History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 108

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

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Alfred Greider Emig was born on the farm in Hellam township, Jan. 8, 1857. He had good educational opportunities ; his first school- ing was under Messrs. Elliker, Peeling and Gable-at Musser's school, a mile away from his home, and he continued to attend that in- stitution until he was twenty years old. He began work on the farm in early life, and as his father died in March, 1877, he remained at home to carry on the place for his mother. The latter died in 1896, and a sister, Mary A., bought the farm; but six months later Mr. Emig purchased of her a half interest in it, and at her death, in 1901, bought the other half. His whole life has thus been passed on the old place.

On April 22, 1890, Mr. Emig married Mary Jane, daughter of William, Sr., and Catherine ( Bahn) Dietz, mention of whom ap- pears elsewhere. The children born to this union are: Clarence D .; Raymond G., de- ceased ; Howard M. ; and Morgan Bahn. Mr. Emig is a prosperous and highly esteemed citi- zen, a man honored in his own community. He and his family are members of the Reformed Church. Mr. Emig is a member of the school board, and is a Republican in politics.

MILTON W. WINEKA is a worthy and popular representative of one of the old and honored families of York county, and is one of the successful exponents of the advanced agri-

Milton W. Wineka was born on the old homestead farm, in York township, June 7, 1865, a son of William and Mary (Flinch- baugh) Wineka, both of whom, now deceased, were numbered among the most highly es- teemed citizens of York township, while of them special memorial tribute is made in the sketch of Henry A. Wineka, above mentioned. The subject of this sketch passed his boyhood days on the home farm, and diversified his time between work and study and play, like the average farmer boy of the locality. He secured a good common-school education, having con- tinued his studies in the public school at Ore Valley until he had attained the age of six- teen years, and thereafter he continued to as- sist in the work and management of the home farm until 1886, when he took up his residence on his present well-improved farm, which his honored father purchased for him, while in the meantime he had taken unto himself a wife and assumed the responsibilities of a man of family. Mr. Wineka's farm comprises fifty- seven acres of excellent land, the place being well improved with buildings and equipped with modern facilities for the proper carrying on of its cultivation. Our subject raises the various cereals best adapted to the soil and climate, also producing a considerable tobacco crop each year, while he makes somewhat of a specialty of market gardening, finding a ready demand for his vegetables and produce in the city of York. In 1901 he purchased a fine modern threshing outfit, and this he has since operated during the season, making the en- terprise a profitable one and gaining a support throughout York and adjoining townships. He is a stalwart Democrat in his political pro- clivities, and both he and his wife are enrolled as members of the United Brethren church at Spry.

On June 10, 1886, Mr. Wineka led to the marriage altar Miss Mary Alice Lecrone, who was born and reared in York township, this

Milton H. Niñera

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county, a daughter of Barnhart and Nancy (Kauffman) Lecrone, the former of whom died Feb. 24, 1900, being interred in the cem- etery at Dallastown, and his widow now makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Wineka. To Mr. and Mrs. Wineka have been born eight children, all of whom are living and remain at home except Mazie Leona, the seventh in or- der of birth, who died at the age of three years. The other children are here named in order of nativity : William Frederick, Eli F., Mary Ellen, Daniel Curwin, Alvin Eugene, Laura May and Esther Viola.

GRANT S. TINSLEY, druggist of Wrightsville, where his father was a well known contractor and mason, is a native of that town. The Tinsley family is of English origin, and the American branch goes back to four brothers, who left the ancestral home and set- tled near Hagerstown, Md. One of them came later to York, Pa., and became the progenitor of the Pennsylvania branch of the family. The other brothers and their descendants went South and West.

Absalom Tinsley, grandfather of Grant S., was born in Hellam township, and was by trade a stone-mason and brick-layer. He married, and spent his later years in Wrightsville, where he died.' He had three children, as follows: John, father of Grant S .; and Sarah and Mary, who both died unmarried.

In January, 1817, John Tinsley was born in Wrightsville; there, also, he died. He learned his father's trade of masonry and brick laying, and he and Jacob Flury went into part- nership as stone contractors. He was elected chief burgess of the town council and was many times councilman. He was a member of the I. O. O. F. He married Elizabeth Matthews, also a native of Hellam township, who died in 1887, at the age of sixty-seven. Her father, Samuel Matthews, was a farmer. The Matthews family is of Irish descent, and the first comers to America settled in Chester county, Pa., whence they removed to Hellam township.

Mabel, who is Mrs. William Zorbaugh, of Wrightsville; and Blanche, who is unmarried.

The birth of Grant S. Tinsley occurred in Wrightsville, Sept. 4, 1863, and he received a common school education under the teaching of Prof. Gardner. At seventeen he left school to enter the drug store of C. W. Wilson, where he was a clerk for two years. He then went to Philadelphia, for a year was a clerk for the drug firm of H. C. Blair & Sons in that city, and spent another year in their store at Atlantic City. He took a great interest in the business, and on leaving the Atlantic City branch returned to Philadelphia, took a course in the College of Pharmacy, and later returned to Wrightsville to establish a business for him- self. His only capital was twenty dollars, and he was not much over twenty years old, but he was able to buy a stock of goods on credit. He opened his first store under the town hall in Wrightsville. He remained there a year and a half, and then bought his present property at the corner of Hellam and Second streets. He has built up a large business, and is one of the popular merchants of the town, having a fine store, large, well stocked and attractive.

Mr. Tinsley is well known in fraternal cir- cles ; he is a member of Riverside Lodge No. 503, F. & A. M., Wrightsville, where he is past master ; Chapter and Commandery at Co- lumbia ; the Mystic Shrine in Harrisburg; the Jr. O. U. A. M. ; I. O. O. F. and the Royal Arcanum. In politics he is a Republican, and he has served his town as chief burgess and as school director.

SIMON LAUCKS is now living retired in the village of Bittersville. He was born on the farm now owned by Philip Laucks, in Lower Windsor township, Feb. 23, 1839, and is a son of Levi and Elizabeth (Myers) Laucks, both natives of York county.

Levi Laucks was born in Lower Windsor township in 1815, and during the greater por- tion of his active career was engaged in agri- cultural pursuits, finally taking up his resi- dence in the city of York, where he resided for a quarter of a century. At the time of his death, in 1903, when he was eighty-eight years of age, he was residing with his son, Simon Laucks. The deceased was a stalwart Demo- crat in his political proclivities, but never a seeker of public office, though he was for a time school director of Windsor township.

Mr. Tinsley and his wife were members of the Methodist Church. Their children were as follows : William G., of Wrightsville, who married (first) a Miss Albright, and (second) Mrs. Nace: Sarah Jane, who is unmarried ; Grant S., mentioned below; Marcia C. and Phoebe (twins), the former of whom is un- married and the latter, Mrs. R. A. Glatfelter; His wife, who was born in Lower Windsor

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

township, and is now deceased, was a daugh- engaged in farming on his own responsibility, ter of Benjamin Myers, who was a prominent farmer and honored pioneer citizen of Lower Windsor township, where he died at a vener- able age. Both Levi Laucks and his wife early identified themselves with the Lutheran Church, in whose work they ever continued to manifest a deep interest. Of their children Simon was the first born ; David M., who mar- ried Miss Emeline Peeling, is a resident of Paradise, Lancaster county, and is an ex-mem- ber of the State Legislature; Kate is the wife of Samuel Daron, of Columbia, Lancaster county, and is the youngest of the children.

Daniel Laucks, grandfather of Simon, was one of the worthy and influential farmers of Lower Windsor township, having, as a young man, settled upon the farm now owned by his grandson, Philip Laucks, which he re- claimed from the forest and upon which he resided until his death. Of his sons the fol- lowing data are preserved : Henry, who mar- ried Kate Shenberger, died in Chanceford township; Samuel, who married Peggy Mc- Quiggan, died in Lower Windsor township, as did also Daniel, who never married; Ben- jamin, who married a Miss Beaverson, lived in the vicinity of Freystown at the time of his death, and Levi, father of Simon, has al- ready been mentioned. Of the daughters it is recorded that Kate became the wife of John Paules: Polly, the wife of Frederick Emen- heiser, and Susan, the wife of Benjamin Woods. All three daughters died in Lower Windsor township.

Simon Laucks passed his boyhood days on the home farm and under the conditions com- mon to the farmer's lad of the locality and period. In the little schoolhouse of his native township he secured his early educational dis- cipline, his first teacher being an Irishman named Whittaker, who was employed for a number of years in the school, which was two miles distant from the Laucks homestead. As soon as he was old enough to assume the re- sponsibility the boy began to aid in the work of the home farm, and his services were in such demand that his attendance at school be- came very irregular. He made good use of his opportunities, however, and continued his school work at intervals until he had attained the age of twenty-two years. He remained upon the family homestead until he had reached the age of twenty-four years, and then

renting a place in Lower Windsor township and finally becoming the owner of a substantial property. To the supervision of this tract, which consisted of fifty acres, he gave his attention for a score of years, selling his farm in 1904, since which time he has lived retired in the attractive village of Bittersville, where he has a comfortable and pleasant home. At times he assists, in a clerical capacity, in the general store of his cousin, George W. Laucks, of that town. He is a charter member of the Lower Windsor Mutual Fire Insurance Com- pany, of whose directorate he has been a mem- ber for the past decade. In his political alle- giance he is identified with the Democracy, and, while he has never been an aspirant for office, has taken a lively interest in local affairs and given his aid and influence in support of all worthy enterprises for the general good. He was reared in the faith of the Lutheran Church, of which his wife is a member.

In Lower Windsor township, in June, 1861, was consummated the marriage of Mr. Laucks to Miss Rebecca Walk, who was born and reared in that township, daughter of John and Lydia (Zarfous) Walk. She has been all that a good wife and mother could be, and she is held in high regard by her wide circle of friends. Mr. and Mrs. Laucks have but one child, John F., who lives in the West.

DANIEL AND THOMAS STUBBS. The Stubbs family is presumably of English origin, although the records extend no further back than the grandfather of the present genera- tion, Vincent Stubbs. Vincent Stubbs was born in Lancaster county, Pa., and was a farmer by occupation. He married Priscilla Cooper, daughter of John and Hannah (Wheeler) Cooper, and had seven children, as follows: John, of Lancaster county ; Daniel, a farmer in that county: Isaac; Thomas and Vincent, farmers in Lancaster county; Han- nah, who married Israel Reynolds, a farmer in Chester county; and Ruth, wife of William Bernard, also of Chester county.

Isaac Stubbs was born in Fulton township, Lancaster county, in 1799, was given a com- mon-school education, and made farming his

lifelong occupation. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Reuben Haines, of Cecil county, Md., and their family consisted of the follow- ing thirteen children: Reuben, who married

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Miss Hannah Swayne, and died in Peach Bot- ing in the field during practically the entire tom township; Vincent G., a resident of Delta ; Mary, who died at home, unmarried; Sarah, Mrs. Jacob Swayne; Emiline A., Mrs. Samuel Passmore; Albert, who married Phoebe Ann Hickman; Joseph H., who married Deborah Walton; Daniel, who died in childhood; Daniel (2); Thomas; Priscilla, who died aged six- teen ; Henry, who married Helen Schaeffer, of Albany, N. Y., and Priscilla (2), who died young. The family were originally Quakers.

Daniel Stubbs was born in Chester county, near Oxford, Nov. 24, 1840. With his parents he removed to York county and there grew to manhood, attending the public school in Peach Bottom township until he was twenty-two. After leaving school he worked on the farm with his father, and after the latter's death, when Daniel was thirty-five, he and his brother Thomas took the management of the place, where they have remained ever since.

Thomas Stubbs, who was born at the homestead July 19, 1843, received the same educational advantages as did his brother, and has passed his life in the same employment. They are engaged in general farming and stockraising, and deal largely in Short Horn cattle. On Jan. 9, 1902, Thomas Stubbs was united in marriage to Viola Glackin, daughter of Jacob and Amanda (McCleary) Glackin, the former a farmer in Chanceford township. One child has been born to them, Elizabeth H. Daniel and Thomas Stubbs are both Republi- cans, but take no special interest in local politics.

WILLIAM T. COX, who died Feb. IO, 1905, aged fifty-four years, was one of the pro- gressive business men of the city of York, and the high regard in which he was held in the community was indicated in no uncertain way in his having served for three terms as a mem- ber of the city council. As superintendent of the York Carriage Company he held prestige as a representative member of the business cir- cles of the city, and in all of life's relations he ever merited the esteem which was accorded him.

Mr. Cox was a native of the old Keystone State, having been born in Lancaster county, Oct. II, 1850, son of the late Major Benja- min F. and Amanda (Funk) Cox.

Major Cox was a valiant soldier in the Union army during the war of the Rebellion. being major of the 47th P. V. I. and serv-

perior of the great internecine conflict through which the integrity of the nation was per- petuated. For thirteen years he was steward of the Lancaster County Almshouse, and he died honored by all who knew him. Major Cox married Amanda Funk, sister of Amos Funk, a well known and popular farmer and hotelkeeper of Lancaster, being a member of a family which was founded in Lancaster coun- ty in the pioneer days., Major and Amanda (Funk) Cox became the parents of five chil- dren, of whom William T. was the last sur- vivor, those who had previously died being Charles, Elizabeth, Ida and Benjamin.

The name of Cox has long been identified with the carriage-making industry in the city of Lancaster, the original firm having been Cox & Suydam, and the successor in the busi- ness, Samuel B. Cox, uncle of William T., who learned the trade in the former's establish- ment.

William T. Cox duly availed himself of the advantages, afforded in the public schools of his native city, and at the age of fifteen years entered his uncle's carriage works as an ap- prentice. He continued to be identified with this business for the long period of sixteen years, at the expiration of which he entered the service of Samuel E. Bailey, who conducts his flourishing enterprise under the title of the York Carriage Company. Mr. Cox became superintendent of the works in 1889, and for eight years had a monetary interest in the busi- ness. The concern sends its products into all sections of the Union, while a large export trade is controlled, goods being shipped to Eu- rope and even to South Africa. The extent of the industry may be understood when it is stated that the capacity of the plant is fully 14,000 vehicles annually, while employment is afforded to 250 persons. The entire establish- ment was practically swept away by fire April 6, 1904, but by the 25th of the following August a new plant had been completed and equipped, but such had been the growth of the business that it was found practically im- perative to further increase the output of the concern by the erection of a second plant, of larger capacity, in East York. Both are now in active and effective operation. In his capacity of superintendent Mr. Cox had up to the time of his death, the general supervision of the business.

In politics Mr. Cox was a stalwart Republi-

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

can, being elected for three consecutive terms a member of the city council from the Third ward. He was a most progressive and valued member, serving as chairman of the Finance committee and secretary of the Light com- mittee. In a fraternal way he was identified with both the lodge and encampment of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

On Nov. 24, 1880, Mr. Cox was united in marriage to Miss Mary L. Channel, a valued school teacher and daughter of the late Joseph C. Channel, who was a native of Lancaster county and who was killed by the explosion of a locomotive boiler, he had been for many years a trusted and faithful employee of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company.

WILLIAM ZELLERS, owner of what is known as the Maple Valley Farm, situated near Stewartstown, was born June 13, 1843, in the old log house which still stands near the present family mansion. His parents were Levi and Lavina (Lucky) Zellers, and his grandfather was Bartholomew Zellers, who was the original purchaser of the farm named.

William Zellers was reared on his father's farm and very early took an important part in its agricultural development. When he was six years old he attended his first school, his teacher being Henry Fulton, and he continued his education, during the winter seasons, until he was seventeen. Among his other instructors he recalls Henry Downs, Perry Baird, Andrew J. Fulton, James Fulton and Nicholas Amos. He was not of a particularly studious turn of mind, preferring to work on the farm; and in his lifetime he has done a very large share of agricultural labor. He remained with his father until the latter removed to Stewarts- town and then took the farm which he has operated ever since. He has made many im- provements upon it, building a beautiful residence in 1892 at a cost of about $3,000; the substantial barn his father had built in 1869. The farm contains 130 acres of choice land and it is considered one of the most pro- cluctive of the township. Since 1901 he has had the farm under rental.

Mr. Zellers was married April 15, 1875, to Esther Anderson of East Hopewell town- ship, a daughter of James and Mary ( Miller) Anderson (both deceased) and a sister of James Anderson of East Hopewell township. Mrs. Zellers died in 1898, leaving one child,

James L. of Stewartstown, an engineer em- ployed in a furniture factory. He married Mary Patterson and they have one child, Hazel. Mr. Zellers is a member of the Stewartstown Presbyterian Church, as was his late wife, who was a noble, Christian woman. Her death was a great loss to her family, church and community. Mr. Zellers is a strong supporter of the Democratic party.

THE IRWIN FAMILY. One of the old- est names associated with Pennsylvania's his- tory is that of Irwin, which was first identified with Lancaster county, but is now fully as well known in York county. The Irwins in- termarried with the Murphys and a fairly com- plete genealogy of the two families is here pre- sented.

The first of the Irwins to settle in Amer- ica was (I) Samuel, who was born in County Cork, Ireland, and was there married, but em- igrated to America and settled in Lancaster county. His children, the elder of whom were born in Ireland, were Samuel, James, John and Isabella. The daughter died May 7, 1837.

(II) Samuel (2) had a family of eight children. (1) Christopher was born Feb. 16, 1807, and was the father of Price, Clarence, Samuel, Frank and Virginia. He resided in Ohio. (2) Robert was born March 20, 1809, and died in October, 1882. His children were : Mrs. Mary Murphy and Mrs. Jane Manifold, deceased; Mrs. Bella Manifold, of Hopewell, and Samuel, deceased. (3) John James Dun- can Irwin was born Oct. 30, 1811, and died Oct. 14, 1838. (4) Isabella Orr Duncan Ir- win was born Sept. 14, 1814. She married Thomas Wiley and they had three children : Mrs. John H. Wilson; James B., of York, and Sallie, who died in childhood. (5) Joseph, born July 11, 1817, died April 13, 1894. He married (first) Nancy Galbraith, of Peach Bot- tom township, and they were the parents of two children-Samuel and Annie, of whom the latter died in infancy-and (second), Sept. 28, 1864, he married Mary Jane Murphy, daugh- ter of Thomas and Elizabeth ( Smith) Murphy, they being the parents of Elizabeth S. and Mary Bella. The two daughters were educated at Wilson College, Chambersburg, which was founded by Sarah Wilson, a granddaughter of Joseph Irwin, and they reside upon the old Irwin homestead, which has been in the pos- session of the family since 1812. Many Indian

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relics have been discovered on their land, one portion of which contained burial mounds of a prehistoric race. (6) Esther Reed Irwin, born Aug. 11, 1819, died in infancy. (7) Jane Irwin, born Aug. 25, 1822, married Wil- liam Galbraith, and had the following children : Samuel, Eliza, Nettie and Mary, all deceased; Alexander and Irwin, of Baltimore, Md. (8) James Duncan Irwin, born Aug. 25, 1825, died Sept. 7, 1834.

Mrs. Mary Jane (Murphy) Irwin, wite of Joseph, was the daughter of Thomas and Eliz- abeth (Smith) Murphy, and on both sides came from old Pennsylvania families. Her maternal grandfather was John Smith, of Eng- lish ancestry, who was born Dec. 27, 1758, and died Feb. 11, 1826. By his wife Agnes, who was born March 2, 1757, and died Jan. 29, 1841, he had the following children: Mary, born Jan. 20, 1786, deceased Aug. 22. 1864; James Hume, born Oct. 23, 1789, de- ceased Feb. 2, 1858; Elizabeth, born April 8, 1794, died April 11, 1864; John, Jr., born Feb. 27, 1796; William, a physician, born March 28, 1798, deceased March 24, 1847; and Charles, born May 18, 1800, deceased Oct. 12, 1825.

On the Murphy side Mrs. Joseph Irwin's grandfather was Joseph Murphy, a native of Scotland, who settled in Lancaster county. His son Thomas was born July 11, 1792, and died March 24, 1871. He and his wife Elizabeth had a large family. (1) Joseph, born May 26, 1820, was twice married. The children by his first wife were: Elizabeth S., Dec. 25, 1844; Thomas J., May 18, 1846, and Stephen C., May 9, 1848. Mr. Murphy married Alice Cunningham for his second wife, their union occurring Jan. 1, 1852. They had one daugh- ter, Mary Alice, born June 11, - 1882.

(2) John Smith Murphy, born July 5, 1824, died Dec. 3, 1885. (3) James A., born March 22, 1826, died Aug. 3, 1895. He was one of the best known and most successful educators of his day. He was graduated from Jefferson College, Washington, Pa., in 1845, and for many years was principal of Shrewsbury Academy, in which many men who afterward became famous were his pupils, among them John Livingstone Smith. Prof. Murphy was a contributor to many newspapers and his serial article "Exhumed Memories" was widely copied by publications throughout Pennsylva- nia. He was also noted as a mineralogist and

had a fine collection of minerals. (4) Charles Smith Murphy, of Peach Bottom township, was born Aug. 18, 1827. (5) George Murphy was born Feb. 10, 1829. (6) Mary Jane, Mrs. Joseph Irwin, was born Dec. 13, 1830. (7) William Hume Murphy, of California, was born Dec. 21, 1832. (8) Samuel M. Murphy, born Sept. 28, 1834, died Nov. 16, 1864. Sev- eral of these brothers went West to reside.

DANIEL SEITZ, who died in Springfield township, Jan. 16, 1853, was for a number of years a prominent farmer of that township, where he also conducted a mercantile business. He was born April 26, 1803, in Shrewsbury township, York county, son of Rev. John and Eva (Stabler) Seitz.

Rev. John Seitz was born March 22, 1778, and became a local minister in the Evangelical Church. He also followed farming in Shrews- bury township. On March 10, 1801, he mar- ried Eva Stabler (now Stabley), who was born March 18, 1785, and who died Oct. 3, 1856, aged seventy-one years, six months and sixteen days. Her husband died July 4, 1856, aged seventy-eight years, three months and twelve days, and they were both buried at the Mount Zion cemetery, in Springfield township, near the Shrewsbury township line. They had children : Samuel, born Jan. 30, 1802; Dan- iel ; Jacob, born Feb. 21, 1805 ; Catherine, born July 4, 1806; Elizabeth, born Sept. 14, 1808; George, born Oct. 20, 1810; Samuel (2), born Dec. 28, 1811; Christene, born' July 4, 1813; John, born Sept. 24, 1814: Jos- eph, born March 16, 1816: Noah, born May 22, 1817; Magdalena, born June 16, 1819; Catherine, born Aug. 24, 1821 ; Adam S., born Feb. 5, 1826; and Benjamin, born May 15, 1827.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 108

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