History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 162

Author: Prowell, George R.
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1372

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As telegraphic

founded in 1897 by Rev. W. B. Cox, when ered to be boys in blue.

a house of worship was built. The succeed- communications had been cut off and rum- ing pastors have been Revs. Lore, Lilly, ors of all kinds were heard from many Finkbinder, Reichard and W. J. Campbell. sources, the people of the town as well as

During the early days of the Civil War, other residents of York County could not the bridges along the Northern Central learn definitely of the movements of the

Railway were guarded by Federal troops two armies.

The 3000 cavalrymen who

and squads of them were at times quartered came to Hanover Junction on the afternoon along the road both above and below Seven of July 1, 1863, were in command of Gen-

Valley. The citizens of this village were accustomed to see the boys in blue, but on June 27, 1863, for the first time, they saw right of the army of the Potomac during the eral David M. Gregg, a distinguished vet- eran of the Civil War, who at the time of this writing in 1907, is living in Reading, armed bands wearing the Confederate gray. Pennsylvania. He commanded the extreme In the afternoon of this day, about 240 mounted men, a battalion of Confederates invasion of 1863, and before the battle of commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel White, Gettysburg, had moved as far east as Han- arrived at Hanover Junction. He had been over Junction and Seven Valley. His ob-

medicine in Seven Valley for a dozen years,

Henry Bott, taking all articles of clothing

907

SHREWSBURY

ject in coming here was to prevent the Con- federates from moving toward Baltimore.

which time Joseph Giesey was chief bur- gess ; J. H. Blasser, secretary ; James Gerry, After remaining in this vicinity for a few Jr., treasurer. The population in 1880 was hours only, a courier arrived bearing de- spatches which ordered General Gregg to fall back at once toward Gettysburg. 580; in 1890, 562; and in 1900, 554. Dur- ing its early history the borough issued " shin plasters " as a circulating medium, re- SHREWSBURY. deemed them, and on March 31, 1854, de- stroyed them.

Shrewsbury is situated near the eastern A military company was organ- borders of Shrewsbury Township on the Military. ized in 1821, known as the Stras- burg Blues, Captain Charles Baltimore Turnpike, and about one mile east of the Northern Central Railroad. Stuck being its first commander. He was succeeded by Captain Henry Snyder. In 1824, Jacob Gaines, a member of this com- pany, was drowned in Hileman's dam, and his remains were buried on a Sunday, but the people of the church where the services were held, protested against taking arms

During the early history of the town it was known as Strasburg. The store business was commenced in the village in 1800 by M. Kline. He was followed by Jacob Ruhl who resided at the corner later occupied by L. C. Kraft. Ruhl retired from business in 1830 and was followed by the firm of Small. Meyers & Latimer, who conducted a general business, selling dry goods, hardware, iron, groceries, liquor and lumber. The dry goods department on the corner later occu- pied by Gerry's drug store, was in charge of Henry Latimer. The other branches at the northwest corner of the square were in charge of C. F. Meyers. A few years later a larger building was erected on this corner and the entire business removed to it. About the year 1850 this firm was dissolved, the firm of Meyers and Small assuming charge.

into or near the church. The Blues finally suspended and the Jackon Grays were or- ganized by Captain Snyder and subse- quently commanded by Captain William McAbee. In 1844 the company was called into service to assist in suppressing the Philadelphia riots. In 1824 the Pennsyl- vania Volunteers and the Washington Ar- tillery, two companies from York, passed through the town on their way to Balti- more to take part in the reception ceremo- nies tendered Lafayette.

In 1861, Company D, 87th Pennsylvania In 1857, C. E. Meyers died and not long af- volunteers was partly organized in the terward the stand and stock were sold to C .. town. In September, 1881, Light Battery F. Ruehling. He was followed in order by E. C, United States Army, Major Sinclair in D. Hartman, Meyers & Brothers, J. H. Mar- command, encamped in the town while on kle and L. C. Kraft. Eli McDonnell began its march to Yorktown to take part in the business in 1859. Among others who aided ceremonies commemorating the surrender in developing the town were John Hersh- of Cornwallis. The following were among ner, George Blasser, R. Richey, Nathan those who during the Civil War entered the Sheffer, Samuel Gantz, George P. Ever- United States military service from the bor- hart, Christof Kolter and the Kohlers, ough: Major N. G. Ruhl, Captain E. M. Becks, Gieseys and Gerrys. Joseph Kline- Ruhl, Captain J. H. Blasser, Lieutenant felter established a tannery in the town, af- terward. conducted by Samuel Gantz, for about twenty years. David Klinefelter erected a machine shop on the lot between Raffensperger's hotel and the stable, but it could not be made a success and was soon abandoned, when a steam saw-mill was erected. In 1820 charcoal pits existed where Bott's hotel later stood.

George Blasser, Chaplain D. C. Eberhart, J. H. Hendrix, J. B. Beck, Robert McDonnell, J. H. Moody, J. Ashley, William Eaton, Henry Young, J. Smith, N. Heise, C. Hed- rick. C. Sanders, A. J. Frederick, Colonel G. IV. Frederick, E. H. Redding, Joseph Little, Jesse Shewell, John Kunkle, M. Sheol. F. Dolla, Jacob Nonemaker, G. Almany, A. J. Almany, A. Leicht, H. W. Rehmeyer, A. L.

The town was incorporated into Geesey, C. Thompson, J. Painter, M. Born. A biography of Dr. James Gerry, a prominent citizen of the bor-

Incor- a borough in 1834 by act of as- poration. sembly, and was re-incorporated Facts of in 1870, under the act of 1851 at Interest. ough, will be found on page 567.

908

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

General G. W. Frederick, a graduate the services were conducted in private of Pennsylvania College, who served with houses. Rev. J. Dreisbach was the first credit in the Civil War, had charge of the provost guard during the trial of Mrs. Surratt at Washington in 1865. Afterward he became publisher of "The Lutheran." Dr. H. G. Bussey served two terms as state senator. William McAbee served two terms in the state legislature and hield other im- preacher and he was followed by H. Neibel, M. Becker, M. Betz, John and James Bruen, A. Walter, A. Ettinger, B. Ettinger, J. L. W. Seibert, Levi and Uriah Eberhart, G. Hunter, J. M. Carothers, J. W. Cramer, S. W. Seibert, C. F. Deininger, W. Wilson, D. Miller, Rev. Zulofe, Longsdorf, S. Hornber- ger, W. H. Davis, S. Aurand, J. M. Ettinger, G. E. Zehner, J. G. M. Swengle, H. Conrad, J. C. Farnsworth, J. M. Longsdorf, P. S. Orwig, W. W. Rodes, J. F. Shultz.

portant positions. Isaac Beck was two terms in the State legislature. Colonel W. Garner, became a prominent citizen of Iowa. John Geisey was register of wills. B. F. Koller and J. A. Blasser each served as clerk of the county courts. Joseph Holland filled

The first church erected in the town in 1821 was a log structure, and was a union the office of county prothonotary. John church, being used jointly by the Metho- Beck and Christof Kolter were county com- dists and Evangelical congregations. This missioners. Joseph Hartman served as county auditor. Colonel A. Wilhelm, Cap- tain Dennis, Rev. James Henry Brown, D. D., Robert Richey and Eli Storms also be- came prominent in different spheres of life.

church building was partly destroyed by the cyclone in 1840. The Evangelical congre- gation erected a brick church in 1853, which was improved in 1877, and again in 1884.

Methodist Episcopal Church .- The or- From 1827 to 1830 a small paper known as the Harbinger was published in the town ganization of this church was effected about the year 1811. Up to that time the people by W. C. Smyth. Later the Deutscher of this faith, attended services at Rock Sharfshuetz, a German paper, was published for a few years in the town by Mr. Kurtz. Chapel, beyond the Maryland line, where an organization had been effected in 1794. On July 8, 1840, a cyclone passed over the The congregation worshipped in the old log town, and although it lasted but a few min- church jointly with the Evangelical congre- utes the destruction of property was great. The old Union log church was partially blown down, with a number of barns and several dwelling houses. Among the latter was one occupied by B. Shewell and family. A number of the family were injured and Mrs. Shewell was killed. gation up to 1849, when a one-story brick building was erected on Main Street, near the place where the present edifice stands. Bishop Waugh preached several times in this church. The second building was erected in 1874 and is of Gothic design with a belfry, two stories, and was dedicated in In 1800 a small log school house Schools. was erected in the eastern portion of the town, and Dr. Cling was the first teacher. This building was de- demus, J. Parker, J. Ewing, Z. Jordon, A. 1877, by Bishop Eames. Among the early ministers who preached for the congrega- tion were A. Hemphill, WV. Butter, E. Nico- Griffith, W. Hawk, J. W. Cronin and others.

stroyed by fire and a brick building took its place, which was also destroyed by fire in 1853. when the third building in the north- ern part of the town was erected. Private and church schools were popular in the early history of the town and an academy was opened, in 1856, by A. W. Dinsmore, and was continued under the principalship of T. R. Vickroy, J. A. Murphy, D. S. Brillhart, W. J. Fulton and E. E. Allen. The public school system was introduced in 1836.

The first regular preaching of them.

Churches. the Evangelical Church was held in Shrewsbury in 1811, and organized in 1822 and the first church build-

Bishop Levi Scott, William Barnes, Al- fred Cookman and other noted ministers preached at this place and on the Lowe camp ground near the town. This church founded the first Sunday School in Shrewsbury in 1827. It is claimed that the present extended system of lesson illustra- tion was originated in this school during 1864, when the superintendent, Rev. D. C. Eberhart planned the illustrations and E. Storms, a young artist of the town, painted

Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church was

909

SPRING GROVE

ing was erected by the Lutheran and Re- the senior class of the Theological Semi- formed congregations. Rev. J. Herbst was nary at Gettysburg, was chosen his suc- the first pastor of the Lutheran congrega- cessor, and assumed pastoral relations with tion : he was succeeded by his son Rev. the congregation in June, 1907, immediately after his graduation from the seminary. Herbst, Jr. From the records available it appears that the Herbsts resided at Gettys- burg while serving this and a number of other congregations in York County.

The Reformed congregation was organ- ized in 1822, and from 1827 worshipped jointly with the Lutheran congregation in a brick church until 1874, when the Luther- ans withdrew and the Reformed alone oc- cupied the church .. In 1882 this building

In the year 1832 or 1833 H. G. Stecher became pastor of the congregation. His place of residence is given as Martinsburg, an early name for Loganville. After Rev. was torn down and a fine brick building was Stecher, Rev. J. Kempfer came upon the field, and then Rev. P. Herman served the erected on Main Street, dedicated on May 13, 1883, by Rev. A. F. Dreisbach, T. G. Ap- congregation a year or two. In 1843 Rev. ple, D. D., president of Franklin and Mar- shall College, and J. S. Stahr, D. D. After the church was built the congregation rap- idly increased in numbers, under the care of Rev. A. F. Dreisbach.

The following ministers have served the congregation : A. Ettinger, H. Yost, Henry Fries, F. A. Scholl, H. N. B. Habliston, J. August Forsch, John Reinecka, C. W. Reinecka, D. D., J. W. Vandersloot, Daniel Gring, who served the charge for twenty- seven years, and A. F. Dreisbach. During of Rev. H. J. Hillegas, this congregation

1878 Rev. Menges was succeeded by Rev. the past ten years, under the pastoral care

The Shrewsbury Savings Institu- Bank. tion was incorporated on June 6, 1850, with a capital of $25,000. Henry Latimer was chosen its first presi- dent and Robert Richey its first cashier. June 3, 1876, G. P. Everhart became the president. March 23, 1857, John Hoshour congregation, had hitherto constituted the became the cashier and was followed No- Shrewsbury charge.

December Ist, 1894, Rev. Albert M. Heil- man, to whom the author is indebted for the sketch of this church, became pastor of the congregation.

Outside the city of York this is one of the most influential congregations in the county. It has a membership of 465 at present, among whom are many of the most promi- nent citizens of the community.

church building, a large chapel, and the par- sonage, altogether valued at about $20,000.

In the spring of 1906 Rev. A. H. Heilman resigned this charge and accepted the pas- torate of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church After 1858, when Jackson Township was at Hanover. Rev. Norman S. Wolf, then in organized, this region was embraced in that

vember 26, 1870, by J. V. Giesey, who was succeeded November 2, 1872, by A. G. Col- lins, on March 4, 1882, by A. D. Collins. In 1905 A. D. Collins was chosen president, to succeed Dr. James Gerry, deceased, and William Myers was elected cashier.

SPRING GROVE.

The borough of Spring Grove is of re- cent origin, but the settlement of the sur-

The Sunday School has an enrollment of rounding country dates back to the dawn 325. The church property consists of the of civilization west of the Susquehanna.

The site of the town was originally within the area of Paradise Township, laid off in 1747 by Joseph Pidgeon, a surveyor for the Penns.

Andrew Burg became pastor of the charge and continued until 1873 when he was suc- ceeded by Rev. J. H. Menges. During the pastorate of Rev. Menges the Lutheran congregation decided to build a church of its own and in the years 1875 and 1876 the pres- ent edifice was erected, a building so com- modious and so substantially constructed that it reflects great credit upon the pas- tor and all who in any way contributed to- ward the success of the undertaking. In E. Manges who served the congregation for about three years. In 1881 Rev. Ephraim has increased in numbers and influence.

After the resignation of Dr. Miller the congregation decided to undertake the sup- port of a pastor itself and consequently sep- arated from Fissel's and New Freedom congregations, which, with the Shrewsbury Miller, D. D., became pastor of the charge and served it until July Ist, 1894.

910

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

township until Spring Grove was incor- fires and two hammers. The largest amount porated in 1882. At the time of the first of bar iron made in a year at this forge election George Menges was chosen chief during its early history was 223 tons. In burgess ; P. H. Glatfelter, M. W. Lau, 1775 the property was bought by Daniel Charles Michael, Dietrich Swartz and Shireman. It then contained a forge and Israel Klinedinst, councilmen; T. V. S. one thousand acres of land. In 1778, when Quigley, clerk and George Seiler, justice of the British occupied Philadelphia, and the peace.

A post office was established about one mile north of the town in 1828 and Abra- ham Bletcher was appointed postmaster. use in prosecuting the war. Some of this The original name of the post office was iron was made into cannon for the Ameri- Pidgeon Hill, which it retained for many can army.

years. Mrs. Bletcher, William Wilson, P. H. Glatfelter, and George Wagner served before 1885. The postmasters since that date in order of succession have been C. W. Bauer, George G. Wagner, George Bollinger, Charles Menges and H. H. pounds, or about $10,500.

Hawkins. Although the town was incor- porated as Spring Grove Borough, the the owner of the forge and 980 acres of name of the post office is Spring Forge, woodland, in 1807, and sold it to Robert because another post town in Pennsylvania bears the name of Spring Grove.

Dr. M. Hoke and Dr. G. W. Bahn have practiced medicine at Spring Grove for twenty years. Dr. L. A. Roth, who prac- ticed his profession for many years at Nashville, has recently moved to Spring Grove. A. J. Hershey, a member of the York County Bar, resides at Spring Grove. On the southern base of the

Forge and wooded hills to the northwest Bloomary. of Spring Grove are deposits of iron ore. These deposits were mentioned by Acrelius, a Swedish historian, who passed through this country as early as 1752. Peter Dicks, an English Quaker, engaged in the iron business in Chester County, came to this region in 1755, and that year erected a bloomary along the banks of the Codorus, within the present limits of Spring Grove. This was the first iron industry west of the Susque- hanna within the limits of Pennsylvania. A number of English workmen were em- ployed at the bloomary, but all the settlers of the surrounding country who began to come here as early as 1740 were Germans.

The pioneer bloomary which Peter Dicks erected was discontinued in 1770, and near a spring close by he built a forge which became known to the history of iron manu- facture in Pennsylvania as Spring Forge. This industry then contained two forge

when Congress sat at York, wagon loads of bar iron were hauled from Spring Forge to the eastern part of the state for

The forge property was purchased by John Brien, a lawyer of Philadelphia, in 1800, and then contained a forge, 180 acres of cleared land and 700 acres of woodland, all of which were then valued at 2,100

David Eaton, of Philadelphia, became

Coleman, owner of the Cornwall iron mines and furnaces near Lebanon in 1815, for $9,000. From the year 1817 to 1850 it was owned by his son, Thomas Burd Coleman, who in connection with his brother, Robert W. Coleman, did a large business at Spring Forge. When the Colemans became the owners of this land and the forge there were 1,093 acres of woodland on the Pid- geon Hills belonging to the forge property. The entire valuation was $11,000. During the year 1832 the forge property was as- sessed at $32,000.

In 1849 there were 190 tons of bar iron made, forty workmen employed, and twenty-five horses and oxen were used. The Colemans built a large stone residence and a number of tenement houses for their employees at the forge, and log cabins on the Pidgeon Hills for their wood choppers. Chestnut wood was burned into charcoal for use at the forge. From 1,000 to 1,500 cords were annually consumed. The forge and bloomary were in active operation for ninety-four years, during which time the same chestnut timber land was cleared at least three times. One strong Irishman, it is asserted, cut seven cords of wood a day, and on a wager once lifted 525 pounds of iron. A man named Wilkinson could daily cut seven cords of chestnut wood. When the Colemans owned the forge, pig iron was brought from Columbia and York by

9II

SPRING GROVE

teams, and was manufactured into saw

The installation of this machine necessi- plates, forge iron for wagons, and a va- tated the erection of several buildings. a riety of forms of wrought iron for general

brick smoke stack, 90 feet high, and the purposes. The pig iron was placed in a addition of other machinery in the various charcoal fire of intense heat and melted and departments, such as steam boilers, steam engines, washing engines, beating engines, Jordan refining engines, pumps, etc. from this a bloom was made. The bloom then went through another refining pro- cess, more of the carbon being removed by heating and pure wrought iron formed.

A fire in 1830 caused considerable dam- age, and in the year 1840 almost the entire forge was destroyed by a second fire; all the works except the water wheel and coal shed were burned. They were rebuilt and continued in operation until 1851.

Jacob Hauer, who came from Colebrook Furnace, in Lebanon County, located at Spring Forge in 1835, and was manager of the business until he purchased the inter- ests. He then had the large tracts of wood- land on the Pidgeon Hills surveyed into smaller tracts and sold them. On several occasions there were destructive fires in these woodland hills. The forge ceased to be operated in 1851 and a paper mill was started.

The manufacture of paper was begun at Spring Grove by Jacob

Spring Grove Hauer, soon after the iron busi-

Paper ness was discontinued. He con- Mills. ducted this new business until his death in 1853. After this event it was conducted by his heirs, and managed by Mr. Bradley for a time and then leased to a firm in Philadelphia. In 1863 P. H. Glatfelter purchased the paper mill and all its interests for $14,000. He had carefully learned the art of paper-making with the firm of Loucks & Hoffman, at Paper Mills, Maryland, having been in their employ from 1857 until the time he purchased the Spring Grove mills. The capacity then was 1,500 pounds of paper a day, which by im- provement was increased to 4,000 pounds in 1868. Mr. Glatfelter began the erection of buildings in 1874. and furnished them with entirely new machinery.

In 1880 the business of the Spring Grove mills had grown to such proportions that it became necessary to increase the capacity of the plant. A contract was entered into with the Pusey & Jones Company, of Wilmington, Delaware, to furnish an im- discontinued the manufacture of paper for proved Fourdrinier machine, 101 inches in width.

About this time it became evident that the soda process for producing fibre, or pulp, from wood, would be the coming fibre, and the enterprising spirit of the pro- prietor caused him to investigate the mer- its of this process thoroughly. As a result he entered into a contract for the instal- lation, of a plant of sufficient capacity to supply the necessary pulp for his enlarged plant.

When the plant started in 1881, to make pulp from jack pine and poplar wood, it seemed marvelous to all who looked into the process. From that time the use of straw pulp for newspaper was relegated to the background and in the course of several years was abandoned entirely at this mill. Thus at the end of five years the production of the Spring Grove mills was increased from 8,500 pounds to 30,000 pounds every twenty-four hours, and the number of em- ployees increased from 31 to 110. The im- proved Fourdrinier machine referred to above was the largest in the world from 1881 to 1887.

When George W. Childs, proprietor of the " Public Ledger," of Philadelphia, in- stalled two of the largest perfecting presses in the world, in 1887, requiring a roll of paper 94 inches wide, he found that the Spring Grove mill was the only paper manufacturing plant in the country that could furnish this width roll. He sent his general manager, Mr. Rowan, to Spring Grove, which visit resulted in an order being placed for rolls 94 inches wide with this mill. These mills supplied paper for many years to Charles E. Warburton, pub- lisher of the Philadelphia " Evening Tele- graph." one of the best afternoon papers in America.

Mr. Glatfelter also furnished the paper for several of the large daily journals of Pittsburg and many newspaper offices in Pennsylvania and Maryland. In 1892 he printing newspapers and began to make book, lithograph and blank book paper.

912

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

for which the Spring Grove mills have be- Glatfelter, W. L. Glatfelter and C. E. Moul, come famous all over the country. a son-in-law.

The cost of the mill erected in 1874 was Philip H. Glatfelter, the enterprising manufacturer who built up this large busi- ness at Spring Grove, is also the president and principal owner of the York Manu- facturing Company, one of the largest in- dustrial establishments in southern Penn- sylvania. He divides his time in directing the interests and managing the affairs of both these business enterprises which have furnished employment to many people in the city and county of York. A personal history of Mr. Glatfelter will be found on $200,000. Other improvements and build- ings were added as the business increased and developed. The buildings of this im- mense plant in 1907 cover five acres or more and with machinery are valued at $700.000. The wood used in manufacturing book paper is poplar and Jack or Nigger pine, and costs from $6.00 to $9.00 a cord, delivered. The machinery of the plant is operated by a 1,200 horse-power triple ex- pansion engine and two 300 horse-power, one 100 horse-power, four 50 horse-power, page 225 in the second volume of this work. four 30 horse-power, and two 15 horse- To his well directed efforts and masterly power engines, which for effective com- ability the borough of Spring Grove owes its origin and prosperity. He has given lib- erally toward the erection of churches, school buildings and other interests in- tended to promote the public welfare of the community with which he has been identi- fied since his early manhood. The Aldine pleteness are unsurpassed. Water is also utilized as a motive power. The process of making paper at this mill is completed from the raw material in three days. About 100 tons of coal are consumed daily. In 1907, 325 persons were employed. The mill is run day and night and is lighted by Hotel, one of the best hostelries in southern electricity, the plant being a part of the Pennsylvania, was erected by Mr. Glatfel- ter for the purpose of furnishing good ac- commodations to the traveling public. Spring Grove contains no licensed houses for the sale of intoxicating liquors. paper mill property. One of the smoke stacks is 200 feet high, one 100 and an- other 90 feet high. During the past sev- eral years over $800,000 worth of business was transacted annually, and the demand for paper frequently exceeded the amount manufactured. The disbursement yearly to Industries. employees is over $125,000. The paper made here is sold in nearly every section of the United States. These mills fur- nish large quantities to the government printing office at Washington, D. C. They are situated along the lines of two rail- roads and convenient to pure water, which

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 162

Author: Prowell, George R. Publication date: 1907 Publisher: J. H. Beers Number of Pages: 1372

Author: Prowell, George R.
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1372