History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 131

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

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Lewis J. Miller was taken to the farm when three or four years old by his father. Here he was reared to manhood, attending the town- . ship ( Manifold) school. His advantages for an education were limited, however, as he attend- ed but three or four months each term, being kept at home a great deal of the time. At the age of twenty-one years he left home and hired out to A. C. Manifold, an East Hopewell town- ship farmer, with whom he remained one year, and he then made a start for himself. He had saved a little money, and this he invested in farm implements and one horse, hiring another horse as needed. He first rented the William Liggett farm in East Hopewell township, and there he remained one and one-half years, after which he farmed on half shares for five years. With what he had saved Mr. Miller purchased his present place of 189 acres, from Nehemiah Stewart, and since that time he has made many improvements on the place. In 1898 he erected his present beautiful residence and a fine set of farm buildings, making one of the best farm homes in this locality.

On Washington's birthday, Feb. 22, 1883, at Dallastown, Mr. Miller married Margaret Schum, the ceremony being performed by the Reverend Lenhart, a Lutheran pastor. Mrs. Miller was born Nov. 22, 1861, at Hanover Junction, and received her education in the public schools. Her father, Jolin Andrew Schum, was born in Bavaria, Germany, and his parents having died in that country, he came to the United States when about twenty-five years of age. He had a sister living in Balti- more, Md., and two sisters in Chanceford township, York Co., Pa. He engaged in farm- ing, and married in Seven Valley, Miss Ursula Barbara Wilhelm, who was born in Germany, and came to the United States in young wo- manhood, also landing at Baltimore. Mr. Schum, after marriage, lived at Hanover Junc- tion for a time, and then purchased a farm in Chanceford township, and one in East Hope- well. He died July 25, 1889 ; he was a mem- ber of the Lutheran Church at Conrad's Cross Roads, and was a deacon for several years. In politics he was a stanch Democrat. Mrs. Schum died Dec. 30, 1904.

Mr. and Mrs. Miller are members of the

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Mt. Pleasant Lutheran Church, in which he is now serving his first year as elder. He is a stanch Democrat but has never aspired to public office. They have had children: Celia Barbara (who died aged thirteen years), Car- rie Elizabeth, Minerva Jane, Dora Leah and Harry Lewis.

ROBERT McCOLLOM (deceased), for many years a prominent and successful mer- chant and farmer of York county, was a na- tive of the Emerald Isle. In 1818, in young manhood, he came to America, locating in Bal- timore, Md., where he remained for a number of years, engaged in keeping a store. He ac- quired his education in Ireland and in Balti- more. In about 1833 he located in Airville, where he kept store at Gilbert McCollom's, who had arrived here some years previous. He continued business there, and afterward purchased the farm from his brother, upon which he located after his marriage. Here he died March 9, 1863, aged sixty-seven years. He was a member of the Airville U. P. Church. In political faith he was a Whig, but later changed to the Republican party.

Mr. McCollom was married, in 1843, to Miss Margaret Smith, born in Lower Chance- ford township, daughter of Samuel Smith, who came from Ireland when a young man. Mrs. McCollom made a public profession of Christ at an early age, and was a lifelong member of the Airville U. P. Church. She died at the age of eighty years. Their chil- dren were: Margaret A., at home, received a public school education, and also attended York Academy and received educational advantages in Baltimore : Jennie E., at home, also received a fine education; William S. died at the age of eight years; Samuel Robert is deceased; and Daniel J. C. died at the age of two years.

SAMUEL ROBERT MCCOLLOM received his education in the public schools, and attended the York County Collegiate Institute, under Mr. McDougall. He taught school in Lower Chanceford township for three years, and spent one year in the local academy at Brogue- ville. He married Anna Griffith, who still survives. Mr. McCollom was a faithful mem- ber of the U. P. Church at Airville, attending that church from his childhood. He was trustee, for a number of years served as treas- urer, was a class teacher in the Sabbath-school, and was one of the building committee for the

new parsonage. Two years before his death, which occurred in his thirty-second year, he was appointed to the position of justice of the peace, to fill the unexpired term of Mr. S. M. Pedan, and he was again elected for another term. The death of so useful and beloved a churchman was deeply deplored. The im- pressive funeral services were conducted by his beloved friend and pastor, Rev. A. S. Aiken, whose admirable and appropriate sermon touched every heart. Many years will have passed before his influence has faded from this community.

HENRY A. SHOMAKER. Five miles from the beautiful city of York is located the attractive home of this prosperous business man of York county where he has passed his entire life. He is, in both the agnatic and maternal lines, a representative of pioneer stock in this section of the Keystone State. He is engaged in the blacksmithing and cigar business, and also carries on a profitable horticultural enterprise on his little farm dur- ing the recurring seasons.

Mr. Shomaker is a representative of the fourth generation of the Shomaker family in York county, and the lineage is traced back to stanch German derivation, the original American progenitor having come to the New World in the Colonial era.

John Shomaker, grandfather of Henry A., was born and reared in York county, where he became a prosperous farmer, here passing his entire life. Of his children, John likewise be- came a farmer of prominence, his death oc- curring in York township; Jacob, a farmer by vocation, died in Spring Garden township; Elizabeth became the wife of John Ortt, and died in this county; Sarah, who became the wife of George Dittenfeffer, died in York township; George, the father of Henry A., was the youngest of the children.

George Shomaker was reared to manhood on the old homestead farm, in York township, where he was born Feb. 25, 1816, and he re- ceived a fair common-school education in his youth. He remained with his parents until his marriage, and thereafter continued to be- identified with agricultural pursuits until his death, having become the owner of a well-im- proved farm in York township, where his death occurred in 1880, at which time he was in his sixty-fifth year. He was a man of

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

sterling character, and he commanded the re- spect of all who knew him. In politics he gave his support to the Democratic party, and his religious faith was that of the Catholic church, of which his widow also is a communicant. Her maiden name was Dorothy Ritz, and she was born in this county, in 1823, daughter of Jolin Ritz, likewise a representative of one of the old and honored families of this county. Mrs. Shomaker has attained to more than four-score years, and in the golden evening of her life is residing with her children, who ac- cord to her the utmost filial solicitude, while she is exceptionally active both in mind and body for one of her advanced age. Of the children of George and Dorothy (Ritz) Sho- maker, (I) John A., in the jewelry business in York, has been twice married. first to Bar- bara Sprenkle, who died at the age of forty- five years, and second to Rosa Newcomer. He has traveled very extensively, having, as he has expressed the condition in an interesting series of published verses, being "Once around, twice across and three times beyond the boundaries of the United States of America," and having traversed more than twenty-one thousand miles. (2) Noah who married Lena Behren- sen is engaged in farming and trucking in York township. (3) Amanda became the wife of William Hardwick, who is engaged in clerical work in the city of Baltimore, Md., where her death occurred in the year 1882. (4) The next child died in infancy. (5) Henry A. is next in order of birth. (6) The sixth child died in infancy. (7) Daniel P., who married Annie Stumpf, is a farmer of York township. (8) Edward married Lydia Knisley, and is a farmer of Windsor township. (9) Ellen is the wife of Charles Koch, of York.

Henry A. Shomaker was born on the home- stead farm, in York township, near the vil- lage of Spry, Nov. 30, 1857, and was reared to the sturdy discipline of the farm, while his educational training was secured in the Pine Grove school in York township. Here he con- tinued in attendance during a portion of each year until he had attained the age of fifteen years, and he continued to be associated with his father in the work and management of the home farm until he was twenty-two years old, when he entered upon an apprenticeship at the blacksmith's trade, in Windsor, where he re- mained two years, after which he was similarly

under training for six months in Loganville, and for an equal period in the city of York. He then located in Lower Windsor township, where he was successfully engaged in the work of his trade for the ensuing three years, being there married in the year 1883, and shortly afterward locating at Stoners Station, Hellam township, where he was engaged in the same line of enterprise for two years. He then re- turned to Lower Windsor township, where he purchased land and erected a good residence and also a shop, remaining there established in the work of his trade for the ensuing six years, at the expiration of which, in 1893, he dis- posed of his property and took up his residence in his present location, in York township. He purchased fifteen acres of fine land on the Chanceford pike, about five miles distant from the county-seat, and here he has erected one of the most attractive modern residences in this section. He has also built and equipped an excellent blacksmith shop where he continues to work at his trade to a greater or less extent, his skill as an artisan bringing his services into much demand in this line. His land is under effective cultivation, being devoted principally to the raising of vegetables and fruits, for which he finds a ready market in the city of York. Since 1893 he has also conducted a cigar manufactory on his place turning out a high grade product and giving his attention to this enterprise more especially during the win- ter months. He is a progressive, energetic and reliable business man, and is held in unquali- fied esteem by all with whom he has come in contact in the various relations of life. Taking a loyal interest in local affairs of a public na- ture, he is found stanchly arrayed as an advo- cate of the principles of the Democratic party, and both he and his wife are prominent and valued members of the Lutheran Church at Dallastown, in which he has held the office of deacon, while he was formerly a popular teacher in its Sunday-school.

On Oct. 14, 1883, was solemnized the mar- riage of Mr. Shomaker to Miss Charlotte Mil- ler, who was born and reared in Lower Wind- sor township, being a daughter of George and Susan ( Poff ) Miller.

OTTO GEUCKE, of York, was born Oct. 29, 1846, in Potsdam, Brandenburg, Germany, son of Louis and Elizabeth (Haupt) Geucke, the former of whom was a brick maker in Ger-

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many, where he died, while the latter is still living in Berlin, aged eighty-six years. The grandfather of our subject was in the secret service department of the treasury department of Frederick William IV .. of Germany.

Otto Geucke attended school in his native country until fifteen years of age, after which he engaged as a merchant's clerk until 1870, when he entered the German army as a private, and with his regiment was a participant in the war with Napoleon III. At the close of the war, through which Mr. Geucke served gal- lantly, he returned to his home and resumed his occupation as a clerk until 1872, when he came to the United States, landing at New York City, where he remained six months, at the end of which time he went to Saratoga, N. Y., and engaged in the hotel business, con- tinuing there until 1886. He then located in York and bought the "Metzel Hotel," now the "Hotel York," which he conducted until 1896, in which year he built and located in the "Key- stone Hotel."

Mr. Geucke has taken a very prominent part in I. O. O. F. circles of York, and is a member of Harmonia Lodge No. 853; past grand master of York Encampment No. 67, and while in Saratoga was the representative to the Grand Lodge. He is also a member of the Patriarchs Militant, and is considered one of the most prominent Odd Fellows in the city of York, if not in the State. He is colonel of the first regiment. In religion he is a member of the Lutheran Church. In politics Mr. Guecke votes independently.

Mr. Geucke was married in New York State to Miss Theodora Plank.

WV. H. ZEIGLER was born in Springfield township, York Co .. Pa., in 1869, a son of Jolin N., and a grandson of Michael Zeigler.

Michael Zeigler was a farmer in Hopewell township, where he died at the age of eighty- four years. He married Henrietta Newhouse, who died aged but thirty-six years. They both were buried at Winterstown. Their children were : John N., Michael F .. Joseph M .. Conrad, Andrew, Maria, Maggie, Laura and Sarah.

John N. Zeigler, the father of William H., was born in Hopewell township, where he at- tended the local schools and then learned the carpenter's trade. He followed this trade for about six years, and then turned his attention to milling, following that for ten years, when

his health failed, and he went to farming. After four years devoted to agricultural pur- suits he resumed milling, buying a mill prop- erty in Hopewell township, where he also had a cider and hominy mill in operation. He was a man of business capacity and enterprise, and in connection with his other interests he was a successful merchant. He died in middle life, when fifty-six years of age, and he was laid to rest at Winterstown. He is recalled as a man of much ability and his loss was not only felt by his family but by the whole com- munity. John N. Zeigler married Leah Strayer, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Grim) Strayer. Her father, known as "Lan- caster County John Strayer," was born in Hopewell township, but moved to Lancaster county and followed farming near Mt. Joy, for a number of years, finally returning, how- ever, to the homestead in Hopewell township. They had issue as follows: Henry, Wesley, William, Benjamin, Mary, Leah, Elizabeth (deceased) and Susan (of Kansas). To Mr. and Mrs. Zeigler were born: William Henry; M. Frank, who operates the rural mail de- livery out of New Freedom, and who married Mary Wilson; John M., clerking in New Free- dom, and residing at home; Maggie, wife of Leo Miller, of Hopewell township; and Sadie, wife of Isaac Gill, of Shrewsbury.

William Henry Zeigler was educated in the schools of Hopewell township, and when his schooling was completed he went into the mill and worked at milling in the same town- ship for about eight years. At the end of that time he turned his attention to agriculture and farmed the V. K. Keesey farm at New Free- dom for about six years, and then accepted a position with the Standard Oil Company, at New Freedom. He remained in the employ of that great corporation for three and a half years, when he became interested. in the New Freedom Sewing Company, becoming one of the stockholders, a member of the board of directors, and has been made manager and treasurer of the company. This company has one of the large industries of this section. It is capitalized at $10.000, and has a large plant here. The factory is 50 by 100 feet in dimen- sions, and is equipped with all the latest im- proved machinery and appliances. Employ- ment is given to seventy-five hands and the daily output of completed garments is 100 dozen shirts. The sole line is the manufacture

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of men's and boy's shirts and the factory is religious faith, and he was a Democrat in taxed to its highest capacity all the time. The politics. The children of Gustavus Kline- large brick building, one of the largest of its kind in the country, was equipped with elec- tricity in 1892, since when that has supplied all the power. young and his first wife were: Ann Elizabeth, Mrs. Thomas Smith of Red Lion, Pa. ; Simon Peter; and two or three who died in infancy. One child was born to the second union, Ade- line, a resident of Red Lion.

Mr. Zeigler has a very pleasant home here and a happy domestic circle. He married Lydia M. Zellars, a daughter of Daniel Zellars, an old resident of Hopewell township, and they have three children : Erna, Irene and Beatrice. In politics Mr. Zeigler is a Democrat, and for years has taken a very active part in public matters in this locality. For the past seven years he has served as a justice of the peace, for six years was in the council and secretary of the board, for six years served as secretary of the board of school directors and has served in other positions where a man of responsibil- ity and integrity was needed. His services as conveyancer have been frequently called into requisition. On a number of occasions he has been sent as a delegate to political conven- tions. He is one of the active and liberal mem- bers of the United Evangelical Church. In all ways Mr. Zeigler may be considered a repre- sentative citizen of his community.

SIMON PETER KLINEYOUNG, a sub- stantial and representative agriculturist of York county, operating a fine tract of 114 acres of land in East Hopewell township, was born in Chanceford township, at Shenk's Ferry, Aug. 20, 1844.

Gustavus Klineyoung was born in Ger- many, came to America, and settled at Shenk's Ferry, where he first engaged as a pilot on log rafts on the Susquehanna river. He followed this occupation for several years and then en- gaged in farming. He married Elizabeth Tome, a sister of Jacob Tome. Jacob Tome started life a poor boy. He tended bar at Marietta, and engaged in the lumber business there, later removing to Port Deposit, Cecil Co., Md., becoming that county's wealthiest man : he was greatly interested in banking, and was prominently identified with all the great business enterprises of the section. Mr. Kline- young's mother died at Shenk's Ferry when he was a small boy. Gustavus Klineyoung married (second) Catherine Tome, a second sister of Jacob Tome. Mr. Klineyoung and his wife died at Shenk's Ferry, he being in his sixty-seventh year. They were Methodists in

Simon Peter Klineyoung attended school from the time he was six years old. He was reared a farmer boy and stayed with his father until the latter's death. After their father's death our subject and his sister kept house. Mr. Klineyoung in 1884 removing to his present place, of 114 acres, part of the John R. Prall farm, which was purchased by Jacob Tome, and presented by him to our sub- ject. Mr. Klineyoung carries on general farming and raises good crops. He was reared in the faith of the M. E. Church, which he at- tends at Shenk's Ferry. In politics he is a Democrat.

Mr. Klineyoung married, in Airville, in 1876, Miss Hettie Mehaffey, of York Furnace, and to this union have been born: Christi Le- Fevre, of Harrisburg, a fireman on the Penn- sylvania R. R., married Emma Lutz ; Gustavus, a fireman on the Pennsylvania R. R., resides at Harrisburg, and married Carrie Heffner ; Maude M. is Mrs. Curney Gemmill of the town- ship of East Hopewell; Adeline Ellen is at home; Howard Clayton; Walter Montreville; Harry Reisinger ; Catherine Viola ; Elsie Irene ; and William Grier and Roy died in childhood.

EMANUEL FALKLER, a cigar manu- facturer in Windsor township, was born July 5, 1860. John Falkler, his father, was born in Germany in 1824, and emigrated to Amer- ica in early manhood. He was a day laborer all his life. He married Miss Elizabeth Heindle, who was born in York county in 1831, daughter of Jolin Heindle. Mr. Falkler was killed in 1865 by a falling tree, and his widow afterward married Peter Kelley, who is also deceased. She is now living with a daugh- ter in Dover, about seventy-five years of age.

Emanuel Falkler was left an orphan at the age of five, and a year later he was taken into the family of Henry E. Sechrist, of Windsor township, where he remained twelve years. He attended the township school, his first teacher being David Maish, and his last Joel Kauff- man. He learned to make cigars under Mr. Sechrist, and afterward was employed by him

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for two years. In 1880 Mr. Falkler was mar- ried to Mary Jane Olewiler, who was born at New Bridgeville, daughter of Henry G. and Leah ( Waughtel) Olewiler. Her father was born in Lower Chanceford township, was a farmer all his life, and is now residing in Lower Windsor township, aged sixty-seven. After his marriage Mr. Falkler remained in Lower Windsor township for two years mak- ing cigars at Bittersville, and then purchased his present property of forty acres, which was then owned by different parties. There he has been engaged in the manufacture of cigars for the past twenty-three years. At first his home was the old stone house built on the place fifty years ago by the late William Heller, of Hel- lam, but in 1891, Mr. Falkler built the resi- dence in which he has since lived.

To Emanuel and Mary J. Falkler eight children have been born as follows: Bert A., born in 1881, who married Miss Jennie Abel, and lives at Mountville, Lancaster county ; Harry C., born March 17, 1883, at home; Flora and Margie, who both died in infancy ; Arthur, born Aug. 30, 1886; Clarence, April 21, 1889: Ivan, Sept. 27, 1891 ; and Edith May, May 13, 1893. Mr. and Mrs. Falkler are both workers in the Evangelical Church, but are not members. Mr. Falkler is a stanch Democrat, and he cast his first vote for Grover Cleveland. He is a public-spirited citizen, a successful business man, and one whom his friends and neighbors all esteem highly. He belongs to several fraternal orders, being a member of York Lodge, No. 47, I. O. O. F., also of the Encampment and of Washington Lodge, P. O. S. of A.

DAVID G. DEARDORFF, proprietor of a livery stable in York, owner of several farms, and with interests in both local busi- ness concerns and in Colorado mining prop- erties, stands as a marked example of what may be achieved by intelligent and undeviating attention to one's work in life.

Mr. Deardorff was born in Washington township, York county, June II, 1851. son of David and Margaret (Giese) Deardorff, and is of German ancestry. The early years of his life were spent on his father's farm and until he was seventeen he attended the public schools. At that age he began teaching, but followed that profession for only five terms, when he turned his attention to farming and

stock-raising. He also served two terms of five years each as justice of the peace of Wash- ington township. In 1881 he commenced the tanning business in his native township, but after a two years' trial removed to York and opened a livery stable on Mason alley near the courthouse. He made a very modest be- ginning, having only two horses, two buggies, a spring wagon and one sleigh. But he ap- plied himself zealously to his business, did his own work at first, and took advantage of every device that would improve his stable, so that his patronage gradually but steadily increased. His stock now comprises five hearses (two white and three black), eighteen closed car- riages, three large picnic wagons and a full line of top buggies. His teams are often in de- mand for weddings, while by far the most of the calls for funeral carriages come to him, his twenty years in the business, all in all. hav- ing been marked by a most remarkable ad- vance.

The other business interests of Mr. Dear- dorff are both many and varied. He owns three farms, which he conducts personally, two located in Washington township and the other in Jackson. On the latter he lias a cus- tom chopping-mill, while much of the other farms consists of blue grass land, where an- nually graze large herds of cattle and horses. These horses he buys and fattens for the eastern market : he also fattens a large number of hogs ; and in all these ventures he has been very successful financially. In addition to his farming properties, Mr. Deardorff owns seven residence lots in York, and is a stockholder in several of the leading business enterprises of the city, while he has always taken a lead- ing part in the promotion of every project for the public advantage. He is also ex- tensively interested in mining stocks in Colorado.

Not only in business affairs, but in social organizations as well, is Mr. Deardorff promi- nent. Lodge work has always appealed to him, and he is an active member of the B. P. O. E., York Lodge, No. 213: of the I. O. O. F., Harmonia Lodge, No. 187: of the K. of G. E., White Rose Castle, No. 182; and of the Heptasophs, Keystone Conclave, No. 12, while he is also an enthusiastic member and the treas- tirer of the York City Gunning Club. Mr. Deardorff is a great lover of sports, is a special enthusiast in the hunting of large game,

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 131

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