History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 117

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

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The Knisely family is of German origin, but the grandfather, Anthony, was born in Cumberland county, Pa. For some time he lived in York county, and was there married to Miss Susan Snyder, but he returned to Cumberland county, and was a farmer there. He was killed by a fall in his barn, which he was clearing for a church meeting. Anthony

Knisely had sixteen children, but the names of only eleven are recorded, namely : Bornitz, William, Peter, John, Henry, Susan (Mrs. Mountz), Mary (Mrs. Seitz), Betsey ( Mrs. Sutton), Lydia (Mrs. Suttton), Katy (who died unmarried ), and Sally ( Mrs. Nickey).

Bornitz Knisely was born Oct. 6, 1809, in Washington township. He was educated in the subscription schools, and afterward taught for several terms. He learned the carpenter's trade, and finally became a contractor, putting up many of the finest buildings in that section. Beginning life a poor boy, he did well and be- came one of the prominent men in his town- ship. In politics he was a Whig and later a Republican. He was a member of the United Evangelical Church, in which he served as steward, class leader and trustee. Twice mar- ried, his first wife was Miss Sally Sechrist, who was born in Chanceford township, Jan. 7, 18II. Their union occurred Feb. 20, 1831, and they began life on a farm owned by Mr. Knisely in Windsor township. There his wife died Sept. 3, 1850, leaving him with the following chil- dren : John, born Jan. 5, 1832, who went West and married a Miss Whitmeyers ; Henry, born Jan. 14, 1833, who married a Miss Mary Dehoff, and died in Windsor township; Will- iam, born June 15, 1834, who married Miss Sarah Spotts, and died at Yoe; Susanna, born May 27, 1836, deceased wife of John Stabley, of Windsor township; Mary Jane, born March 7, 1838, who died unmarried; Jacob, born June 18, 1840, for nine months a soldier in the Civil war, who married Miss Sarah Schmuck ; Joseph, born Nov. 15, 1841, who lives on his father's old homestead, married (first) Miss Mary Stauffer, and (second) Miss Sarah Kohler, also deceased; Daniel, born Aug. 8, 1843, who died in infancy ; Samuel, born Dec. 13, 1844, who married Miss Mary Neff, and lives at Red Lion ; George, born Jan. 30, 1847, who married Miss Elizabeth Brillhart, and lives at York ; and Bornitz, born Dec. 29, 1848, who died in infancy.

Mr. Knisely's second wife, to whom he was united Feb. II, 1851, was Miss Mary Ober- dorff. She was born on her father's farm at Springvale Station, Windsor township, Jan. IO, 1827, and was educated in the public schools. Her parents were Daniel and Lydia (Miller) Oberdorff, the former of whom was born in Lower Windsor township, was a miller by trade, and later a farmer, and died at his

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

home in 1863, aged seventy-one years. Mrs. Mary O. Knisely bore her husband five chil- dren : Lydia, born April 23, 1852, is Mrs. Wesley Kaub, of Windsor township: David; Leah Ellen, born March 15. 1859, is Mrs. Jacob Flinchbaugh, of Red Lion; James F., born March 16, 1861, married Miss Agnes Flinchbaugh; and Alice Amanda, born Aug. 16, 1864, is Mrs. William C. Smith, of Wind- sorville.

David Knisely was sent to the Cross school in Windsor township, until he was eighteen, and after leaving continued to work on his father's farm, until he married. He then be- gan farming on the place where he now lives, working it on shares with his father, who owned it. At the same time he entered upon the manufacture of cigars, and has kept up the business ever since. He has been success- ful in both lines, is a well known and promi- ment man in his section, and is very generally esteemed and honored. He and his family be- long to the United Evangelical Church, in which he is a trustee, and has served one term as superintendent. In political faith he is a Re- publican.

Mrs. Knisely was a Miss Sophia Fitzkee, and was married to Mr. Knisely Feb. 3, 1887. She has borne her husband two children : Rosie Etta, born Aug. 2, 1888, and Anthony Bornitz, July 16, 1892.

Peter Wilhelm Fitzkee, father of Mrs. Knisely, was a native of Germany, where he was born Sept. 25, 1824, in Bauden Mine. He was given a good education there, and at the age of twenty-four came to America, accom- panied by a Miss Rosie Baringer, who was also born near Bauden Mine, March 19, 1824. On landing at Philadelphia Mr. Fitzkee and Miss Baringer were married, and they settled first in the vicinity of Craleyville. There Mr. Fitzkee learned carpentering and long followed that trade. Later he bought a farm close to Craleyville, which his sons assisted in cultivat- ing. He died Sept. 29, 1903, in the Lutheran faith. He was a Democrat in politics. Mr. Fitzkee was a man of unusually fine physique. His wife is still living on their old homestead. The children born to them, besides Sophia, who became Mrs. Knisely, were as follows : Edward, of York, who married Mrs. John Wil- kinson; Augustus, of Marysville, who mar- ried Miss Amanda Hibner ; Simon, unmarried, who lives with his mother; Henry, of Dallas- town, married to Sarah Flory; Leonard, at

home; and Frank, of Lancaster county, who married Miss Lizzie Riles. Peter Fitzkee had two brothers, one of whom died in Germany. The other started from home for the United States, but was never heard from again.

JAMES H. SMALL, secretary of the York Gas Company, belongs to one of the old- est and most prominent families of York county. His grandfather, David Small, was chief burgess of York at the time of the Rebel invasion under Gen. Jubal Early, and was at one time postmaster of York, having been ap- pointed by President James Buchanan, who was his personal friend.

James B. Small, father of James H. Small, died at the age of fifty years. His wife was Harriet E. Landis, daughter of David Landis (deceased), a well known merchant. There were four children born to this couple, as fol- lows : One who died in infancy ; Charles E., a stationer; David J., an insurance agent ; and James H.

James H. Small was born in York, Jan. 20, 1874, and was educated in private schools and the York Collegiate Institute. His first occupation was as a drug clerk, at which he re- mained two years, and then for a like period engaged in the fire insurance business. He be- came assistant secretary of the York Gas Com- pany, Jan. 1, 1898, and was promoted to the position of secretary in June of the same year.

On June 15, 1898, Mr. Small was married to Adelaide Noss, daughter of Mr. Herman Noss, one of York's most prominent manufac- turers, and two children were born to this union-Harriet Elizabeth and Sarah Jane. Mr. Small is prominent in Masonic circles, be- ing a member of York Lodge, Howell Chapter, York Commandery, Harrisburg Consistory and Zembo Temple of the Mystic Shrine. Socially he belongs to the Bachelor's Club and the Country Club. In his religious views he is a Presbyterian, attending the First Presbyterian Church, in which for some time he was a Sun- day-school teacher. As secretary of the Gas Company Mr. Small has made hosts of friends by his courtesy and fairness, and no man of his years in York is more popular in social, fra- ternal and business circles.

PHILIP LAUCKS, for many years a farmer of Windsor township, was born in Lower Windsor township, Sept. 9, 1842, son of Samuel and Margaret (McGuigan) Laucks.

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BIOGRAPHICAL

Samuel Laucks was born in Lower Wind- sor township, and attended the public schools. He was a farmer's boy and followed the trade of a collier for several years, after which he returned to the farm, upon which he remained until his death, which occurred in 1882, when he had reached his seventy-second year. He had been reared in the faith of the Evangelical Church, while in politics he was a Democrat. Mr. Laucks' death caused much, sorrow to a large circle of acquaintances and friends. Mr. Laucks married Margaret McGuigan, born in Hopewell township and reared to womanhood in Lower Windsor township, daughter of Am- brose and Elizabeth McGuigan. Ambrose Mc- Guigan was a native of Ireland, while his wife, before her marriage to Mr. McGuigan, was the widow of Daniel Lefevre. Mrs. Laucks sur- vived her husband about eighteen years. They had been the parents of these children: John, of Windsor township; Elizabeth, who married John K. Shenberger, deceased, the late county treasurer ; Samuel D., deceased, who married Isabella Olewiler; Hettie, deceased in young womanhood; Philip; Susan, who died young ; Margaret, who married Henry Gilbert, of Lower Windsor township; Mary, wife of John C. Broom, of Columbia, Pa .; and George W., of Lower Windsor township, who married Valeria Bull.

Philip Laucks was reared on his father's farm, and until the age of eighteen years, at- tended the public schools during the winter terms of three, four and five months. He learned the trade of a blacksmith with John Halleck, of Harrisburg, with whom he re- mained thirteen months, and then for five years worked at that vocation in the Harris- burg car shops. Returning to Lower Windsor township for three years he was employed on the family homestead, after 'his marriage re- moving to Chanceford, where he had purchased a farm of twenty-eight acres. This he worked for eight years, when he sold and moved to Windsor township, locating on a farm of ninety-seven acres, upon which he remained nineteen years, After settling there Mr. Laucks added an adjoining farm of twen- ty-eiglit acres, his own being on Burkholder road, three miles from Red Lion. Since tak- ing possession Mr. Laucks has made many im- provements to the farm, building large barns, a fine home and substantial outbuildings. Al- though a member of no religious denomina- tion Mr. Laucks was reared in the faith of State at the present day.

the Evangelical Church. In politics he is a Democrat, and has served for nine years as school director in Windsor township.

On Dec. 24, 1873, Philip Lau'cks, in Wind- sor township, married Susan Anstine, born at Anstine Mill, Windsor township, daughter of Simon and Mary Ann ( Kohler) Anstine. To this union these children have been born : Harvey A., born in 1874, married Miss Mar- garet Slaugh, and is a farmer and cigar-maker in Windsor township; Mary, born in 1880, married Bert Raub, and resides in Windsor township; and Samuel E., born Oct. 23, 1885, was educated in the Windsor public schools, graduated from the Red Lion High school, class of 1903, and then took one term at the York Collegiate Institute, afterward teaching the Fairview school in Windsor township, as well as Grims' school, and he now engaged as a cigarmaker.

Besides his large agricultural interests, Mr. Laucks is connected with the Farmers & Mer chants Bank of Red Lion, of which he is a stockholder. His home is on Broadway, in Red Lion.

GEORGE E. STABLEY, manager of the exchange and testing station of the American Telegraphı & Telephone Company, at Dallas- town, is one of York county's native sons, and one of its representative young business men, while he is also a member of one of the ster- ling pioneer families of the county. the name which he bears having been intimately linked with the history of this section ever since the days when here was initiated the march of civilization. The lineage traces back to sturdy Swiss origin, and the original representatives in the new world were two brothers who left the fair little mountain republic and came to America to establish homes, this being in the Colonial era of our national history. One of the brothers settled in Maryland, and the other. the great-great-grandfather of the subject of this review, took up his abode in York county, Pa., where he passed the remainder of his life and where he left a number of descendants to perpetuate a worthy name. It should be noted that members of the family were found render- ing valiant service as soldiers in the Conti- mental line during the war of the Revolution. The brother, who settled in Baltimore county, Md., likewise left descendants, and numerous representatives of the name are found in that

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

George Emanuel Stabley, to whom this sketch is dedicated, was born in Hopewell township, this county, Feb. 12, 1876, son of Emanuel and Leah (Seachrist) Stabley, the latter of whom was a daughter of John and Susan Seachrist, who were honored residents of Chanceford township and members of ster- ling pioneer families of the county. Emanuel Stabley was likewise born in York county, and here he has ever since continued to reside, while he has so ordered his life as to merit and re- ceive the unqualified respect and regard of his fellow men. A cabinetmaker by trade, he devoted his attention to the same as a voca- tion for a time, but for many years he owned and operated the Stabley sawmill, one-half mile southwest of Felton, in Hopewell town- ship, the section now being embraced in what is known as North Hopewell township, or- ganized within late years. He has now retired from active business and resides in the village of Red Lion, this county. He is a Democrat in his political adherency, and his religious faith is that of the Lutheran church, of which his wife likewise was a devoted member. She died June 4, 1904, and her memory rests as a benediction upon all who came within the sphere of her gracious influence. Of the chil- dren, Rev. John F. is a clergyman of the Lu- theran church, and at the time of this writing is incumbent of a pastorate at Jennerstown, Somerset county, this State; Annie E. is the wife of Elmer Livingston, of Red Lion, Pa .; Carrie B. is the wife of Herman L. Greason, of York, Pa. ; and George E. is the immediate subject of this sketch.

George E. Stabley passed his boyhood days in his native township, in whose public schools he secured his early educational discipline, con- tinuing his studies until he had attained the age of sixteen years, when, in 1892, he entered upon an apprenticeship in the art of telegraphy, in Red Lion, soon becoming a capable operator, and within that same year securing a position in the employ of the Baltimore & Lehigh Railroad Co., now the Maryland & Pennsyl- vania Railroad Co., in Muddy Creek Forks, Pa., where he continued to serve as operator and station agent until March 10, 1903, when he resigned the position and came to Dallas- town to accept his present responsible office, in which connection he is giving most discrim- inating and acceptable service in both the tech- nical and executive departments of the work.

In politics he accords a stanch allegiance to the Democratic party, and the hold which he main- tains on popular esteem is indicated in thie fact that he has been called upon to serve as auditor of the borough of Dallastown. In a fraternal way Mr. Stabley is affiliated with Zeredatha Lodge, No. 451, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, and Dallas Lodge, No. 1017, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which latter he has been an officer.

On Aug. 6, 1898, Mr. Stabley was united in marriage to Miss Alice B. Conaway, who was born and reared in this county, being a daughter of Samuel A. and Priscilla ( Hart- man ) Conaway, of Dallastown. Mr. and Mrs. Stabley have three children, namely : Paul C., Mildred F. and Ruth N.

CHARLES STEINER, general superin- tendent of the mills of the York Silk Manufac- turing Company, is one of the most progress- ive men connected with the silk industry of York. His father, who was a raw silk broker, died in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1884, aged forty years, and his mother, Emily Bert- schinger, was a daughter of John Bertschinger, of Zurich, who was connected with the raw silk industry there. There were five children born to the parents of Charles Steiner, one of whom, Herman, died in 1894, aged twenty-five years. The survivors are: Emily, the wife of Fritz Freudwiler, owner of a coffee plantation and grower of rubber plants in Sumatra: Emma, at home; Henry, a chemist in Zurich; and Charles, of this sketch.

Charles Steiner was born in Zurich, Switz- erland, March 22, 1873, and was educated in the high school of that city, from which he was graduated, as well as from the Textile and Weaving school of Zurich, in 1894. Before attending the latter, however, Mr. Steiner spent three years studying the silk industry in the office of Stelli & Co., at Zurich. After his graduation from the textile school, Mr. Steiner was employed two years as goods ex- aminer, and came to America in December, 1896. His first occupation in this country was with an extensive silk mill in West Hoboken, N. J., remaining there five months, and then removed to Philadelphia, where he was con- nected for fourteen months with the Sanquoit Silk Manufacturing Company. His next po- sition was that of superintendent of the Penn- sylvania Silk Company, at Carlisle, Pa., where

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BIOGRAPHICAL

he remained nine months and then removed to in a class of thirty-five. He belongs to the Bloomsburg, where for three years he was Thirteen Club, better known as the York Junta, a literary .chub composed of congenial spirits. In politics he is a Prohibitionist. superintendent of the silk mill at that place. On June 15, 1902, Mr. Steiner came to York to fill the position of general superintendent of the plants of the York Silk Manufacturing GEORGE A. HOFFMAN, president of the Consumers Box Board and Paper Co., of Lititz, Lancaster Co., Pa., was born Feb. 17, 1868, in Baltimore county, Md., son of Wil- liam D. and Elizabeth ( Armacost ) Hoffman. Company, with two mills in York, one in Carlisle and one at Fleetwood. The combined annual output is valued at $2,500,000, and the products find a ready market all over the United States. The company employ 550 peo- William D. Hoffman, Sr., grandfather of George A., was a paper maker by trade, and for a number of years was superintendent of the mills in Baltimore county, Md. He was a cap- tain in the Revolutionary war, and had a fam- ily of nine children. ple in the two York mills, and 400 in the other two. When Mr. Steiner became superintend- ent of this company they had 200 looms and tl.eir weekly output was 14,000 yards. Now they have 700 looms and an output of 45,000 yards per week.

Mr. Steiner was married Oct. 2, 1897, to Emma Kundig, daughter of Joseph M. Kun- dig, a harness manufacturer of Arth, Switzer- land, and two children have been born to this union : Charles Herman and Paul Hugo. Mr. Steiner belongs to Zwingli Reformed Church. His political sympathies are with the Repub- lican party. He is a traveled gentleman and a fine conversationalist. In addition to his travels in this country, he visited his old home in Zurich in April, 1902, and in April, 1905, his wife and two children returned to that city on a five months' trip.

P. ANSTADT & SONS, printers and publishers at No. 117 East Princess street, York, are among the best known printers and publishers of that city. The business, was es- tablished by Rev. Peter Anstadt, deceased, who was a prominent clergyman of the Lutheran Church, and it is now being conducted by Rev. Henry Anstadt and Charles P. Anstadt, under the old title of P. Anstadt & Sons.

Rev. Henry Anstadt was born in Selins Grove, Snyder Co., Pa., June 18, 1869, and was educated in the public schools of York, the York Collegiate Institute, the Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg (class of 1890), and the Theological Seminary at Gettysburg (1894), receiving the degree of A. M. in 1893. Mr. Anstadt was assistant pastor of Trinity Lu- theran Church in Allegheny City, and then, coming to York, became associated with his father in the printing and publishing business. He took the first honor at the York Collegiate Institute, that of valedictorian, and at the Pennsylvania College carried off fourth honors

William D. Hoffman, the father, was born in Baltimore Co., Md., in 1826, and received a common school education. Learning the paper making business he was made superin- tendent of the W. H. Hoffman & Sons' mills, which position he held for a number of years. He spent a short time in York county along the plank road, and in 1888 retired from active business life. His death occurred in 1899, while his wife, Elizabeth Armacost, survived until 1901. The children born to this worthy couple were as follows: Lucinda, Annie, Emma, Joseph and George A.

George A. Hoffman attended the schools of Baltimore county, Md., and later a high school. then District No. I, from which he was graduated when seventeen years of age. From his father he learned the paper making business remaining with the latter five years. For a number of years Mr. Hoffman was employed at various places, being boss of the machine room in the mill at Rockdale for five years, spent a short time in West Virginia, and finally, in 1892, came to York Haven. He was made foreman of the finishing room, and held that office until July, 1904, when he re- signed. At present Mr. Hoffman is interested in the Consumers Box Board & Paper Co., of which he is president. The company has a capital of $15,000 and intends to build one of the finest plants in the State at Lititz, Lan- caster county.

In March, 1892, Mr. Hoffman married Laura Hoover, of Baltimore county, Md., and she died in November, 1893, having had one child, Evna. Mr. Hoffman's second wife was Miss Jennie Abel, daughter of John Abel, of York the children of this union being: Hazel

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

M., Ina E., Miriam and George, Jr. In poli- ley has managed the business may be inferred tics Mr. Hoffman is a Democrat, but has never accepted public office other than school director, a position he has held for three years.

THOMAS SHIPLEY, general manager of the York Manufacturing Co., is of Scotch- Irish descent.

Samuel Shipley, his father, who was a shipwright by occupation, came from England about 1840 and settled in Jersey City, where he died in 1872, aged sixty-two years. He married Elizabeth McFall, daughter of a farmer in the North of Ireland. Her death occurred in 1888. She had eight children, three of whom died in infancy. The survivors are : John H., a shipwright of Jersey City; Samuel J., and William, mechanical engineers of New York City, associated in their professional work, and trading as S. J. Shipley & Co., representing the York Manufacturing Co. in New York City; Elizabeth, who married Samuel P. Cottrell, a farmer of Monmouth county, N. J. ; and Thomas.

Thomas Shipley was born in Jersey City, June 30, 1861, and was educated in its public schools and the Cooper Institute of New York, in the latter institution taking a course in me- chanical engineering and graduating in 1881. His first regular employment was with the Morris & Cummings Dredging Co. of Jersey City, and after serving as an apprentice ma- chinist and filling various positions there he was promoted to the position of draughtsman. Dur- ing 1883-84 he was employed by them in the erection of a dredging plant, spending one year in the Government employ in Brazil. His next venture was in building ice machines, the firm trading as Wood & Shipley. This was in 1884, and in the fall of 1886 Mr. Shipley went to Waynesboro, Pa., where he became con- nected with the Frick Company, as mechanical engineer and expert in ice refrigerating ma- chinery. In 1892 Mr. Shipley severed his con- nections with the Frick Company, and for three years was engaged in the operation of two ice plants, one at Steubenville, Ohio, and another at Pittsburg. In 1895 he returned to the service of the Frick Company, becoming manager of the ice making and refrigerating business. In 1897 Mr. Shipley came to York, and became general manager of the York Man- ufacturing Co., which was at that time em- ploying only fifty people. How well Mr. Ship-

from the fact that the works now employ 1,000 people, and cover five times as much ground as in 1897.

Mr. Shipley was married Dec. 28, 1-887, to Sarah Hunt, daughter of Samuel Hunt, a contracting carpenter of Jersey City. Four children have been born to this union : . Ray- mond T., Samuel Hunt, Howard Vernon and Dorothy Sybil.

Mr. Shipley belongs to the American So- ciety of Mechanical Engineers, and is a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity (from the Blue Lodge to the Mystic Shrine), and of the La- fayette Club. In politics he is a Republican. His home on Linden avenue is one of the handsomest in West York. In fact, it is one of the finest in all York, and an interesting fact connected with it is that Mr. Shipley, in order practically to illustrate the scope of the vast industrial concern of which he is the manager, had all the work done on the building by the skilled mechanics of the York Manufacturing Co., even to the gas and electric fittings, and thus Mr. Shipley's home may be said to be an enduring monument to the skill and possibili- ties of the establishment with which he has become so prominently identified.

JOHN T. OBERDORFF comes of an old York county family, who for several genera- tions were well known weavers and shoemakers in that part of the State.

John Oberdorff, grandfather of Jolin T., was the original owner of the Oberdorff home- stead, but late in life exchanged it for one be- longing to his son Samuel in Upper Windsor township, where he died. He was a weaver by trade.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 117

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