer.

Robert Jenkins carried on the business of iron-mas- ter at the Windsor Works from 1799 to his death, in the spring of 1848, and in its conduct displayed sig- nal ability. He came to be widely known, and rose ! fall of 1871 they carried it on together with signal to be one of the conspicuous figures in the current success. Nov. 14, 1871, David died, and Israel then became the sole possessor of the property. Sept. 7, 1875, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob and Sarah Messner, of Ephrata township. Jacob Mess- ner died in December, 1872. His widow is still living. events that marked the progress and development of Lancaster County's substantial prosperity. At his death he left the works and four thousand acres of land. His son David continued the iron-works until his death in 1850, when they passed to other hands.

Robert Jenkins was eminent as a citizen as well as a manufacturer, and held a high and honored place among his fellow-men. 1Ie was liberal and enterpris- ing, endowed with rare intelligence, and ever among the foremost in the promotion of all projects seeking the popular good. At an early period of his life he was chosen to the State Legislature, and from 1807 to 1811 sat in the halls of Congres -. That service was given in the dark and stormy period that preceded the second war with Great Britain, and in the impor- tant discussions and measures incidental to that time his voice was ever heard to worthy purpose and his actions fashioned as became a stern, unflinching pa- triot. He served his country with honor, and won earnest recognition for his valued efforts. During the prevalence of the Whiskey Insurrection in Pennsylva- nia, Mr. Jenkins took an active part in the field against the insurrectionists, and gained much credit in the campaign. His death was viewed as a public calamity, and upon the occasion of his funeral up- wards of a thousand persons assembled to testify to the worth of the departed, and to the extent of the affliction which the community had been called upon to sustain. His widow (Catharine, daughter of Rev. John Carmichael, of Chester County) died Oct. 23, 1856. Of his two sons and six daughters, the living are Mrs. Catharine Jacobs, Mrs. John W. Nevin, and Mrs. Alfred Nevin.

ISRAEL KERN.

Israel Kern, one of Caernarvon's representative farmer-citizens, was born Feb. 23, 1835, near Church- town, upon the farm now owned by Matthias Hirsch

His father, Adam, a well-known farmer, died in April, 1856. llis mother, Sarah, died Sept. 9, 1880, aged eighty-eight years, and to the time of her death was quite active and hearty. Of their six sons, Israel is the only one living. He was bred a farmer's lad, and during his life has known no other occupation save that of farming, to which he applied himself during his most active years with such energy and industry as to gain a substantial competency. Having thus profitably employed his earlier manhood, he is enabled now to enjoy a well-earned rest, albeit he still makes his home upon his farm. With his brother, David, he purchased the Kern homestead (now the William Styer farm), upon their father's death, and resided there unfil 1860. In that year the two brothers bought the farm now owned by Israel and removed thereto. Their purchase embraced one hundred and fifty-two acres of valuable land, and until the

Mr. Kern was reared in the Lutheran faith, and has been a member of St. John's (Centre) Lutheran Church since his boyhood. His life has been so closely devoted to the useful pursuits of husbandry that he has had neither time for nor inclination to- wards participation in public affairs, other than occa- sionally serving in such township offices as naturally fell to his share and duty. He has sought to exem- plify the value of a useful existence, and in a quiet and unostentatious way he has made that life an ex- ample. He is held in high esteem as a citizen, and although not boasting an eventful record, has earned one that easily gives him a right to a place among the valuable members of the community in which he lives.

CHAPTER XLI.

CLAY TOWNSHIP.1

Erection and Boundary Line .- This is one of the northwestern townships of the county, and is bounded on the northeast by East Cocalico, on the southeast by Ephrata, on the southwest by Warwick, on the west by Elizabeth township, and on the northwest by Leb- . anon County.

The township was erected by a division of Eliza- beth township in 1853, by order of the court, upon the report of Emannel Shaeffer, Morris Hoops, and Wil- liam Carpenter, Erq., commissioners appointed to ex- amine the feasibility of erecting said township. The

1 By Suuruel Nissly, Esq.

il, ed 'as is

is to ly 20 is e n d 8 3 1 1 1

Israel Hern

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CLAY TOWNSHIP.

Pioneer Line .- An act of Assembly was passed Feb. 13, 1813, to annex a part of Lancaster to Leb- anon County, " beginning in the Berks County line; thence through Lancaster County to a sandstone house on the road leading from Shaefferstown to Elizabeth Furnace, leaving said house in Lebanon County ; thence to a house of one Shroyer, deceased, including said house in Lebanon Connty, on the road leading from Lebanon to Manheim ; thenee to Sny- der's mill, on the Conewago Creek." This somewhat reduced the area of what was then Elizabeth town- ship, and in 1815, at the April session of the Lan- caster County Court, C. Carpenter, Abraham Forney, and Samuel Geeher were appointed commissioners to annex a part of Warwick and Cocalico townships to Elizabeth township, as follows: "Beginning at a black-oak tree in the Lebanon and Lancaster County line; thence a southwest course through Warwick township to John Beidler's tavern, occupied by George Plasterer (now Pennsville), leaving said tav- ern in Elizabeth township; thence along a public road leading from Mount Hope Furnace to Lititz, to a public road leading from Manheim to John Eby's mill; thence along said road to Hammer Creek; thence down Hammer Creek to a public road lead- ing from Lititz to a tavern on the Downingtown, Ephrata and Harrisburg turnpike, owned by Philip Krig (now in the village of Lincoln), leaving said tavern in Cocalico township; thence a straight line to where the Indian Run empties into Trout Creek ; thence up Indian Run to the head of spring thereof, on lands of Robert Coleman, Esq., near the residence of Adam Wampole; thence a north course to Lan- caster and Lebanon Connty line; thence along said line to place of beginning."

The report of the commissioners was made Aug. 2, 1815, and confirmed by the court at November ses- sion of the same year.

Soil and Products .- The soil in the southern part of this township is equal in fertility to any in the county ; being underlaid with lime rock prevents the percolation which in some soils soon exhansts the fertilizers applied. The northern part of the town-

division lines were surveyed by Samuel Nissly, Esq., ship is more of a sandstone gravel and less fertile, except in the valleys where underlaid with rock. of Clay township, as follows : "Commencing on the bridge over Hammer Creek (below mill-dam), in the The different cereals usually raised in this county are brought forth in abundance in Clay township, as well as large quantities of tobacco. In the hills and mountains are found some of the best red sandstone to be found anywhere in the State, and of the varions colors and hues with which this kind of stone is sus- of the stone used in building the Lancaster court-house and prison were obtained. public road leading to Lancaster ; thence in said road 644 perches to the bridge over Middle Creek ; thence up Middle Creek 116 perches to Furnace Run ; thence up Furnace Run 427 perches to Seglock Run; thence up Seglock Ruo 929 perches to Lebanon County, 226 perches west from a marked stone on the west side of . ceptible. From the quarries of Clay large quantities a public road in said Lebanon County line; thence along the Lebanon County line to West Cocalico township line; southerly along said West Cocalico township line and Indian Run to Ephrata township line; thence southwesterly along Ephrata township line to Hammer Creek and Warwick township; thence up Hammer Creek to place of beginning."

From the lime-quarries of the south end of the township large quantities of stone are quarried and converted into lime, and returned to the soil in the form of a fertilizer, which is used in large quantities by the farmers of other townships as well as Clay. This business and nse of this kind of fertilizer has in- creased from a few bushels in 1825 to, in some cases, as high as one hundred bushels per acre.

In the early history of this township, or in 1760, the land along either side of what is now the Down- ingtown, Ephrata and Harrisburg turnpike was cov- ered with a small growth of what was then known as grub-wood and hazel-not and other small and almost worthless kinds of trees, and the locality was known by the old German settlers as " Grubenland," and among other things were large quantities of wild game, such as deer, bears, and other small game.

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History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 35

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Evans, Samuel, 1823-1908, joint author Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1320

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Evans, Samuel, 1823-1908, joint author
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1320