History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 124

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

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William L. Ammon, who forms the sub- ject of our review, was brought to York count- ty by his parents when but three weeks old, and is therefore entitled to be looked upon "as native here." The foundation of his education was laid in the public schools of the county. and was supplemented by courses in York County Academy and Pennsylvania Col- lege at Gettysburg, from which institution he

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

graduated in 1893. He then entered the law office of Geise, Zeigler & Strawbridge, and after a creditable examination was, Aug. 27, 1894, admitted to the Bar of York County. At a later date he was admitted to practice in the Supreme, Superior and United States Courts.

The success of Mr. Ammon in his chosen profession is based upon his penchant for close and hard work. He attacks his cases metho- dically and does not rest until he feels able to convince a jury of the justice of his client's claim. He has built up an extensive and lu- crative practice and is looked upon as one of the best lawyers at the Bar of the county.

Mr. Ammon is a family man, having mar- ried Nov. 4, 1897, Miss Nettie M. Reichley, years, on and off, as during this period he also daughter of William G. Reichley, now de- ceased, formerly a merchant of York. To the union one child has been born, William Bronly ; and as a member of the family there is also an adopted son, George Lester.

Our subject is a Democrat in politics, and is more or less active in the campaigns of that party. He served the city as solicitor during 1896-97, this being the only public office in which he has officiated. His name is found among the membership of the Lutheran Church, and in the fraternities he is a member of the Odd Fellows and the Heptasophs. The career of our subject in York has been entirely creditable, and his friends confidently predict a solid and substantial future.

EDWARD BLAUSER, contractor builder at York, Pa., has well appointed offices at No. 678 East Market street, and is one of the city's leading business men.

Mr. Blauser was born Oct. 5, 1836, in Spring Garden township, son of Jacob and Annie ( Myers) Blauser. The former was born in 1800, in Spring Garden township, and died at York, Dec. 19, 1862. Jacob Blauser was one of the leading farmers of Spring Ga !- den township, was an active member of the Whig party in politics, and was one of the stable supporters of the German Reform Church. His parents, Nicholas and Susan Blauser, were born and married in Germany, and they established the family in York county, where Nicholas Blauser owned a farm of 100 acres. They had eight children.

25, 1802, who died Jan. 13, 1903, at the home of her son, Edward. The children of this union were: Henry, a retired farmer of York ; Eliza, widow of Daniel Freed, of York; Ed- ward, of this sketch; Samuel, a carpenter in York: Annie, deceased wife of Solomon Freed; Ellen, deceased wife of Henry Ilgen- York; and Emma, wife of Allen Shetter, of York.

Edward Blauser was reared on the paternal farm and was educated in the common schools until the age of thirteen years when he began to look out for himself, and worked on the farm until 1854, and then learned the carpen- ter's trade with Jacob Miller, of York. He con- tinted to work for this employer for thirteen

gave a year's time to the service of his country. On Sept. 13, 1861, he enlisted in the 87th P. V. I., under Capt. Frey, and became a member of the band, and was mustered out Sept. 22, I862.

Upon his return to York Mr. Blauser re- sumed work with his old employer and later with a brother of the latter. It was about 1874 when he began contracting and building on his own account. His success is attested by the many substantial and imposing structures which he has erected, among these being : St. Mark's Lutheran Church; Second Presbyter- ian Church on Philadelphia street; Bethany Chapel; Cross Roads Presbyterian Church in Chanceford township; the Vinton Welch resi- dence on West Market street; the Reaser and houses which are some of the best buildings in the city ; and a large building on the corner of Franklin and Philadelphia streets. He rebuilt the "Merchant's Hotel" and the "Marshall House," and built the pumping station for the city water works and the great filter plant. This business gives constant employment to from thirty to thirty-five men.

Mr. Blauser is one of the notably pro- gressive and public-spirited men of the city, and has numerous business connections. He is a director in the Ferrystown Mutual File Insurance Co., and is a member of the Spring Garden Relief Association. Of this he was one of the organizers, was its first vice presi- dent and remains a member.

It would be impossible to name the York fire department or the Spring Garden band, without recalling Mr. Blauser. For forty-six

Jacob Blauser, father of Edward, married Annie Myers, born in Lancaster county, Jan. years he has been an active member of the

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BIOGRAPHICAL

former, his association with this brave body of men beginning with the old Good Will com- pany, and he has filled every position in the de- partment aside from chief, serving fourteen years as assistant chief, an office he has but re- cently resigned. He has been a delegate to the various conventions of this organization for the past ten years, and in October, 1904, he was elected vice-president of the Etate Fire Association.

Mr. Blauiser was one of the charter mem- bers of the Spring Garden band, which was or- ganized in 1855 and has never been disbanded. The original membership was nineteen, and ten of its charter members still survive. The organization enlisted in the 87th regiment, in 1861, and enjoyed many marks of appreciation as a body. Upon the return of President Bu- chanan to his home in 1861, after President Lincoln assumed charge at Washington, this band formed an honorable escort to the ex- president from York to his country residence in Lancaster county. In September, 1892, when the Grand Army of the Republic con- vention met in the city of Washington, this band, then containing thirteen members, was given the post of honor, leading the procession, preceding sixty-seven other bands. When its now gray-haired members were in their prime, it was considered a very talented musical body, and has always been considered an admirable addition to any occasion which it will consent to serve.

In politics Mr. Blauser is a stanch Demo- crat, and he has filled a number of local offices, including those of assessor and tax collector. His fraternal connections are numerous. He is a member of the A. & I. O. Knights of Malta, Sandilands Commandery, No. 152, and is one of the first in this section to have traveled all

On Jan. 25, 1859, Mr. Blauser married Mary Ann Runk, daughter of John Runk, and they have six children : Allen J., a carpenter ; Lizzie, wife of Charles M. Landis, who is a machinist: Ida, wife of Jacob Deitch, also a machinist ; Harry E., a carpenter, married to Jennie Hatter: Lillie Mary, wife of George Matter, foreman of the York Manufacturing Co. : Ferdinand A., an electrotyper, who mar-

ried Bertha Hake. The family belong to the Reformed Church.

JONATHAN CASSEL was born June 17, 1854, in Dauphin county, Pa., son of Rufus K. and Elizabeth ( Miller) Cassel. The first an- cestors of the Cassel family in America were three brothers, Heinrich, Johannes and Yillis (or Julius) Cassel, who came hither on the ship "Jefries," Nov. 20, 1686, from Kreishdim, in the Palatinate. They accompanied William Penn on his third trip from the old world, Penn having held religious meetings and preached to the citizens of their town. The Cassels, being of the Mennonite faith, were very much im- pressed by Penn, who told them he had secured a grant of land from King Charles II, and promised them religious freedom if they would accompany him. Upon their arrival they were granted land in the vicinity of Germantown, Pa., and there built a Mennonite meeting- house.

John or Johannes Cassel, the great-great- great-grandfather of Jonathan Cassel, came to America from Rotterdam in the ship "Friend- ship," Oct. 16, 1727, and for a time lived at Skippack, Montgomery Co., Pa. Thence he moved to Lancaster county, settling in Hemp- field township.

Abraham Cassel, the great-great-grand- father of Jonathan, was born about 1750 in Rapho township, Lancaster Co., Pa. He mar- ried Esther Weiss, and they had three children, Henry, Maria and Abraham.

Abraham Cassel, the great-grandfather of Jonathan, located at Marietta, Lancaster coun- ty, and was a prominent business man there. being president of the old Marietta Bank. He married Catherine Neff.

David Cassel, the next in the line of de- the degrees, reaching the 77th, side degree; is a scent, was born May 8. 1800, and died Sept. member of the Fireman's Relief Association; 20, 1877. He was a resident of Marietta, and of General Sedgwick Post, No. 37, G. A. R.

where he was an inn-keeper for over fifty years. He married Catherine Myers, of Berks county, and after her death wedded Eliza Muma. Seven children were born to each union, those by the first being Rufus K., Hiram. David, Margaret, Elizabeth, Abraham and Elmira, and those by the second being Catherine, Anna M., Susan E., Delilah, Emily, Aldema and Jo- seph.

Rufus K. Cassel was born March 11, 1825, in Marietta. Lancaster Co .. Pa. In his younger

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

years he was extensively engaged in the cat- tle and horse business, and also operated farmns in Dauphin and York counties, being consider- ed very successful. He is now living retired, making his home on King street, in York, Pa., and though he and his wife have both attained advanced years they are in excellent health. Mr. Cassel was married Feb. 15, 1849, to Eliza- beth Miller, of Dauphin county, Pa., and to them have been born the following children : Carrie C., who is unmarried; David M., now a resident of Springfield, Ohio; Jonathan, of York county : Daniel, of Mt. Holly, Pa .; Levi A., of Dillsburg, York county; Emma, of York; Anna, of Lehigh county, Pa .; Harry C., deceased; Alice, of Harrisburg, Pa .; Hiram, deceased; and Mary J., of Reading, Pa. The family are all Lutherans in religious belief, and Mr. Cassel is a Republican.

Jonathan Cassel was a small boy when he moved with his parents to York county, and he remained at home, assisting his father in his farming pursuits, until he was twenty-six years old. He then purchased the farm known as the "Comfort Tavern" stand, on the State road, and there engaged in farming and stock dealing on his own account. Meeting with un- usual success, he decided to branch out more extensively in both lines, and accordingly sold his first place and bought the property he now occupies, a farm of 295 acres of valuable land in Warrington township, situated near Round Top Mountain, about one and a half miles west of Rossville. This property was formerly a part of the McClellan estate, the original es- tate comprising at one time about eleven hun- dred acres. Rufus K. Cassel purchased this 295-acre tract, his son Jonathan buying same of him. Here he has carried on general farm- ing very successfully, and has also dealt ex- tensively in cattle and horses, in the latter line being one of the best known men in this section, where he is considered an expert buyer and ex- cellent judge of horses and mules. He is strict- ly a business man, and though a stanch Repub- lican takes no active part in the workings of the party and has no official aspirations.

Mr. Cassel married Miss Sarah E. Stam- baugh, the only child of Peter Stambangh, a highly respected farmer of Warrington town- ship, and to this union have come the following named children : Carrie, now Mrs. Joseph Stoner ; Ivy, who married John Zeigler and has two children, Ralph and Clara; Jennie, a type-

setter, employed on a Dillsburg paper; Annie; Gretna, and Ruth. The family are all Luth- erans.

JACOB P. LEVERGOOD, who lives in Wrightsville in the same house in which he was born, comes of a family that has been set- tled in Hellam township for over a hundred years.

On Sept. 28, 1733, Hans Jacob Lebegood, great-grandfather of Jacob P. Levergood, came from Germany to Philadelphia as one of a company of fifty-three from the Palatinate, and their families, in all 173 persons. They sailed from Rotterdam, touching at Plymouth, England, in the brigantine "Richard and Eliza- beth", of Philadelphia, Christopher Clyner, master.

Peter Lebegood, grandfather of Jacob P. Levergood, came to Hellam township, where he spent most of his life in farming. His last days were spent in retirement at Columbia, Pa., where he died May 15, 1825, at the age of six- ty-nine. His first wife, whose maiden name was Yocum, was of Swedish descent. She died Dec. 19, 1819, aged fifty-eight years, ten months, and he married (second) Hannah ( Gardner), widow of Adam Litzenberger. His children, all by his first wife, were as follows : Peter, who died in Johnstown, Pa .; John, who died in Iowa; Jacob, father of Jacob P .; and Henry, owner of Levergood's Mill in Lan- caster county, where he died. Peter Levergood, son of grandfather Peter Lebegood, was one of the first settlers of Johnstown, Pa. He served as State commissioner, and a street in Johns- town is named for him. He gave the Luth- eran congregation of the town its building site. and contributed all except $300 of the money used in building the church, which was of brick. When, seventy years later, a fine new church replaced this old one, the first child brought to the baptismal font was Edith Louise McKee. a descendant of Peter Levergood ..

Jacob Levergood, father of Jacob P., was born in Hellam township in 1796. He was brought up to farming and followed that oc- cupation all his life. In politics he was a Whig. He married Fanny Litzenberger, who was born in Manor township, Lancaster county, in 1803, daughter of Adam and Hannah (Gardner) Litzenberger. Mrs. Levergood was one of two children, the other being Mary, who married Ebenezer Richardson, a miller of York. Jacob

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Levergood died in 1850, in Wrightsville, where he had lived in retirement for several years. When the Confederate troops raided this part of the country, in 1863, Mrs. Lever- good's house was

struck by a shell. She died at her home in Wrightsville, March 3, 1893, in her ninetieth year. She was a member of the Lutheran Church. The chil- dren of Jacob and Fanny (Litzenberger) Lev- ergood were as follows: Maria, who died young ; Hannah, who died in Wrightsville in The marriage of Mr. Levergood to Isabella 1900 (she was married first to Elias Raab and Kreidler, of Wrightsville, took place March 13, 1867. Mrs. Levergood is a native of Wrights- ville, daughter of Martin and Mary (Ryder) Kreidler. The two children of Mr. and Mrs. Levergood are: John L., a druggist of Wrightsville; and Phoebe, Mrs. Morris Se- christ, of Philadelphia.

second to Prof. Horace Maxwell) ; Jacob, who died at the age of four ; John, a physician, who died at Lancaster, Pa., in 1894, at the age of sixty-seven; Fanny, who married C. B. Wal- lace (deceased), a prominent attorney of York, where she still lives; Caroline, who is the widow of David Wilson and lives in Baltimore; Phoebe, who married Dr. C. G. Polk, of Phil- adelphia; William H., of Philadelphia: Jacob P., who is mentioned below ; and Gardner, who died young.

Jacob P. Levergood was born March 13, 1846, in Wrightsville, in the house which has ever since been his home. He grew up in his na- tive town, and attended school there, and also went to the York County Academy at York, and the Millersville Normal School. He began the study of medicine with his older brother, John, a practicing physician in Lancaster, but after a year and a half ran away to enlist in the United States navy. He entered the service March 30, 1864, at Philadelphia, and was on the United States steamers "Mingo," Capt. J. B. Creighton, and "Cunerone," Capt. Wilson, under Admiral Dahlgren of the South Atlantic squadron. He was in the battle of Honey Hill, and numerous minor engagements, and receiv- ed his discharge at Washington, Sept. 21, 1865, returning to Wrightsville. The following year he entered the Eastman Business College in Poughkeepsie. On completing his course he Aug. 7, 1856. came back to Wrightsville, where he was in the grocery business for a year, He then took the position of foreman in a cigar factory, which he held for several years, after which he spent some years in the cigar business on his own ac- count. For a short time he was one of the en- gineer corps surveying a line for the projected Lancaster & Delaware River Railroad, which was never built. He is at present rural mail carrier, a position he has held for the past two years.

Mr. Levergood has always taken a keen in- terest in military affairs, and in 1872 he organ- ized a militia company, Company I, 8th Pa. V. I., of which he became second lieutenant. He was afterward adjutant of this regiment, hold- ing the latter position for eight years. He was with the regiment at the Homestead riots, at Pittsburg, and at Mahanoy City, though he severed his connection with the regiment in 1890.

In politics Mr. Levergood is a Republican, and he takes an active interest in party matters. He has been secretary of the school board eigh- teen years. He was appointed justice of the peace to fill the remaining year of the unex- pired term of Col. Frank Magee, and then con- tinued in the office, having been elected to the position for five years; but at the end of the second year he resigned to accept his present position.

Fraternally Mr. Levergood is a member and secretary of the Riverside Lodge, No. 503, F. & A. M., Wrightsville. and of Chihuahua Lodge, No. 317. I. O. O. F. He is also a mem- ber of the Royal Arcanum, and a charter mem- ber of the Knights of Malta at Lancaster, Pa. He is past commander of Lieut. R. W. Smith Post, No. 270, G. A. R., of Wrightsville. He is a member and trustee of the Methodist Church, and a faithful teacher in the Sunday- school.

GEORGE F. W. MILLER, now residing in Glenville, was born in Manheim township.

His paternal grandfather, John Miller, was a farmer in Manheim township where he died. and he is buried at the "Stone Church" in Co- dorus township. His wife bore him seven children, John, Henry, Francis, Jacob. George N., Polly and Catherine.

George N. Miller was born on the farm in Manheim township, which his son now owns, and became a shoe maker and farmer. He married Sophia, daughter of Jacob and Cath- erine (Smith) Werner, and they became the

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

parents of Edward, of Codorus township; Car- teen years; and one that died in infancy. oline, who became Mrs. Gabel, of Glenville ; B. Bruce Bittner secured his preliminary Noah and Annie, twins; and George F. W. educational discipline in the public schools of The father lived to be seventy-three years old. and the mother to be seventy-one, and both are buried in the graveyard at the "Stone Church."

George F. W. Miller attended the schools of Manheim township till he was eighteen, and then went to New Freedom to learn cabinet and furniture making with David Hershey. After three years with him, he went for a year to

Mr. Miller has been twice married. His first wife, Sevilla Shue, died in 1895, and he afterward married Miss Minerva Tracy, daugh- ter of John Tracy, of Maryland. One child has been born to them, Malden T. Mr. Miller is a Democrat in his political opinions, and has filled the office of inspector. In religion he be- longs to the "Stone Church" ( Reformed), and takes an active part in its work.

B. BRUCE BITTNER is one of the lead- ing funeral directors of the city of York, his well-appointed establishment being located at Nos. 33-35 South Beaver street, while he is numbered among the representative business men and honored citizens of the county's fair capital city. Mr. Bittner is a native of the old Keystone State, having been born at Fayette- ville. Franklin Co., Pa., April 17, 1868.

Chambersburg. At the age of thirteen years he engaged at farm work for George W. Grove, of Chambersburg, with whom he remained eight years, attending school during the win- ter months. He then entered upon an appren- ticeship with J. T. Crall, in the furniture and undertaking business, in Waynesboro, serving three and a half years in that business. In 1892 Switzerland, and then in 1881 established him- he left Waynesboro, and went to the city of self in his present place in Glenville. He built a shop 40 x 60 feet with a back addition 18 feet in length. Mr. Miller has built up a large business, and is well-known through the sur- rounding country. He also owns a farm of 108 acres, lying partly in Manheim and partly in Codorus township, adjoining Glenville, where he has put up a fine set of buildings, and has his land in a high state of cultivation.

Baltimore, Md., where he entered the employ of the undertaking firm of Stuart & Mowen, with whom he remained five and one-half years, after which, in August, 1897, he came to York and accepted the position of manager for L. A. Shives' Sons, undertakers and furniture deal- ers. Two and one-half years later he resigned his position and returned to Baltimore, where he again entered the employ of Stuart & Mow- en, but one year later he returned to York and purchased the undertaking branch of L. A. Shives' Sons and engaged in business on his own account. In this line he has been long identified, and when he opened his present un- dertaking establishment his wide acquaintance- ship and correct business methods resulted in his securing a due portion of the local patron- age. He has a fine office and large and well- equipped warerooms, and in all the departments of his business his facilities are of the best.

In politics Mr. Bittner gives his support to the Democratic party, and while he is essen- tially loyal and public-spirited he has never had aught of ambition for the honors or emolu- ments of public office. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with York Lodge, No. 266, F. & A. M .; York Lodge, No. 213. B. P. O. E .; Waynesboro Lodge, No. 219. I. O. O. F., and with the local Encampment, No. 71 ; and York Conclave, No. 124, Improved Order of Hep- tasophs. Both Mr. Bittner and his wife are active members of the First M. E. Church of York.

William H. Bittner, his father, was born in the same county in 1841, and he died in Cham- bersburg, that county, in 1881, in the very prime of life. For a number of years he was engaged as bookkeeper in a mercantile estab- lishment in that city, where he was well-known On Dec. 29, 1897, Mr. Bittner was united in marriage to Miss Florence T. Cook, a daugli- ter of William A. and Mary P. (Tuttle) Cook. well-known residents of the city of Baltimore, Md., where she was reared and educated. Mr. and Mrs. Bittner have no children. and held in high regard. He married Miss Elizabeth J. Kohler, who was born in Fayette- ville. Franklin county, in 1838; she died Feb. 2, 1872, the mother of five children : John E., a machinist by trade, who resides in Wheeling, IV. Va. : B. Bruce; Elizabeth M., wife of New- ton Fraver, who is engaged in farming in WILLIAM SMITH was born in Windsor Franklin county ; Ella M., who died aged thir- township, Feb. 2. 1846, on the farm now owned

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by Andrew B. Hough, son of William, Sr., and Rebecca (Lebernight) Smith.

William Smith, Sr., was born in Lancaster county, at or near Petersburg. He was reared as a farmer's boy, received a common-school education and at eighteen came to York coun- ty and was employed by various farmers of that section. He married Miss Lebernight and finally located near Freysville. His last days however were spent with his son David, who was clerking in Red Lion, and he died in 1899, aged eighty-seven. His wife passed away in Red Lion, Aug. 28, 1897, at eighty-two years of age.

As a boy, William Smith had only limited opportunities for an education, for, while he was a pupil at the Freysville public school, he could never attend very regularly and even at best was obliged to work hard be- fore and after school hours. From the age of thirteen he made cigars for his father, his quota being fifty every morning before school and one hundred every evening. From his six- teenth to his nineteenth year he worked out as a farm hand, his wages of seven dollars per month going to his father. He next learned to make shoes and worked for Peter Ahl two years, but did not like the trade, as he was kept busy early and late, and could make a little ex- tra money only when the others were asleep. So he returned to cigar making and was em- ployed in various factories until 1868. In that year he decided to begin the manufacture of cigars for himself, and at first undertook it in addition to his duties as a clerk in Henry Se- christ's store at Holtz. He was thus engaged for two years, and meantime gradually ob- tained control of other factories, so that in 1870 he felt he was in a position to devote his entire attention to cigar making, and in that year he located with his father and employed a number of hands.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 124

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