History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 194

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

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St. Paul's Lutheran and Reformed Church is familiarly known as " Red Run," or "Sower's " Church. The first name was given to it from the small stream by that name in the vicinity, which flows through the red shale formation of this section. The congregations that now worship in the building were formed in the year 1844; the Lutheran by Rev. Peter Sheurer, and the Reformed by Rev. John E. Albert. The cornerstone was laid April 21, 1844, and the building consecrated October 5 and 6 of the same year. The building committee were George Sower and John Shive from the Lutheran, and John H. Smith from the Reformed congregation. The first church council was composed of the following named members: Lutherans, John Leib, elder ; Jacob Emig and Solomon Cross, dea- cons; Reformed, Christian Gerber, elder; George Spangler and Peter River, dea-

cons. Rev. Sheurer who organized the Lu- Krall. His grandfather came from Ger- theran congregation, was succeeded by Rev. A. G. Deininger, who continued until his death in 1879, when the Rev. Daniel Sell was elected. He was succeeded by Revs. J. C. Mumma, J. M. Deitzler and A. G. Fastnacht, D. D.

Rev. Daniel Reigle, who resided at Dills- burg, was pastor of the Reformed congre- gation from 1845 to the time of his death in 1889. He was succeeded by Rev. A. H. Leas, O. F. Sheaffer, P. M. Spangler and H. A. Althouse.

Emanuel's United Evangelical Church, locally known as "Bower's Church," or "Red Mount" was built in the northern part of the township about 1855. The building committee who superintended the construc- tion of the church were Abraham Byers, Daniel Shelley and M. S. Bower. The pastor of this congregation, in 1907, was Rev. Ralph Smith.

Salem Lutheran and Reformed Church, one of the landmarks of Washington, is what is known as the "Barren's Church." The date of its origin was about 1800. It is situated near the upper end of the township.

Of the Reformed pastors Rev. Jacob Lischy conducted services in the com- munity as early as 1750. Rev. Edward Van- dersloot officiated for a time, and was suc- ceeded, in 1839, by Rev. Daniel Reigle, who ministered to the Reformed people here for a long period of fifty years. He was suc- ceeded by Rev. A. H. Leas. Rev. H. A. Althouse was pastor in 1907.

The original church was torn down in 1863, and a brick building erected.

There are eleven schools in

Schools. Washington Township with the following names: Mulberry, Big Dam, Darr's, Mine Bank, Gochenauer's Asper's, Weaver's, Kralltown, Kimmel's, Danner's.

JOHN KRALL a prominent citizen of Washington Township was born at the Krall homestead in 1807, son of Joseph

many and settled in Lebanon County, Pa., where Joseph Krall was born, and from whence he came to Washington Township, York County. Joseph Krall was born in June, 1761, and died April 10, 1839. His wife, Anna Deardorff, was born Nov. 4, 1773, and died February 24, 1849.

When Joseph Krall came to Washington Township he built the mill and dwelling- house later owned by M. R. Deardorff, and also owned about thirty acres of land. He erected all of the buildings on his property on the Bermudian, and with his milling he also carried on distilling. He had twelve children. George the eldest son died in Washington Township. Polly and Nancy, were twins, the latter dying at the age of sixty-five years, and the former attaining the age of ninety-six years. Isaac followed the occupation of a teamster for about thirty years, driving through the States of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and Ohio. He had a son Joseph who was a soldier in the 130th P. V. I., and took part in the battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. He re-enlisted in the 200th

FROM PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN WHEN PAST EIGHTY YEARS OF AGE.

John Krabb Su

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WASHINGTON

P. V. I., became first sergeant and was in figure. He was an active member of the the battles at Weldon Railroad and Fort Republican party, and on many occasions was prevailed upon to accept offices of re- sponsibility. He was deeply interested in the public schools, and served as school di- rector for many terms. In the United Evan- gelical Church he was prominent, and was a member of the building committee and a liberal contributor when the church was erected. During militia days he was a lieu- tenant in a local company. Steadman, being killed in the last named en- gagement. John, the fifth child, is the sub- ject of this biography. Jesse commenced working at the millwright's trade at the age of 18, and became an expert mechanic, fol- lowing that trade for fifty years. He built new and repaired old mills in York and ad- joining counties, among the new mills being the large one erected for John Fitz in Han- over about 1863. He died on his farm in Washington Township aged seventy-eight years, and is buried with his parents in the Red Mount churchyard. His son George served in the Civil War and saw hard ser- vice. Elizabeth, born in 1790, is buried in Ohio. Sarah was born in 1795. Joseph, born in 1797, died in infancy. Christian, born in 1805, died at twenty-four years of age. Joseph died at Mechanicsburg, Cum-

John and Anna Roller Krall had eleven children. Isaac, who married Eliza Bushey, is chief engineer of an electric light station in the city of New York, and resides in Jersey City. He served in the 200th P. V. I. during the Civil War, and participated in the engagements at Weldon Railroad, Fort Steadman, Petersburg, capture of Rich- mond, and took part in the Grand Review at Washington. Caroline is unmarried. berland Co., Pa., aged eighty years. He C. B. Krall lives in Washington Township. had a son John who was a soldier in active Sarah A. is the wife of D. C. Bushey, service in the Civil War. Susan Deardorff died in Dover Township at Diehl's Mill. The sons of Joseph Krall were all noted for their herculean strength, and they weighed considerably over two hundred pounds each.

John Krall became a prominent man in his community. He remained with his father, and for a long period was engaged in wagoning to Baltimore, Pittsburg, and Wheeling, and on some occasions went as far as Zanesville, Ohio, taking six months to make the trip. He followed distilling part of his life and then bought his father's farm of 200 acres, known now as the Kinter farm, in Washington Township. On this property he remained a number of years, when he removed to Kralltown, which bears his name. He assisted in building up the vil- lage, and engaged seven years in the mer- cantile business, but subsequently returned to farming, buying the old Peter Smith place cestry.

of Reading Township, Adams County. Charles, a mechanic at Harrisburg, who has been with one company for twenty-seven years, married Mary Hoover. John, a car- penter and farmer in Washington township, married Amelia Baker. Jane, who married Edwin Sheets, died in York. Harriet is un- married. Jesse L. Krall lives in Washing- ton Township on the home farm. Frank G., a machinist living at Altoona, has been working for the Pennsylvania Railroad for about twenty-five years. He married Josephine Woods. J. H. Krall resides with his sisters and brother in Washington Township. He and his brother Jesse L. own the paternal homestead.

The Roller family, to which Mrs. John Krall belonged, settled in Shanandoah Val- ley, Virginia, together with the Sevier and other prominent families of Huguenot an- Valentine Sevier, father of John of 207 acres of land, on Bermudian creek, Sevier, the famous Commonwealth builder, in 1856. He made many improvements on this property and lived on it until his death, which occurred February 12, 1894, at the age of eighty-six years. He married Anna Roller, who died April 8, 1900, at the age of eighty years, and both are buried at Red Mount church. came from a family that had fled to Eng- land at the time of the Revocation. About 1769 he accompanied his son and other Vir- ginians to Tennessee, where they built Fort Watauga, and founded a new Common- wealth. John Sevier was the first gov- ernor of Tennessee and became a United States Senator from that state.

Among the many useful men who have taken part in the development of Washing- John Peter Roller and Jean Bonneauvent ton Township John Krall is a prominent had both resided some years in Lancaster

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

County, Pennsylvania, before their settle- which is three times its breadth; that there ment in Virginia. The latter located on Mill creek, where he built the first mill in that region. From these families comes General John E. Roller, Harrisonburg, Virginia.

WEST MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP.

The township of West Manchester is in the form of an irregular triangle, with the northeast border as a base, resting on Man- chester Township. The western boundary is nearly a perpendicular line resting against Dover and Jackson townships. The south- eastern boundary line follows the sinnous course of the Codorus. The land of this township has long been noted for its fer- tility, and is part of the limestone belt which diagonally crosses York County. Nearly every acre of this township is under the highest state of cultivation, and all kinds of cereals grow luxuriantly. Large barns and brick houses, which indicate the prosperity of the Pennsylvania German farmer, are found in every part of the township.

The York and Gettysburg Turnpike crosses West Manchester. The Frederick Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Eastern Extension of the Western Maryland extend through the township in The following letter concerning the early parallel lines. Since the annexation to York settlement of this township will be of in- terest :

of Smysertown, with a population of 998, Bottstown with 401, and the incorporation of Eberton into West York Borough, there are no large villages in the township.

The York County Traction Company constructed a trolley line from York through West Manchester, Jackson, Heid- elberg and Penn townships to Hanover dur- ing the fall of 1907.

The area now embraced in West Man- chester, for a period of fifty-seven years, be- longed to Manchester Township, which was laid out in 1742, by authority of the Lancaster County Court, seven years before York County was erected. A petition of many inhabitants of Manchester Township was presented to the York County Court, asking for a division of the township, in 1799. John Joseph Henry was then presi- dent judge of the court and at the request of the petitioners, ordered the division to be made, and a new township laid out. In their petition, the signers stated that Man- chester Township "is fifteen miles in length, tlers, as the above letter indicates.

would be 350 taxable inhabitants in the re- maining part of the township after the pro- posed division ; with such extended limits, it is difficult for road supervisors, tax col- lectors and other officers to perform their necessary duties." In answer to this peti- tion the court appointed Martin Kreber, Jacob Spangler, John Sharp, John Rudisill, John Rothrock and John Henise, viewers. They made a report. The draft of the sur- vey is described as follows: "A line begin- ning at a post on the banks of the Codorus, on Jacob Gardner's land, thence through the lands of Joseph Updegraff and William Willis, across the great road leading to Prunk's mill, across Peter Sank's milldam and lands of Daniel Worley and James Wor- ley, along Green Brier Road to the Little Conewago Creek, crossing lands of Jacob Hahn, John Dobbins, Peter Lindt and Philip Kreber; thence up the creek to Philip Wolf's plantation to the corners of Dover and Paradise (now Jackson) townships; thence nearly due south to the west branch of the Codorns Creek, down this stream to its union with the south branch of the Co- dorus and down the Codorus to York Bor- ongh line to place of beginning."

Yorktown, April 23, 1746.

To Richard Peters,

Secretary of the Province of Pennsylvania :

The bearer, Paul Dittenhaver, has purchased an im- provement about three miles west from York, and paid 150 pounds for it. The land was settled by Adam Dick- inson, who, it is said, has an entry on your books by the proprietaries' order for settling the same on his ob- taining license from the Indians, who lived thereabout. He applies for a warrant or order of survey. You may suppose, from the price, that it is a valuable improve- ment and has been long settled. If there is any such entry, I doubt not that the proprietaries will grant it. The land adjoins Casper Springer, Adam Fiel, Jacob Hiestand and Nicholas Baghn. As these people have the proprietor's grants, they are encroaching upon this plantation on every side and destroying the timber so that if he does not get an order of survey, the place will be much injured. Thy Friend,

THOMAS COOKSON,

Deputy Surveyor for Lancaster County.

The original settlers were largely Lu- theran, Reformed, German Baptist and Mennonites, many of whose descendants now occupy the lands taken up by their worthy ancestors, a century and a half ago. There were, however, some English set-

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WEST MANCHESTER

The first assessment roll of building Martin Weigle about 1738, erected West Manchester in 1800. West Manchester, in 1800, one of the earliest mills in York County. contains I50 taxable in- He had tried first to build a mill on the habitants, who were land- Codorus, near York, but found that stream owners, and 27 single men too large for his pioneer venture. His Indian neighbors came to view this en- .croachment upon their territory with aston- ishment, but tradition says they helped him construct the mill. who paid a poll tax of $1. The entire prop- erty valuation then was $97,500. The larg- est landowner was Frederick Eichelberger, who was assessed with 1,025 acres, valued at $7,925. Frederick Eichelberger was elected The stone mill which rendered such im- portant service was built before the Revolu- tion. The owner of this mill during that period, was not very patriotic toward the new government. The mill was later owned by Michael Beltzhoover, and in 1802 bought by Dr. J. G. Schmucker, pastor of Christ Lutheran Church at York. Daniel Gross and his son, Samuel, were subse- quent owners and in 1847, George Neiman purchased it. John Neiman purchased it in 1856. to the state senate in 1819. Martin Ebert owned a distillery, tannery and 500 acres of land. Weirick Bentz, George Eyster, Val- entine Emigh, Philip Ebert, Peter Hoke, Jacob Hoke, Michael Lau, Matthias Smy- ser, Adam Wolf, and George Philip Zeigler owned distilleries. Much of the grain then raised in the township was manufactured into spirits and sold in Baltimore. Henry Wolf and Thomas Eichelberger owned tan- neries. Henry Bare, a fulling-mill and hemp-mill, Jacob King, Alexander Under- St. Paul's Lutheran and Re- formed Church is locally known in this township as Wolf's Church, in honor of Peter Wolf, an early settler. wood and Jacob Steiner owned grist-mills. Churches. There was but one colored slave assessed, "Tom," tradition says, a good fellow, and outlived his master, Col. Michael Smyser, of Revolutionary fame, who was several times elected to the House of Representatives and once to the Senate of Pennsylvania. Colonel Smyser was one of the committee of twelve men from York County who col- lected money to send to Boston in 1775, obtaining 6 pounds, 2 shillings and I pence from his township. The last year of his life he spent quietly and died in 1810 on a farm, on what is now the Berlin Road, about three miles from York.

In 1762 two and one-half acres were pur- chased from Adam Zeigler for 5 pounds, six shillings, 5 pence, for church property. In 1763 a congregation was organized by Rev. Nicholas Hornell, then pastor of the Christ Lutheran Church at York, and a frame church was built. About twenty-five years later this building was enlarged and re- modeled. In 1855 the present large and commodious church was built while the Lu- theran congregation was under the pastoral care of Rev. C. J. Deininger, and the Re-

One hundred and ninety horses were as- sessed and 270 cows in 1801. In 1820 the formed under Rev. Daniel Zeigler.

population of West Manchester was 1,073; in 1830, 1,269; 1840, 1,290; 1850, 1,352; 1860, 1,524; 1870, 1,834; 1880, 2,476; 1890, 1,743; 1900, 1,820. The decline in the population in the last two census reports was owing to the annexation of Bottstown and Smyser- town to York.

Martin Miller was the first supervisor of the roads of Manchester Township, in 1749. Upon his resignation Henry Bott was ap- pointed by the court to succeed him.

The ministers present at the cornerstone laying of the present church were Revs. A. G. Deininger and J. Bossler. The succes- sive pastors of the Lutheran congregation were Revs. Hornell, Bager, N. Kurtz, Jacob Goering, J. G. Schmucker, J. Oswald, A. G. Deininger, C. J. Deininger, and J. H. Leeser. Rev. Adam Stump D. D., has been pastor since 1890. The congregation had a mem- bership, in 1907, of 400. The Reformed congregation was first served by the pastors from York, including Revs. Jacob Lischy, George Geistweite and others. Revs. Daniel Zeigler, W. Kehm, Jacob Zeigler and I. S. Weisz succeeded each other in the

The mill on the road from York A Pioneer to Dover is a very old struc- Mill. ture. To the right of the road, on the Little Conewago, and 400 yards northeast from the present old order named. Rev. O. P. Schellhamer has

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

been pastor since 1894. The congregation Bear carried on the mercantile business here in 1907 had a membership of 200. The for many years, when he was succeeded by

church is located in a rich agricultural re- his son, J. L. Bear. gion, about five miles west of York, one-

At Drury, a station on the Western Mary-

third of a mile south of the "old five mile land Railroad, a large brickyard has re- house" originally owned by Peter Wolf, on cently been established by George W. .

Drury, an enterprising citizen, who was

The attendance at Wolf's Church is very elected to the Pennsylvania legislature in large, and it has for 144 years been a central 1906. point of interest in this township.

Highland Park, in the southeastern part County Traction Company. It is visited annually by thousands of people.

Shiloh Church, locally known as Nei- of West Manchester, is owned by the York man's, is owned and used by both Lutheran and Reformed congregations. The building was erected in 1883, at a cost of $4,600. It is situated on the road leading from York to WEST MANHEIM TOWNSHIP. Dover. The clergymen present at the

West Manheim Township was formed dedicatory services were, Rev. J. O. Miller, out of Manheim in the year 1858. It lies I. S. Weisz, G. W. Enders and Peter An- in the extreme southwestern part of York stadt. The building committee were Jona- County, bordering Maryland on the south than Wilt, George Leckrone and Jesse Heilman. Rev. W. S. Porr, the first pastor of the Lutheran denomination has been suc- for a century, a large section of the town- ceeded by Rev. H. C. Bixler and Rev. E. Lenhart. and Adams County on the west. Most of the land of West Manheim is fertile, though ship was known as "the Barrens." Im- proved methods of agriculture, and a care- Rev. I. S. Weisz, the first pastor of the ful use of fertilizers, have greatly increased Reformed congregation was succeeded by Rev. O. P. Schellhamer, who was pastor in 1907. A Union Sunday School is held in this church. the value of the land and made it more pro- ductive, so that it now yields abundant crops. Iron ore has been taken out in a few places. The Hanover and Maryland Line Turnpike diagonally crosses West Notes. Manheim and divides it into two equal parts. This road follows a height of land which separates the headwaters of the Codorus from the headwaters of the south branch of the Conewago. The township is there- fore drained by these two streams.

In 1860 the population of West Manheim was 1,265; in 1870, 1,197; 1880, 1,202; 1890, 1,269; 1900, 1,418.

Pleasant Hill, the voting place

Pleasant for West Manheim Township, is

Hill. an interesting village of forty houses along the turnpike, five miles south of Hanover. Bandanna is the name of the post office. John Kopp kept the store at this place for several years and was succeeded in the store business by Oli- ver W. Garrett, who was postmaster in 1907. Cigar factories have been conducted in this village by Sterner Brothers, Francis Markel and Oliver W. Garrett. Pleasant Hill Cornet Band erected a hall which is

Bear's Station is an interesting hamlet also used as a voting place. One mile far- along the Northern Central Railroad, near ther south on the turnpike, Conrad Sher- the western limits of the township. John H. man, a prominent citizen of the township,

The schools in West Manchester have the following names : Louck's, Neiman's, Eyster's, Bott's, Bear's, Sprenkle's, Hoke's, Smyser's, Eberton Pri- mary, Secondary and Grammar. Reigel- bach, the paternal home of the Smyser fam- ily, is a large farm on the road leading from the Gettysburg turnpike to East Berlin, a few miles west of York. Upon this land, Matthias Smyser, the ancestor of the Smy- ser family in America, settled in 1745. A family reunion was held on the farm on the rooth anniversary, in 1845. Several hundred descendants of Matthias Smyser were pres- ent at this meeting, when the family history was read by Rev. Charles A. Hay, one of the descendants. The farm was owned for many years by Samuel Smyser, and at his death in 1899, he bequeathed the property to the Orphans' Home at York, retaining the privilege for the descendants of Matthias Smyser to hold family reunions on the farm at any succeeding anniversary.

the York and Gettysburg Turnpike.

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WEST MANHEIM

resided during the Revolution. Loyd Gar- Frederick Ruthrauf in 1843. In 1867 the rett conducts a store in the northern part third church was erected on the original site, during the pastorate of Rev. Samuel Yingling, who was also pastor of St. Mat- thew's Church at Hanover. The building committee of the second church were George Motter, Philip Wolfard, Conrad Sherman and John Wampler. The com- mittee to whom was entrusted the third and of the village. Trinity Evangelical congre- gation first held services in the Band Hall and then erected a house of worship in 1866. Some of the recent pastors have been Revs. J. H. Furner, J. M. Price and J. W. Bentz. The pastor in 1907 was Rev. I. M. Pines, who also preaches at Blooming Grove, St. John's Church in Manheim Township and present church building were John W. Porters in Heidelberg Township. Hoffacker, Henry W. Craumer and David Garrett.

St. David's Lutheran and Re- St. David's Church. formed Church, in the extreme southern part of West Man- heim, near Mason and Dixon's line, is locally known as "Sherman's Church." Since the time of its origin in 1750, it has been known by its ecclesiastical name, and has been a Union church and generally ministered to by clergymen who resided in Hanover.

Rev. J. A. Metzgar, who has been pastor of the Lutheran congregation since 1882, D. P. Rosenmiller, 1853-57; M. J. Alleman, furnished the following concerning the Lutheran congregation and church building, most of which was obtained from docu- ments in German :

In the latter part of 1750, or early in 1751, a meeting of the Lutherans of this com- munity was called, having for its object the organization of an Evangelical Lutheran congregation. Their efforts at organizing were successful. The Rev. John George Bager (Baugher) who was a pioneer Lutheran clergyman west of the Susque- hanna, and who was then pastor of the school is held in this church.

Lutheran congregation at Hanover, organ- Surrounding St. David's Church is a ized the Lutheran congregation here. The large cemetery in which the first burials ground upon which the first building was were made about 1752.

erected was donated by David Lauer and Peter Zapp. The first church was small, rude in construction and in every way har- Bartholomew's

monized with its primitive surroundings. Services are reported as having been regu- larly held in this building until 1781, when a larger house of worship was erected. In the second building the congregation wor- shipped a number of years without stoves or fire, and the interior of the church was not plastered until 1832.

St. Bartholomew's is a

St. union church, owned con- jointly by Lutheran and Church. Reformed congregations, and is situated in the southwestern part of West Manheim, near the Maryland line. The first building, erected about 1840, was constructed of logs and weather-boarded. It burned down in 1879, having caught fire from an adjoining mill which was in flames. The early church

The introduction of night services in records were destroyed by this fire. The country churches always formed an im- Lutheran pastors whose names can be re- portant epoch in their history. St. David's called were Peter Sheuer, J. Lane, M. J. congregation first permitted services by Alleman, and D. J. Hauer, D. D. Rev. J. " candle-light " under the pastorate of Rev. A. Metzgar has been the pastor since 1882.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 194

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