History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 104

Author: Prowell, George R.
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1390

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Jacob W. Spahr was born Nov. 10, 1839, in Dover township, where he was reared. When but nine years of age he went to work on a farm, following that occupation until his sixteenth year. when he was apprenticed as a stone-mason to Isaac Fickes and Edward Gross. After three years of work as a journeyman he engaged again in agricultural pursuits. thus continuing for six years, at the end of which time he returned to stone-

Here he has since followed his trade, being a first class mechanic as well as one of the good, honorable citizens of York. Mr. Spahr was married, in 1861, to Miss Emmeline March, daughter of Jacob G. and Harriet (Zinn) March. Mrs. Spahr was born in Washington township, York county, in 1843, and to her and her husband these children were born : Daniel, a painter of York ; Sarah, the wife of William Gross, of York ; Charles C. ; Clarissa, at home ; Amos; Aaron, a brick-mason of York; Eliza- beth, the wife of Charles Sellers, of York; Arthur J., a brick-layer; Milo, deceased; Henry Elmer, brick-layer, of York. The fam- ily, with the exception of Daniel, are members of the Reformed Church, he being of the Lutheran faith.

CHARLES C. SPAHR, the senior member of the firm, was born in this part of Pennsylvania, July 31. 1867. He was reared on his father's farm in Washington township, and until he was sixteen years old lived with his grandpar- ents, and, while working on the farm, received a common school education. When he had reached the age named, he was apprenticed as a brick mason to Harrison Spangler, but before he had served his time he left his em- ployer and started out in life for himself. He at first went to Harrisburg and then spent some years in different parts of Pennsylvania and Maryland, covering both States pretty thoroughly. Returning home in 1892, he as- sociated himself with his brother, and the present well known firm of Spahr Brothers was established. The brothers do a general contracting and building business in brick. stone and concrete, operating on a large scale and giving employment to from thirty-five to fifty men. They erect all kinds of buildings, but lately have been especially active in the con- struction of factories. Among the large structures erected by the Spahr Brothers may be mentioned the West Nowell and the Central school buildings, the Pennsylvania hotel, the Western Maryland depot, the Diamond silk mill, the factories of the Jacoby Furniture Company, the Brownell, Schmitt & Stacy Com- pany and the Cosmo Carriage Company, of Glen Rock, and the residences of John Frees, Edward McCall. Eli Groves, Edgar Fryes, two for J. A. Dempwolf, as well as Michael's store building, and many others.

Charles C. Spahr has been twice married.

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first in April, 1891, to Miss Jennie Maloney, who died Sept. 21, 1901. In September, 1903, Mr. Spahr married Mrs. Josephine Gardner, daughter of David H. Mellinger, of Marietta, Lancaster county. Mrs. Spahr had one child by her first marriage, Georgie Marie Gardner. Prior to her marriage Mrs. Spahr served as matron of the York City Hospital for three years. Mr. Spahr is a member of Zion's Re- formed Church, while his wife is associated with the Methodist faith.

AMOS SPAHR, beside his connection with the firm of Spahr Brothers, is also a member of the stone dealing, quarrying and crushing firm of Gise, Spahr & Myers, which firm handles all kinds of building and crushed stone, and that used for paving, macadamizing and concrete work. Mr. Spahr was born in Washington township, March 18. 1871, and received his education in the public schools of that vicinity. While a boy he engaged in various vocations in York. For a time he was a teamster and when sixteen years of age he commenced to learn the trade of a brick- mason with Albert Spangler of York. After mastering his trade, he went to Sparrow's Point, and thence to Middletown, after which for four years he worked at various places in the county. At this time in company with his brother, Charles C., he embarked in the contracting and building business, and in 1901 formed his partnership with Messrs. Gise and Myers. This latter company gives employ- ment to from twenty to thirty-five people, and is enjoying a steadily increasing business.

Amos Spahr was married April 9. 1896, to Miss Martha J. Spangler, born in Spring- getsbury township and the daughter of Philip Spangler. They have one child. Philip Karl. In religion Mr. and Mrs. Spahr are members of the Reformed Church. They live at their comfortable home, No. 838 West Locust street, York, where their many friends are always welcome.

The firm of Spahr Brothers bears an envi- able reputation in York, where the brothers are well known and highly esteemed, and where, besides their other business interests. they are prominently identified with real estate affairs.

SAMUEL PAULES, who passed his en- tire life in York county, was born on a farm near Yorkana, Lower Windsor township, York

county, Dec. 10, 1829. son of Adam and Eliza- beth ( Hartzler) Paules. His father was born Nov. 19, 1794, and died Aug. 26, 1867, while the mother was born Oct. 18, 1793, and died Oct. 29, 1858. As is evident from the date and place of Samuel's birth, the Paules family has long been identified with the history of York county.

Samuel Paules was reared under the con- ditions which marked pioneer life in this fa- vored section of the Keystone State, and his educational advantages were such as were af- forded by the common schools of the period. which were usually maintained on the sub- scription plan. That he made good use of his opportunities in this connection is evident from the fact that in his youth he was a pop- ular and successful teacher in the schools of his native county, being engaged in pedagogic work for several years, in Lower Windsor township. As a young man he also learned the shoemaking trade, but owing to somewhat delicate health never followed that vocation for any considerable period. His marriage was solemnized in 1853, and he forthwith took up his abode on a farm in Lower Windsor town- ship, afterward engaging in the work of his trade to a greater or less extent for two years. and also teaching school at intervals, while he continued to be identified with agricultural pursuits until the close of his long and useful life, having become the owner of a small but valuable farm, which is still owned by his widow.

In his political proclivities Mr. Paules was a Democrat until the crucial era of the Civil war, when he espoused the cause of the newly organized Republican party, of whose princi- ples he ever afterward continued a stalwart advocate, having been uncompromising in his antipathy to the institution of slavery and a loyal supporter of the Union during the dark days of the Rebellion. He was a lifelong and zealous member of the Evangelical Church. and his daily walk and conversation were in harmony with the faith to which he held. He took an active part in all departments of church work. especially that of the Sunday school, and for many years served as deacon and class- leader, besides holding other official positions. He attended the various Sunday school conven- tions and stood forth as a devoted follower of the Master whom he served with all zeal and self-abnegation. He was kindly in his judg-

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ment of his fellow-men, tolerant and charita- ble in his views, and ever held the high esteem and confidence of associates and friends, be- ing signally true and faithful in all the rela- tions of life and fully deserving, at the close of his labors, the strong words of Divine com- mendation : "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." Mr. Paules was summoned into eternal rest Jan. 17, 1878, and in his death the community lost one of its most honored and loyal citizens.

In the city of York, on Nov. 24, 1853, Rev. Christian F. Deininger, a clergyman of the Evangelical Church, pronounced the words which united the life destinies of Mr. Paules and Henrietta Jacobs, who proved to him a de- voted wife and helpmate during the long years of their wedded life, and who still survives him. She was born in Hellam township, York county, Aug. 17, 1833, and was there reared and educated. She is a daughter of Henry and Magdalena (Shenberger) Jacobs. Her father was a miller by trade and for many years engaged in farming on a small scale. Mrs. Paules has been likewise a devoted and consistent member of the Evangelical Church and has been active in its work. Until recently she has enjoyed vigorous health, and this is attested by the fact that in the autumn of 1903, at the age of seventy years, she walked the en- tire distance from her home to the city of York (seven miles), returning by stage, while pre- viously she had frequently walked to Craleys- ville and return, a distance of ten miles. To Mr. and Mrs. Paules no children were born, but their home was ever one in which the chil- dren of the community found a warm welcome, and was consequently a favorite juvenile re- sort. Mrs. Paules is held in affectionate regard and is one of the sterling pioneer women of York county.

E. D. BENTZEL, one of the lights in the legal profession in York county, comes of sturdy German ancestry.

In 1745 there emigrated from Germany two brothers by the name of Bentzel-Philip and Baltzer-who landed at Baltimore, Md. Of these Baltzer, who was a shoemaker by trade, came to York county, and settled near the town of York. He served his adopted country in her War for Independence, attain- ing the rank of captain. He married and be- came the father of six children : Henry, David,

Catharine Ellman, Anna Maria, Lizzie and Barbara Kump.

David Bentzel, son of Baltzer, was born in August, 1777, and he became a successful farmer and distiller. In ISII he erected a large distillery, and manufactured a high grade of whiskey which he transported by teams to the market in Baltimore. The farm on which hie located at the time of his marriage was on the Little Conewago Creek, near what is now known as Weigelstown. At the age of twenty- four years he married Miss Elizabeth Meisen- helter, and they became the parents of ten children : Henry, Felix (who died young), David, Samuel, Daniel M., Barbara, Mary, Elizabeth, Nancy and Sarah (who died young). All the children who reached mature years married.

David Bentzel (2), son of David, was born May 3, 1815. In his youth, at his father's mill, he learned the trade of milling under his uncle, George Meisenhelter, and at his father's death he bought this same mill on the Little Conewago, and there continued to make his home as long as he lived. He married Sarah Eisenhart, daughter of John Eisenhart, a car- penter and cabinet-maker; she died Dec. 25, 1880, the mother of six children, as follows : Henry M., born in 1844, located in California, and there died in 1877, leaving one son, Fred- erick; Edward D .; David E., born in 1857; Nancy married Henry W. Jacobs; Kate E., married Peter Binder; and Leah died in infancy.

Edward D. Bentzel was born Feb. 22, 1846, and his boyhood and youth were passed at the old homestead on the banks of the Little Conewago. He learned the milling trade of his father, but owing to a severe illness, which so crippled him in his lower limbs as to neces- sitate the use of crutches, he was forced to abandon it. His educational opportunities had been excellent, he having had the ad- vantage of courses in both the York County Normal and the Academy. For some six terms he was successfully engaged in teaching in York borough and the County. Always inter- ested in public affairs, he naturally turned to politics, and as a good stanch Democrat early became the leader in his chosen party. In 1872 he was elected clerk of the courts, a po- sition which he ably filled for three years. While in that office he was inspired with an ambition to enter the legal profession, and he

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became a student in the office of James B. knuckles pretty well blistered by the time the Ziegler, and in 1878 he was admitted to the weld was made. Car axles in that day were Bar, continuing to the present time in the only about from two and one-half to three active and successful practice of his chosen calling. A man of broad and progressive ideas he is a natural leader, and his worth as a citizen has been demonstrated in every relation of life.

On Feb. 24, 1881, Mr. Bentzel was united in marriage to Miss Ida Kate Wehrly, daughter of George Wehrly, of the "Pennsyl- vana House," York. Three children have blessed this union namely : Edith May, Ernest and Edward Wehrly.

JOHN MINSKER was for a number of years master carpenter of the Baltimore di- vision of the Northern Central railroad, and it was said by the late J. N. DuBarry, vice- president of the Pennsylvania Railroad, that Mr. Minsker built more bridges and trestles in his day than any other man in the service of the company.

Ludwick Minsker (I) was a Revolutionary soldier, hunter and trapper of Dauphin county. His son, Ludwick (II), was born and reared in Clark's Valley, Middle Paxton township, Dauphin county, where he married Mary Cairns, and together they reared the following family: Benjamin married Eliza Mooney; Moses married Mary Pflieger ; Ludwick ( III) was the father of John; joshmua died unmar- ried; Susannah married John Bohl; Rachel married Christian Fogle; and Catherine mar- ried a Mr. Weltmer. Ludwick (III) married Henrietta Kueline, daughter of William Lud- wick Kuehne, who came with his family from Saxony, Germany, to Pennsylvania, about the year 1821. Mr. Minsker died Jan. 1, 1867, at the age of sixty-eight years, having reared a family of four sons and three daughters.

. John Minsker was born Dec. 1I, 1833, in Clark's Valley, Dauphin county, about three miles from the town of Dauphin. He was reared on his father's farm, and served an ap- prenticeship at blacksmithing in Dauphin, dur- ing the construction of the present Schuylkill & Susquehanna Railroad. All blacksmith work for the road was done at this shop. Mr. Minsker well remembers how he assisted in the welding of broken car axles by upsetting the broken ends and jumping them together when welding hot. Three sledges were used in the operation and the strikers would have their

inches in diameter. Mr. Minsker also assisted to transfer the first ten coal hoppers from the canal to the railroad, horses hauling them on their wheels through the streets. These were the little four-wheeled coal hoppers built by George W. Ilgenfritz, at York, and were transported to Dauphin on scows, by way of the canal. He also took his first car ride on this road, and the engine, being a wood-burner with a straight stack and a large knot at the top as a spark arrester, set his clothing on fire. The engine was called the "Isaac Lee" and it was said to be of English make. After being freed from the blacksmith apprenticeship, Mr. Minsker arranged at once to learn the car- penter's trade, which was more congenial to his taste. While a carpenter's apprentice, Mr. Minsker assisted to erect the first coal chute in Dauphin, which was then the terminus of the Dauphin & Susquehanna railroad ( since called the Schuylkill & Susquehanna), where he also assisted to frame a set of coal chutes to be erected at what is now the North and Mad- ison streets coal-yard, Baltimore, on the North- ern Central railroad. In the spring of 1852, having completed his apprenticeship, he joined a party from the neighborhood of Dauphin and went to West Virginia. The Winifrede Min- ing & Manufacturing Co. was then developing coal lands on the west bank of the Great Ka- nawha, on Field's Creek, above Malden. There Mr. Minsker assisted in constructing about seven miles of railroad, inclined planes, coal chutes and several small towns for the use of the miners. A portion of this railroad was what is known as "slab track"-notched ties, oak rails wedged fast to the ties, with a flat strip of iron nailed on the top of the stringer for the wheels to run on, being the method of construction. Mr. Minsker remained there until the suspension of the operations by the company. Returning home, in the fall of 1854. he attended school that winter, and in June, 1855, obtained employment at the Cumberland Valley railroad bridge, which crosses the Sus- quehanna at Harrisburg, assisting in replac- ing the old plank lattice bridge with a new Howe truss superstructure. The contractors for this work were Stone, Quigley & Burton. The idea of building a new bridge beneath the track, without suspending traffic, was al-

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most entirely unheard of at that time. After No. 23) over Carroll's Run. The bridge was a few months' service in the framing gang, kept safe until 1882, when it was replaced and cut up. This division also claims to have had in their service at Jail bridge, one of the largest plate-girders ever built. Its length was 128 feet two and one-half inches, by ten feet deep at the ends, and thirty inches wide at the flanges. Mr. Minsker was promoted to its foreman- ship. in which position he framed about eight- een spans of the bridge. In 1855 he was de- tailed to frame the bridge over the Conodo- guinet Creek, at West Fairview, on the North- ern Central railroad. When that work was finished the gang was sent to the Pennsylvania railroad, between Rohrerstown and Lancaster, and assisted on the work on a high deck bridge there. From that point the gang was ordered to Georgetown, D. C., where a bridge was framed and gotten ready to cross the Potomac at Little Falls, a few miles above that city. Before the bridge was raised, however, the gang was dispatched to Cabin John, where the large arch now is, to erect shanties for the men to live in while building the big arch and aqueduct. This was in the spring of 1857. From Georgetown, Mr. Minsker, with a small gang, was detailed to go to Baltimore and erect two street bridges on Monument and O'Donnell streets, on what was called the Canton branch of the Northern Central rail- road. When these bridges were completed, in the fall of 1857, Mr. Minsker resigned his po- sition. with Stone, Quigley & Burton. He then obtained employment on the Dauphin bridge, being built by McCallum & Co. Before this was completed, he bought out a carpenter and cabinet establishment at West Fairview, where he carried on housebuilding, undertaking and general work in wood.

In the meantime the Pennsylvanians

secured the Northern Central railroad, which was formerly owned by Marylanders, and sought Mr. Minsker's services, of- fering him the foremanship of a gang of carpenters to take charge of the Dauphin bridge. This offer he accepted and on May 16, 1859, went direct to work in the employ of the Northern Central railroad, the service being continuous from that date until Mr. Minsker was put on the retired list, Dec. 31, 1903. He was promoted to be master carpenter Dec. 1, 1862. When he first became connected with the road there was but one iron bridge on the division; now they are either stone or iron. The iron bridge referred to is thought to have been the first plate-girder built in the world. It was put together in the Bolton shop in 1846, and hauled suspended between two cars to the site of the bridge (now

Mr. Minsker has been on the road long enough to note many changes. He remembers the old track between York and Baltimore, when it was composed of two lines (and very crooked ones at that), of rusty old rails. The road was then single track, with a wrought iron clamp for a chair, laid on rotten ties, with- out any regard to getting a tie under the joint. No ballast was used. It was considered lucky to make a round trip without a run-off. No frogs were used at that time, but in lieu a pivot rail, operated with a lever and rail at one end. When the Baltimore & Potomac railroad was new, and was washed away by the heavy floods, Mr. Minsker was detailed with a gang of men to assist in opening the road, and again when the ice-flood moved away some of the spans of the Long Bridge at Washington, he assisted with his men to open the line. During the dreadful June flood of 1889, he, with a select gang of his men, joined forces with the men of the Pennsylvania rail- road at Viaduct, and assisted in raising that trestle, and also aided in placing the trestle in shape for service at Buttermilk Falls, near Conemaugh. After the great flood in the Codorus Creek at York, in 1884, the county commissioners asked him to prepare plans and specifications for iron street-bridges over the Codorus in York, and also to superintend the erection of the new structures. This he did to the satisfaction of all concerned. Mr. Mins- ker had charge of the building of block houses at the west end of the Dauphin and Rockville bridges during the raid into Pennsylvania, by the Confederates, of which W. H. Wilson speaks, in his "Reminiscences of a Railroad Engineer." Prior to 1873 the master car- penter division extended from Baltimore to Mt. Carmel and from York to Wrightsville. During the war of the Rebellion, when the bridges were guarded by soldiers, Mr. Mins- ker was frequently halted and marched to headquarters, where he had to identify him- self, before he was allowed to go on his way. During the war of the Rebellion, when the

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the bridges, which had to be trestled at once, the work requiring constant care and vig- ilance. Mr. Minsker also saw three spans of the original Dauphin bridge blown off the piers by a hurricane. He had crawled into the portion that fell, only a few moments before, and, seeing that nothing could be done to save the spans, hastily made his escape.

Mr. Minsker is a Republican, in politics, but takes only a good citizen's interest in pub- lic matters. He and his family are members of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of York, of which he has served as steward. He is a Royal Arch Mason and a Knight Templar, and is very popular in fraternal circles.

On Feb. 9, 1857, Mr. Minsker was united in marriage with Miss Eliza Ann McClune, of West Fairview, Cumberland county, daugli- ter of Thomas and Cassandra ( Weiser) Mc- Clune. Mrs. McClune was a descendant of the Conrad Weiser family of Pennsylvania, who are among the pioneers of the State. Mrs. Minsker died Feb. 18, 1903, and is buried at Prospect Hill cemetery. The children born to John Minsker and his estimable wife were: Susan Alice, a graduate of the York High school, residing at home with her father; Anna McClune, wife of Robert O. Stallsmith, resid- ing in York; and Theodore Kuehne, who at- tended the York High school, three terms at the York County Academy, and the Lehigh University, from 1899 to 1903. After com- pleting his literary education he assumed the study of civil engineering, and is now holding a very responsible professional position with the Pennsylvania railroad, at Oil City.

Since his retirement from active life Mr. Minsker has resided in his beautiful residence at No. 246 North George street. A great hunter and fisher, much of his time is spent in these recreations, and he never returns from a trip without some spoil of the wood or the stream.

MATHEW KERR, JR., is a retired lime manufacturer of Wrightsville, where he was born and reared.

The Kerr family is of Scotch-Irish descent. James Kerr, grandfather of Mathew, Jr., was born in Scotland, where he married and where many of his children were born. In later life he moved to Derry, County Derry, in the North of Ireland, where the remainder of his life was passed.

Mathew Kerr, Sr., father of Mathew, Jr., was born in Derry, in 1786. He was well educated in Ireland, and when he was eighteen came to the United States, landing in New York City, and going at once to York, Pa. His brother George had come to America a few years before, and had a government posi- tion in the revenue service at Gettysburg, Pa. Mathew obtained a clerkship with this brother, where he remained for a time and then re- turned to York and worked at his trade of a carpenter, which he had learned in Ireland. His first work of that nature in this country was on the York Haven Mills, then owned by Jesse McConkey, uncle of Senator E. K. Mc- Conkey. After a time he left York, and came to Wrightsville, where for years he was a lumber inspector. He served two terms as justice of the peace, his first commission being obtained from Gov. Shunk. In 1848 he opened a lime quarry on his land, which he continued to work until 1857. This business reverted to his sons and grandsons. . Mathew Kerr, Sr., was a man of great energy and persistence, a thorough business man, and successful in all his undertakings. In his earlier days he added to his other occupations that of teaching. being at one time employed at Stoner's school in Hellam township. He was an enthusiastic Demccrat all his life. He was one of the founders of the Presbyterian Church in Wrightsville, and was a devout member and for many years an elder. His marriage to Jane Wilson took place in York. Mrs. Kerr was a daughter of Robert and Catherine ( Fisher ) Wilson, the latter of German descent, the former a Scotchman. Robert Wilson died in Loganville. He was at one time door- keeper of the old jail at York, and is buried in the old Presbyterian graveyard in that city. He had the following six children : William, who died in Uniontown, Pa., was twice mar- ried, his second wife being a Ewing; Thomas died in the West: David, a tanner by trade, who died in Mifflintown, Pa., was a soldier in the war of 1812 and took part in the battle of North Point; Jane married Mathew Kerr, Sr. : Mary married William Morrow, her hus- band dying in York; and Margaret for many years kept the toll gate at Heistands, where she died unmarried.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 104

Author: Prowell, George R. Publication date: 1907 Publisher: J. H. Beers Number of Pages: 1390

Author: Prowell, George R.
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1390