History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 115

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

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His paternal grandfather was Honeical Leber, who died in Lower Windsor township. He was a tailor by trade. His only son was Jacob, born at Yorkana in 1814, who was given a common-school education and reared as a farmer. During the last fourteen years of his life he was blind and made his home with his son Nathaniel. He was a devout member of the Reformed Church, and in politics a life- long Democrat. He died in 1902. His wife, who was Eliza Paules, was born in Yorkana, the daughter of Michael and Rebecca ( Heltzel) Paules, and died in her son's home at the age of eighty-five. She bore her husband the fol- lowing children : Maria, Mrs. Reuben Neiman. deceased ; Rebecca, Mrs. John Spyker, of Lower Windsor township; Jacob P., who en- listed in the Civil war in the 95th P. V. I., and died in a Baltimore hospital of typhoid fever ; Nathaniel ; and Annie, Mrs. Moses Emenhei- ser, of York.

marriage spent all his time working on the home farm. For twenty-two years he resided on a farm near Freysville, but in 1902 he bought his present homestead, and after renting it for a year, located upon it, and in 1904 erected thereon a handsome residence. He has been industrious, energetic and progressive, and has made a decided success of his operations. In politics Mr. Leber is a Democrat, but not an office seeker or an active politician. Eight years ago he united with the Freysville Re- formed Church, and has served four years as deacon and two as elder.

On Sept. 14, 1889, Mr. Leber was mar- ried by Rev. Kehl to Irene Seaks, born in North Hopewell township, Jan. 22, 1871, daughter of John and Sarah (Ziegler) Seaks. To this union have been born three children, namely : Jacob, July 8, 1900; Sarah Jane, Aug. 10, 1902, and Milton S., Nov. 30, 1904.

John Seaks, father of Mrs. Leber, was born in Germany, and emigrated to America with his parents at the age of fourteen, landing at Baltimore. After living some years in Mary- land, they removed to York county. John had attended school in both Germany and Mary- land. He was married in North Hopewell township to Miss Ziegler, who was a native of York county, daughter of Michael and Hen- rietta (Newhouse) Ziegler. At first a miller, Mr. Seaks was afterward a farmer and lived a number of years in Springfield township, where he died in 1902. His wife is still living, aged fifty-two. She is the mother of nine chil- dren : Mrs. Leber; Henrietta, Mrs. Milton Streawig: Carrie, Mrs. Samuel Anstine, of Glen Rock; Laura, Mrs. Riley Smith, of Red Lion; Howard, at home ; Cora ; Louise : John; and Roy. Mrs. Leber's grandfather was Her- man Seaks, who married Mary Millendore, and lived and died on his farm in Springfield town- ship.

ADAM ELLIS, proprietor of the Cross Keys Hotel of Chanceford township, was born in that township, York county, Pa., on Jan. I,

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1868, son of Benjamin and Kate ( Kopp) Ellis. the stroke of paralysis which terminated in his- The father was a farmer and died in the town- ship about 1888, his wife surviving him until 1894. In politics he was a Democrat, while in religion he was a member of the United Brethren Church.

Adam Ellis attended the Gipe school until the age of fifteen years in the winter time, his first teacher being a Mr. Gemmell and his last Porter Wallace. During his youth he was a farm hand, at the age of twelve years being employed on the canal as a mule driver, for which he received $5 a month and board, his wages being increased to $27 and board when he was promoted to the position of bowman. He followed the canal for nine years, between Columbia and Nanticoke and other points to New York City. He then began farming and labored by the day for two years, being then engaged by John Emig for three years, after which he was employed for three years on the Gemmell place and one year on Squire Thomp- son's farm. In 1900 he bought a tract of 127 acres, on which he conducted general farming, tobacco raising and stock raising until April I, 1905, when he sold and purchased his pres- ent property. Mr. Ellis has greatly increased the trade since taking hold of this property, having proved himself a first-class landlord and being the owner of one of the best rural stands in York county.

In 1892 Mr. Ellis married Miss Lizzie Ar- nold of Chanceford township, daughter of Henry and Amanda (Hess) Arnold, and two children have been born to this union-George Henry and John Paul. In their family is also Elsie May, a little girl of three years whom Mr. Ellis and his wife adopted when she was an infant of six months. Mr. Ellis is a mem- ber of the United Brethren Church, while in politics he is a stanch Democrat, and takes a loyal interest in the success of his party. -

WILBUR C. BRESSLER, D. D. S., who is engaged in the practice of his profession in York, is a son of Dr. Charles Huston Bressler, who was one of the most prominent physicians and dentists of York, where he was actively en- gaged in the practice of his dual profession for many years and where he died in February, 1894, at the venerable age of seventy-three years, after an illness of only two weeks' dura- tion. He was. assisting his son, Wilbur C., in operative work at the time when he received

death. He was specially active and influential in public affairs, and was one of the leaders of the Republican party in this section of the State. Upon several occasions he was made the party nominee for Congress, but was unable to overcome the large Democratic majority in his district. He served nine months as sheriff of York county, having been appointed by Gov- ernor Andrew G. Curtin. He was a man of high intellectual and professional attainments, while his genial nature and lofty integrity of character gained and retained for him the un- qualified esteem of his fellow-men. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Ann Towner, was a daughter of Rev. John Towner, a clergy- man of the Methodist Episcopal Church and for many years secretary of the Buckeye Reaper Company, of Ohio; she died in 1869,. aged thirty-nine years. Of the eight children born of this union the following brief record is made: Charles died in infancy .; John Towner is engaged in the practice of dentis- try in Shepherdstown, Cumberland county ; George B. is a printer by profession residing in the city of Lancaster, Pa., where he is alder- man of the Fifth ward; Emma B., Clara V. and Ella May remain at the family home; Andrew Curtin is a traveling salesman and is employed in his home city of York; and Wil- bur C., immediate subject of this sketch, is sixth in the order of birth of the eight children.

Dr. Wilbur Clarke Bressler was born in York, April. 30, 1858. After completing the public and high school courses he entered the dental department of the University of Maryland, Baltimore, where he remained dur- ing the years 1883-84. In the meanwhile he had given careful attention to the study and practice of laboratory and operative dentistry, under the direction of his father, so that he doubly fortified himself for successful work in his chosen profession. After leaving college he returned to York and here became asso- ciated with his father in active practice, this alliance continuing until the death of the latter, since which time the Doctor has continued in individual practice. He controls a large and representative clientage and his fine offices have the most modern equipment and accessories, while both in the laboratory and the operative departments none but the highest class of work is done. The Doctor is popular in both busi- ness and social circles, and is one of the rep-

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

resentative citizens of his native county, where he has well upheld the high standard of the honored name which he bears. He has his offices at his attractive residence, at No. 464 West King street, and they are acknowledged to be unsurpassed in complete appointments by any in the city. In politics the Doctor is a stal- wart Republican, and both he and his wife are valued members of the First Methodist Epis- copal Church of York. Fraternally he is affil- iated with York Lodge, No. 266, A. F. & A. M. ; with York Lodge, No. 124, Improved Or- der of Heptasophs, and the Noble Command- ery, Knights of Malta, No. 360.

On Dec. 26, 1889, Dr. Bressler was. united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Smyser, who was born and reared in York, where her father, the late George E. Smyser, .was for many years prominently engaged in the coal business. Of the four children of this union Juliette and one other died in infancy; Wilbur Huston and Clarke. Smyser are both pupils in the public schools.

WILLIAM H. STARE, of York Haven, a survivor of the Civil war, was born in Cone- wago township, York county, in 1845, son of John and Anna ( Bull) Stare. Little is known of the great-grandfather of William H. Stare, except that he came from Germany and settled in Conewago township. His son, John, was born there, being a farmer all his life and the father of children: Jacob, Henry, John, Mrs. Westhaffer, Mrs. Spahr, Mrs. Updegraff and Mrs. Andrew Free.

John Stare, the father of William H., was born in 1817 in Conewago township and re- ceived a common-school education. He learned the carpenter's trade and followed it for a num- ber of years. His marriage was to Anna Bull, daughter of Elijah and Lydia (Conn) Bull. After his marriage Mr. Stare located in Cone- wago township, and was a farmer there for a few years prior to going to Dauphin county, near Hummelstown, where he died in 1900, and was buried at Chamber Hill, Dauphin county. His widow is now residing with her son, William H. The children born to John and Anna Stare were: Elias died in Cumber- land county ; William H. : John resides at Steel- ton, Dauphin county ; Daniel resides in Dau- phin county ; Lydia Ann married John Eshe- nour, and lives in Dauphin county ; and Emma married Adam Eshenour, and lives in Dau- phin county.

William H. Stare attended the Sipe school in Conewago township, until the age of eigh- teen, when he engaged in farming and butcher- ing in Lower Allen township, Cumberland county, and Warrington township, York coun- ty. In 1896 he located in York Haven, where he built a fine residence, and has since lived a retired life. In 1864 Mr. Stare enlisted in Company I, 200th Reg. P. V. I., and saw ac- tive service in the battle of Fort Steadman and several minor engagements. During that period Mr. Stare lost his hearing from expos- ure to the weather while at Petersburg, Va., his term of service lasting nine months.

In 1866 Mr. Stare married Anna Jane Hoopes, daughter of Daniel and Mary (Nich- olas) Hoopes, and these children have been born to them: Harry, a carpenter, married Elizabeth Crone ; William is single and resides in Dauphin county; Annie married Daniel Switzer, and resides at York Haven; Alda mar- ried Albert Laird and lives in Dover township; Albert is a miller by trade; Nora married Jacob Kunkle and lives at York Haven; and David married Nettie Clemmins, and resides at York Haven. The Stare family are connected with the Lutheran Church, of which they are active and liberal supporters. Mr. Stare is a Republican, and has held the offices of council- man and supervisor of the borough of York Haven. He is well known and popular through- out the county.

HENRY KURTZ belongs to one of the old and prominent families of York county, and is the owner of Spring Valley Farm in Hopewell township.

Martin Kurtz, his grandfather, left Ger- many at the age of seventeen years and emi- grated to America, coming eventually to York county, Pa. It is supposed that he took up land in the vicinity of what is now Anstine's bone-mill (which, in his day, was a good grind- ing mill), and this he owned and operated for many years; but it finally went into other ilands. There he died about 1836, aged prob- ably seventy-eight years. He was not an en- listed soldier in 1776, but drove a team with supplies for the troops and looked after the wagon trains, this being a most necessary part of the military equipment. He was a stanch Democrat in his political sentiments, and equally as loyal a Lutheran in his religious views. He married Widow Shinlever, who had one son, Charles, the latter migrating to

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the West and dying there. He assisted in the urally commenced a more independent career. building of the Sadler's church, and both he and wife were buried within its shadows. His children were: Joshua, who died in Ohio; Christopher, who married a Miss Lowe, and died in Western Ohio; Elizabeth, Mrs. George Ebaugh, who died in the West; and Michael, father of Henry.

Michael Kurtz was born in 1785, on his father's farm in Shrewsbury township, and was employed from boyhood on the homestead and in the mill. He was educated in the best local schools of his day and mastered the rudi- ments in both English and German. In the course of time he acquired the home farm and continued to conduct it during his active life, when he and his wife went to reside with their son Levi on an adjoining farm, and there the father died in 1870, being survived by his widow until her age approached ninety years. They were both buried at the Shrewsbury cem- etery. It is interesting to note that Michael Kurtz assisted to burn the bricks used in the erection of Sadler's church. Both parents were worthy members of the Lutheran Church, and the father was an elder in it for years. In politics a Democrat, he frequently was elected to township offices. The children of Michael Kurtz and wife, were: Christiana, who died at the age of thirteen years; Eliza- beth, who married J. R. McDonald, of Mary- land, and died aged twenty-eight years; Mar- tin, who married (first) Catherine Reed, and (second) Ellen Meads, and died at his home in Jarrettsville, Md., where he was an under- taker; John, who married Leah Anstine, and died on his farm in Hopewell township; Levi, who married Mary Fulton, and , died on his farm in Shrewsbury township; Lydia, widow of Samuel M. Fife, living in Shrewsbury bor- ough ; Joshua, who died young; one that died in infancy; Henry; and William, of Stewarts- town, who married (first) Elmira Meads, (second) Sarah Hendricks and (third) Mar- garet Meads.

Henry Kurtz was born March 23, 1836, on the home farm in Shrewsbury township where he reached manhood. He attended the winter terms of the public schools irregu- larly until he was eighteen years old and then spent some time at Stewartstown Academy, making the most of his advantages. He re- mained with his parents until he was twenty- three years of age, when he married, and nat-

When twenty-one he had learned the carpen- ter's trade, which he pursued for some years. He had a natural aptitude for using tools and he readily acquired a knowledge of making pumps, successfully carrying on the latter in- dustry for thirty-five years. Although he had never systematically learned the business, he manufactured more pumps than any man in this section. The whole family was more or less gifted mechanically, and his father was always able to fashion anything in wood that he ever saw.

Henry Kurtz was married, April 23, 1859, to Sarah Jane Fulton, who was born in Hope- well township and partly reared in Stewarts- town, daughter of Hugh and Jane (Criswell) Fulton, and a member of an old Scotch-Irish family. Mr. and Mrs. Kurtz commenced housekeeping at Stewartstown, where he fol- lowed the occupation of a carpenter. In 1865 he bought his present farm, removing to Hope- well township and commencing the manufact- ure of pumps ; but for the past few years he has been devoting more of his time to his farm. Mrs. Kurtz died May 30, 1878. She was a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church all her life, and was buried at Stewartstown in the cemetery of the house of worship where she was so well known. She was the mother of children,' as follows: Lillie Jane is Mrs. A. J. Morrison of York; George H., in the commission business in Baltimore, married Emma Wheeler; Mary Agnes is Mrs. Gus- tave Klinert of York; Rose Ann Fulton and Emma are living at home; John Hugh Martin, of Stewartstown, married Jennie Free; and Ralph R., a merchant of Baltimore, married Annie Rundle.

Mr. Kurtz was reared in the Lutherai Church, but after marriage he united with the Stewartstown Presbyterian Church, of which for twelve years he has been a trustee. He is a stanch Democrat.

JOHN DENNIS TRUETT, born Nov. 4, 1802, in Smyrna, Del., died July 21, 1884. in York, Pa. His first wife, Miss Sarah Heckert, whom he married in York, was born July 4, 1808, and died Oct. 30, 1828, leaving one child, George W., now deceased. He mar- ried (second) Theresa Margaret Harry, daughter of James B. Harry, of York ; she was born July 22, 1817, and died Sept. 15, 1881.

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

To this union were born ten children : Mary E., Annie L., Theresa M., Jimmie, Sarah E., M. Jane, Joseph P., Melinda, Oliver P. and Samuel.

Oliver P. Truett was born in York July 12, 1856, and died in his native city Feb. 16, 1888. He was a machinist by trade, but fol- lowed railroading, and at the time of his death was a fireman running from Harrisburg to Altoona. On Jan. II, 1877, he married Sarah Evangeline Bowman, daughter of Emanuel Walter Bowman. She was born March 20, 1858, in Upper Allen township, Cumberland county, and died Dec. 1, 1889. To them were born : James Benton, Emma Aletia, Thursa Margaret, Emanuel Walter and Bowman Har- rison. Mr. Truett belonged to the Methodist Church.

Emanuel Walter Bowman, the son of George Bowman, was born Aug. 1, 1830, in Springfield township, and his death occurred May 26, 1904, in York. On April 30, 1854, he married Margaret Myers, daughter of Peter Myers, of Menallen township, Adams county. She was born June 9, 1836, and died Jan. 23, 1902, the mother of one child-Sarah Evan- geline, who, as stated, married Oliver P. Truett. Mr. Bowman was a miller by trade, grinding at Seven Valley, York county. In 1856 he removed to Coover's Mills, situated on the Yellow Breeches, near the line between Cumberland and York counties, and not far from Grantham Station on the Reading rail- road. From Coover's Mills he removed to Trout Run and began butchering, and at the end of two years thus employed located at Cameron's Mill, near Harrisburg. Here he operated a mill until Aug. 25, 1864, when he enlisted as a private in Captain John Klugh's Company "I," 209th Reg., P. V. I., with which regiment he served until the close of the war, taking an active part in many of its most seri- ous engagements, such as Petersburg, Gettys- burg and Vicksburg. He was honorably dis- charged at Alexandria, Va., May 31, 1865. Soon afterward he located in York, and worked in the car shops, later driving a team for P. A. & S. Small. About 1879 he embarked in the coal business at the corner of Chestnut street and the Peach Bottom railroad, and from there he removed to Charles Lefean's yard at the Princess street bridge. This business was originally established by John Myers, whom Charles Lafean and E. W. Bowman succeeded,

the latter in 1886. On June 12, 1891, Mr. Bowman purchased a tract of land on East Walnut street, at the corner of the Maryland & Pennsylvania railroad. Here he erected the necessary buildings for the continuation of the business, which he conducted at that location with great success. Eighteen months before his death he sold the business to J. C. Grove. Mr. Bowman was a member of the Lutheran Church. He was survived by his daughter's three children, whom he had adopted after their parents' death. Bowman H. Truett is an apprentice in the United States Navy. Emma Aletia, now Mrs. P. C. Dix, is living in Bal- timore, Maryland.

On April 14, 1900, James Benton Truett, son of Oliver P., married Miss Jennice Luella Gladfelter, born near Seven Valley, Nov. 16, 1878, daughter of Wesley Gladfelter, of York; they have two children: James Henry, born July 18, 1904; and Mary Viola, Sept. 29, 1905. James B. Truett received a common school edu- cation, and at the age of fourteen commenced to learn the machinist's trade, which he finished in four years with S. Morgan Smith & Co. On Sept. 17, 1896, he enlisted as a private in Troop E, 6th United States Cavalry, at Fort Meyer, Va. On April 19, 1898, the regiment was ordered to proceed by rail to Chickamauga Park, Ga., where it was placed in the First Brigade, First Cavalry Division, Fifth Army Corps, General Shafter commanding. On May II, 1898, the brigade proceeded by rail to Tampa, Fla., thence to Port Tampa, June 8, 1898. Here the entire corps assembled and went aboard transports, his regiment being as signed to the "Rio Grande." After loading provisions they were ordered to anchor in Tampa bay, 'and on June 14, 1898, the entire fleet set sail for Cuba, arriving at Santiago June 20, 1898, and landing under fire on the 22nd of June, at Daiguiri, a village about twenty-five miles east of Santiago. The prin- cipal battle of the expedition was San Juan, commonly known as the battle of Santiago, and it lasted from July I, to July 3, at noon. Among the hard fights were El Caney, Kettle Hill and Hell's Crossing, with the final taking of San Juan Hill, with its block houses. On July 10 and II the bombardment of the city of Santiago took place, and on the 14th the city was surrendered by General Linares. The offi- cial ceremonies were not performed until the 17th of July, however, so that is the date tis11-

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BIOGRAPHICAL

ally given as the date of surrender. On Aug. 6. 1898, Mr. Truett's regiment sailed on the transport "Gate City" for the "States," arriv- ing at Montauk Point, L. I., Aug. 13, 1898, and was honorably discharged Sept. 14, 1898. From November, 1898, to December, 1900, Mr. Truett assisted his grandfather, E. W. Bowman, in the coal business, and then ac- cepted an appointment in the civil service as a letter carrier, at which occupation. he is now engaged in York. Mr. Truett is a member of the Lutheran Church.

reared in York, daughter of Edward Stuck, a well known retired newspaper man of that city. Mr. Lanius died on Oct. 7, 1905, his death being occasioned by uraemic poisoning. Thus passed away, at the height of his abilities, a young man who had already made a splendid record, which, in view of his years, can be con- . sidered only as an intimation of what might have been. He was survived by his widow and their two children-Margaret and William Henry Lanius.

SAMUEL CORNELIUS COLLINS was

Mr. Collins was educated in the local schools and at the Stewartstown Academy. where his first teacher was Miss Anderson. His school days closed when he was twenty- two years old. His father was a practical man and put his boys to work as soon as they were old enough to do "chores" or handle a hoe, and thus Samuel became a thorough farmer while still a young man. After the death of his father, in 1895, he took charge of the home farm, which he has since continued to operate. The buildings on the farm were remodeled by Mr. Collins the elder, but the son has made continuous improvements, the result being that the tract constitutes one of the most substan- tial and attractive homesteads in the township. It contains 198 acres of fine land, from which, in 1903, were raised one thousand bushels of wheat, seven hundred bushels of oats, and other grains and crops in proportion.

PERCY L. LANIUS (deceased) was a born Dec. 4, 1854, on the farm in Hopewell son of Capt. William H. Lanius, one of York's township, York county, which he now owns and upon which he has spent his life. He is a brother of Alexander Collins, a banker of Shrewsbury township, York county. most influential bankers and citizens, and was born in the family homestead, on East Market street, York, May 17, 1872. After completing the course of study in the public schools, he continued his studies in the York County Academy and later in the York Collegiate In- stitute, after which he was for three terms a student in the Selwyn Hall Military Acad- emy, later pursuing a course in Prickett's Busi- ness College, Philadelphia. After pursuing these educational courses Mr. Lanius entered the offices of the York Street Railway Com- pany, of which for a time he was assistant treasurer. In 1894 he became associated with his father in the coal and lumber business, under the firm name of H. Lanius & Son, the enterprise having been carried on under this style for many years previously. It had been established by Henry Lanius, grandfather of Percy L. Lanius, who retired in 1870, passing the remainder of his long and useful life in the city with whose civic and business interests he had been so long and prominently concerned. To the business thus founded Percy L. Lanius Mr. Collins is a member of the Hopewell U. P. Church in East Hopewell township and has served as trustee. In politics he is a Re- publican. In March, 1891, Mr. Collins was married in Chanceford township to Amy Janet Wallace, of High Rock, daughter of John and Millie Ann (Gibson) Wallace, both of whom are deceased. Children as follows have been born to this union: Cornelius Wallace, born March 9. 1892; Florence Elizabeth, Nov. 15, 1895; and Mary Delmar and Ralph Gordon (twins ). Jan. 4. 1900. Mrs. Collins is also a member of the U. P. Church. gave his able personal attention, and at the time of his death it was one of the most important enterprises of the kind in the city. Both as an executive and as a progressive young business man he was held in high'regard in his native city, while his popularity in its social life was of the most unequivocal order. In politics he was an inflexible Republican, and both he and his wife were communicants of St. John's Episcopal Church. In a fraternal way he was affiliated with the Knights of Malta, the Be- nevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Sons of Veterans.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 115

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