History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 134

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

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735

BIOGRAPHICAL

August Ruby of New Cumberland, Cumber- land county : Katie married John Baker, died in Washington township, and is buried at Paddletown; Clara married Mills M. Hays, a cigarmaker and farmer of Newberry; Eva re- sides in Washington, D. C .; Mary married George W. Myers, of Newberry.

Howard Bower attended the public schools until about eighteen years of age, meantime as- sisting his father at farming. In 1878 he mar- ried Emma Gross, daughter of Daniel and Sarah ( Bruah) Gross, and they located on the old home, which he bought at the time of his father's death. Two bright boys-Roy and George-have been born to this union, and they are both attending school. Like his father, Mr. Bower is a Democrat, and he has been called upon to fill various offices, among them those of auditor and inspector. He spends most of his time on the farm and has cultivated and improved it year by year until now he has one of the fine properties of the township.

GEORGE M. RYNICK, of York, is the agent for the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York. His paternal ancestors came from Germany, his maternal from Scotland.

Jacob Rynick, his great-grandfather, em- igrated from Saxony, Germany, and fought on the side of his adopted country in the war of the Revolution.

John Rynick, son of Jacob, was a soldier in the war of 1812-14. It is said that at one time he owned all the land now known as the Van Schriver estate at Philadelphia. He had two sons : John, who married Anna Shuster, daughter of Jacob Shuster, a soldier in the war of 1812; and Jacob S., father of George M.

Jacob S. Rynick was a coffee roaster and vinegar manufacturer at Norristown, Pa., and died in 1879. He married Catharine Mc- Cauley, who bore him fourteen children, of whom Harriet, Maggie and Mary (twins), Elwood and Clara are deceased. The living are: Anna, wife of Charles H. Bosset. of Philadelphia ; Belle, wife of O. K. Boyer, in the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany ; Lillian, wife of T. J. Sheppard Landis, lithographer, at Rossville, N. Y .: Alice, wife of Charles F. Alsop, artist, at Rossville, N. Y. ; Harry W., in the street car service in Wil- mington, Del. ; George M .; and Ida, Ella and Flora, at home.

George M. Rynick was born in Norristown, Pa., Feb. 17, 1863, and received a good public school education. In boyhood he became a clerk in the Pencoyd Iron Works, at the end of five years being promoted to the position of order and receiving clerk. He remained with that company until he was made general sec- retary of the Norristown Y. M. C. A., a posi- tion held one and one-half years, when he was sent to fill a similar place at Mauch Chunk, serving six years there, and finally spending five and one-half years as general secretary at York. He enjoyed this work and was very popular with the Association but he felt he must establish himself in some line of busi- ness, and so tendered his resignation.

In June, 1901, Mr. Rynick became agent for the New York Mutual Life Insurance Company, and has done very effective work in the territory assigned to him.

On Feb. 27, 1888, Mr. Rynick was mar- ried to Saidee K. Lancaster, daughter of Wil- liam H. Lancaster, of Norristown. Two chil- dren have been born to them: William J. and George M., Jr. Mr. Rynick is a member of the First Presbyterian Church at York, and is a teacher in the Sunday-school. He was all elder in the Presbyterian Church at Norris- town when only twenty-three years old. His fraternal relations are with York Lodge, No. 266, F. & A. M. He is a Democrat in poli- tics.

WILLIAM ELLSWORTH EDIE. the proprietor of Springvale farm, has spent his whole life in Hopewell township, where he was born March 12, 1863, on a farm lying close to Stewartstown, His paternal grandfather, Hayes Edie, was a veteran of the Civil war. and a resident of Hopewell township, where he died on what is now called the Sykes farm. During his lifetime he was a farmer, and also followed the trade of a carpenter. Twice mar- ried, his children were all by his first wife, the second still surviving him.

John R. Edie, father of William E., was born in Hopewell township, and as a farmer's boy received the usual education offered in the public schools of that day. He married Miss Sarah Sutton, daughter of Henry and Sarah (Zeigler) Sutton, of Hopewell township, and after his marriage rented farms for a time. Then he and his brother, Arthur S., bought a tract together, situated close to Stewartstown.

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Later Mr. Edie removed to the vicinity of twenty-one he assisted his father, but after- Waltmyer's Mill, and thence to Ful- ward passed eight years in the employ of Eli Zeigler. From Mr. Zeigler's place he re- moved after his marriage to Harford county, Md., where he rented a farm and operated it for five years, after which he bought the homestead upon which he has since resided. It was called the Luther Hitchcock farm and he purchased it at a sheriff's sale. It was then much neglected, but Mr. Edie has made improvements and transformed it into a pro- ductive and profitable place. Consisting orig- inally of ninety-six acres, he has added an ad- joining five acres in Baltimore county, Mary- land. ton county, Pa., three miles from Han- cock, Md. Buying a farm there he re- mained seven years and then returned to Stewartstown. Early in life he had learned carpentry and, after his last removal, he fol- lowed that trade in connection with his farm- ing. Mr. Edie's next location was on the farm now known as the Samuel Waltemyer place; which he rented for a short period and then moved to property which he owned on the plank road, now in the possession of Dr. An- derson. Mr. Edie built there and farmed for five years, after which he settled in Stewarts- town, where he resided until his death.

Mrs. Sarah S. Edie died in 1876, while the family were living on the Waltemyer farm, and her remains were laid to rest in the Stew- artstown cemetetry, the first to be interred there. Mrs. Edie and her husband were both members of the M. P. Church. They were the parents of the following children : Thomas G., who married Miss Nettie Winters and died in Stewartstown; William E .; Alberta B., Mrs. George W. Fulton, of East Hopewell township; Margaret, Mrs. Jacob W) Bow- man, of Hopewell township; Grace, unmar- ried; and two who died in childhood. Mr. Edie was married a second time and his widow Mrs. Mary ( Morris) Edie, still survives.

John R. Edie, as well as his brother, Ar- thur S., enlisted in the army during the Civil war. The former was in Company B, 209th P. V. I., Ist Brigade, 3d Division, 9th Army Corps. His company officers were Capt. H. W. Spangler and First Lieut. Hendrix. Af- ter completing his first term of service Mr. Edie again enlisted and was promoted to the rank of sergeant. He saw much active service and among other injuries was shot through the shoulder. Like so many old soldiers Mr. Edie was a strong Republican in his political views.

William E. Edie attended the common and Kurtz schools, in his native township, af- terward studied in those of Fulton county, and still later was in the Stewartstown institu- tions, ending his student days when eighteen years old. He early began to work in the farming seasons and was only seven years old when he hired out in Fulton county for $4 a month. He next worked for Dr. Free in Stewartstown at $8 a month. Until he was

On Jan. 15, 1891, Mr. Edie was united in marriage to Mary, daughter of William Thompson, ex-register of deeds for York county, now deceased. At the time of his daughter's marriage Mr. Thompson was con- ducting the "Lafayette Hotel" in York. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Edie are three in number: Russell J., Margaret M. and Harry A. The mother is a member of the M. P. Church of Stewartstown, which her hus- band also attends. Mr. Edie is an ardent Re- publican, and serves as inspector of elections. He has been successful in his farming opera- tions, is one of the substantial men of the lo- cality and stands high in the public esteem.

JAMES WISE was born in September, 1839, on the McCall farm in Lower Chance- ford township, and attended the old Chance- ford school. He lived with his father on the old Stokes farm until after his marriage, when he bought his present farm of 112 acres, which had formerly belonged to his wife's mother, and here he has carried on general farming ever since.

On March 27, 1867 Mr. Wise married An- nie Eliza McElwaine, born in Colerain town- ship, in September, 1847. Mrs. Wise received her education in the common schools, and was brought up on a farm, her father, John Mc- Elwaine, being a farmer and lime burner. He died on his farm in Colerain township, Lancas- ter county, in 1850, at the age of fifty-one. His wife was Elizabeth Kerr, a descendant of the Kerrs who were the first settlers in Col- erain and Bart townships. Mrs. Wise is a de- scendant of Scotch-Irish ancestors, the Kerrs as well as the McElwaines being of that na- tionality. Mrs. Wise is also a descendant of

737

BIOGRAPHICAL

the Ross family, her grandmother McElaine having been a Miss Ross before marriage, while her great-grandmother was a Chambers. Grandfather William Kerr was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and served three terms of enlistment, being twice a volunteer and once drafted.

Mr. and Mrs. Wise are attendants of the U. P. Church. In his political sympathies Mr. Wise was formerly a Democrat, but is now connected with the Republican party. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. James Wise, all of whom are deceased, Sam- uel H., Lizzie and Ellen.

FRANK LEHMAN, of the firm of F. Lehman & Co., contractors in concrete and ar- tificial stone, was the pioneer in that business in York, and during the twenty-eight years that he has been engaged in it has been steadily raising the grade of the work from the com- paratively rough state of the first efforts to the present high standard of perfection.

The parents of Mr. Lehman, Francis and Cecilia (Dull) Lehman, were natives of Baden, Germany, where they grew to maturity and married. In 1850 they embarked on a sailing vessel for America and were fourteen weeks on the water. After the vessel was within sight of land, it encountered a severe storm which drove it again back to the Fatherland. When the newcomers finally set foot on Amer- ican soil, they located in the city of York and took their first dinner in George street on a store box, for Mr. Lehman was penniless when he landed in this country. He soon moved into the country, and for several years was en- gaged as a laborer in the vicinity of Emigs- ville. Later he returned to York and secured employment in the carpenter department of the York Car Shops, where he continued to work for the remainder of his life, thereby accumulating considerable property. His death occurred in 1882 at the age of sixty- five years, but his widow is still living, and is eighty years of age. They were members of St. Mary's Catholic Church. The children born to this couple were: Julia, widow of the late Antonio Frank, a resident of York; Rachel, wife of Lewis Dull, of Bellefonte, Center county ; Basil, a mechanic in Philadel- phia ; Frank; and Mary, who married Harry W. Sprosen, of Philadelphia.

Frank Lehman was born near Emigsville,

Aug. 10, 1857. During his boyhood and youth he attended school, while his summers from the time he was eight until he was twenty-two were spent working in a brick- yard. He then went into his present business, and was the first contractor in York to lay concrete paving. Some of the contracts which he has handled are those for the court house, post office, the Penn Park school buildings, and for a number of other structures, both public and private. The present firm of F. Lehman & Co. was formed in 1898, and con- fines itself to work in York and the outlying districts, taking contracts for granolithic walks, concrete reservoirs, cisterns, etc. The firm employs from eighteen to twenty men, and has its offices at No. 616 South George street.

On April 18, 1885, occurred the union of Frank Lehman and Miss Jennie Horn, daugh- ter of George Horn, of York. There is one child living, Cecilia, while a son, Edward, died in March, 1903, aged eight years, eight months and three days. The family are mem- bers of St. Mary's Catholic Church, and are active in the work of the parish. Their home is a handsome residence at No. 616 South George Street. Mr. Lehman is a stanch Dem- ocrat, and takes an active part in party work, having served as a delegate to three county conventions. In his chosen line of business he has met with much success, and he is highly respected by his many friends and associates.

AARON BOYER resides in Dover town- ship, where he was born Sept. 15, 1849, son of Solomon Boyer. He attended the town- ship schools of Dover until about nineteen years of age and then learned the wood-work- ing trade in York, which he pursued for about four years. In 1874 he married Susan Smith, born in Codorus township in 1853, daughter of George and Mary (Noss) Smith. Mrs. Boyer's father was born in North Codorus township, and when a young man learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for a num- ber of years, later engaging in farming. He and his wife died in North Codorus township and are buried at Wolf's church in West Man- chester township.

After his marriage Mr. Boyer located. in Dover township, along the Dover road, where he remained three years, removing in 1877 to his present home, where he is still engaged in farming. He is the owner of two fine farms in

738

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Dover township-one of 110 acres and the old Boyer homestead, on which he resides, which consists of 115 acres. The buildings are in fine condition and the soil is very productive, making Mr. Boyer's farms two of the best in the community.

To Mr. and Mrs. Boyer children as fol- lows have been born: Halleck E., who mar- ried Ellen Linebaugh and lives in Jackson township along the Berlin road; Annie E., married to Edward Lauer and living in Dover township; and Minnie L., and John S., at home. The family are consistent members of Strayers Lutheran Church, in which Mr. Boyer has been a deacon. Mr. Boyer is a Democrat, and has very acceptably filled the offices of auditor and township clerk. He is known to be a man of strict integrity and re- liability, and no one in Dover township stands higher in the public esteem.

JOHN KINARD is now living practically retired, making his home in Lower Windsor township. He is a native of York county, a. member of one of its pioneer families, and is one of the loyal sons of the old Keystone State who went to the front in defense of the Union during the war of the Rebellion.

Mr. Kinard was born on the farm now owned by Samuel Leiphart, in Lower Windsor township, Feb. 5, 1836. His father, Henry Kinard, was likewise born and reared in the township, and there passed his entire life, be- ing a farmer during his active career. He at- tained the venerable age of eighty-four years, and died at his old homestead, in Lower Wind- sor township. He was first a Whig and later a Republican in his political affiliations, and both he and his wife held membership in the Evangelical Church, being earnest, industrious and God-fearing persons, altogether worthy of the esteem in which they were so uniformly held. Henry Kinard married Elizabeth Shue, who was born at Red Lion, York county, dy- ing in Lower Windsor township at the age of seventy-six years. In their family were nine children, namely : Michael and Henry, both of whom are deceased; Catherine, who became the wife of Joseph Dellinger and who also is deceased, as are also George, Eliza (Mrs. George Burg), William, and Simon; Mag- dalena, the wife of David Shultz, of Wrights- ville: and John, who is the youngest of the children.

John Kinard early learned the lessons of hard work and personal responsibility, since he began to depend largely upon his own re- sources when a mere boy. The family was a large one, and such were the exigencies that each had to contribute his quota toward main- taining himself and assisting in the farm work. When but twelve years of age John Kinard was hired out as a teamster, never attending school and being denied all regular educational advantages. He has, however, in the course of a long, worthy and useful life, mastered the practical lessons offered by experience. In 1868 he began farming on the place of Michael Shenberger, receiving half of the returns from the produce raised under his supervision, and later he conducted the farm of Daniel Leber about three years, on the same plan, in the meanwhile carefully husbanding his resources, in order that he might secure a homestead of his own. In 1869 Mr. Kinard purchased a tract of forty acres in Lower Windsor town- ship, and thereafter was actively engaged in its operation and improvement until 1889, when he purchased his present comfortable and attractive residence and retired to enjoy the fruits of his former toil and endeavor.

When the dark cloud of Civil war cast its pall over the nation Mr. Kinard tendered his services in defense of the Union, enlisting in 1862, in Company B, (.Capt. Glesner), 130tl1 P. V. I, commanded by Col. Zinn. Mr. Kin- ard continued in active service until the ex- piration of his seven-months' term of enlist- ment, when he received his honorable dis- charge, having participated in the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Antietam and various minor engagements. At Antietam he received a minie-ball wound in his right arm, and he was for a time confined to the hospital at York in his native county, having made the trip there on foot, in company with Adam Fitzkey, who had received a bullet wound in the forehead. Mr. Kinard has shown a con- tinued interest in his old comrades, and is an appreciative member of Lieut. R. W. Smith Post, No. 270, Grand Army of the Republic, at Wrightsville. In politics he has ever given a stanch allegiance to the Republican party, in whose ranks he has been found from practi- cally the time of its organization.

In Lower Windsor township, in the year 1863, Mr. Kinard was united in marriage to Susan Campbell, who was a native of that

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BIOGRAPHICAL

township and a daughter of Samuel and Cath- erine (Craley) Campbell. She proved a de- voted wife and mother until summoned to her reward on the 4th of April, 1889. Of the twelve children born to Mr. and Mrs. Kinard two died in infancy, and of the others the fol- lowing brief record is offered: Eliza is the wife of Titus Snavely, of Yorkana, York county ; Franklin, who married Angeline Leip- hart, is a successful farmer of Lower Windsor township; Emma died at the age of twelve years; Charles, who married a Miss Golin, is a farmer of Hellam township; Fanny is the wife of Noah Hoffman, of Lower Windsor township; Daniel died while young; William, who married a Miss Strickler, is a farmer of Springetsbury township; Elmer died at the age of two years; John, who married a Miss Crumling, is likewise a farmer of Springets- bury township; Helen died at the age of six years.

CORNELIUS S. SNYDER, of the firm of Kohler-Snyder Cigar Company, manufac- turers of high-grade cigars at Yoe and other points in York county, is recognized as one of the" progressive young business men of his native county, while he has in all respects up- held the prestige of the name which he bears and which has been long and prominently iden- tified with the history of this favored section of the Keystone State.

Mr. Snyder was born in the borough of Yoe, York county, Jan. 1, 1874, son of Aaron Snyder. He secured his education in the pub- lic schools and in a well-ordered summer school maintained at Dallastown, this county. When about eighteen years of age he entered upon an apprenticeship at the factory of the Kohler Cigar Company, at Yoe, where he became an expert workman and a competent judge of stock, also learning all details of the practical business, including the packing of cigars. In 1896 he became associated with Messrs. George A. and Adam W. Kohler in the same line, under the firm name of the Koller-Snyder Cigar Company, with head- quarters in the borough of Yoe. In 1898 A. W. Kohler retired from the concern, and in 1900 G. A. Kohler also withdrew, Mr. Sny- der assuming entire control in the latter year, since which time he has individually carried forward the enterprise, which has grown to be one of wide" scope, its trade extending into

divers States of the Union. The business is still conducted under the title of the Kohler- Snyder Cigar Company, and aside from the large and well equipped plant at Yoe, about ten branch factories are maintained in York county, a large quantity of the best local pro- duct of tobacco being utilized in these estab- lishments. An idea of the extensive scope of the business may be gained when it is stated that in the main factory, at Yoe, a corps of about forty-five employees is retained and kept busy in the manufacture of excellent grades of cigars, which are shipped throughout the Union. Mr. Snyder is an alert, reliable and discriminating young business man, as is clearly indicated by the character of the thriv- ing enterprise with which he is thus prom- inently identified. He is also a public-spirited citizen, loyal to all civic duties and responsi- bilities. He is a stanch adherent of the Repub- lican party, and has served as a member of the borough council of Yoe, and is a school di- rector of this borough. He has also been a member of the election board of the township. Both he and his wife are devoted members of the United Brethren Church, in which he is a trustee, being active in all departments of the church work.

On June 1, 1892, Mr. Snyder was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Lehman, who was born and reared in Springfield township, York county, a daughter of Jacob Lehman, a promi- nent and influential resident of that section. To Mr. and Mrs. Snyder have been born five children, of whom Aaron Winfield and another died in infancy, being laid to rest in the ceme- tery at Yoe, as was also May, the fourth in order of birth, who died at the age of eight months. The two surviving children are: Curwin Arthur and Salada F.

Aaron Snyder, father of the immediate subject of this review, was born in Hopewell township, York county, in 1818. and was a son of Philip Snyder, who was likewise a na- tive of the county and had two sisters and five brothers; the names of the brothers were: Jacob, Michael, John, George and Abraham. Philip Snyder was numbered among the very early settlers in Hopewell township, where he was a man of influence and prominence, having been a successful school-teacher in the pioneer days and having also served for a, num- ber of years as justice of the peace ; in addition to farming, he did a considerable amount of

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

excellent work as a surveyor. He married Eva Stabley, a representative of another of the old families of York county, and both passed the remainder of their lives in Hopewell town- ship, where they were laid to rest many years ago. Of their children is entered the following brief record: Elizabeth died in Yoe, York county ; Aaron was the father of Cornelius S .; Susan, wife of a Mr. Sheaffer, died in Hope- well township; Mary, wife of a Mr. Reiker, died in Chanceford township; Joseph died in Hopewell township; Kate in Enon, Ohio; Philip in York township; William in Hopewell township; Lydia, wife of a Mr. Shenberger, died in Hopewell township; Annie, wife of a Mr. Gibson, died in Yoe; and Sallie, wife of a Mr. Reiker, resides near Stewartstown, York county.

After receiving a common school educa- tion Aaron Snyder learned the blacksmith's trade in Chanceford township, and after the completion of his apprenticeship removed to Florin, Lancaster county, where he was en- gaged in the work of his trade for a number of years. He then returned to York county and located near Springvale, Windsor township, where he was actively engaged in business for the long period of forty years, at the expira- tion of which, in 1875, he became a resident of the present borough of Yoe. Here he operated a sawmill for a few years and then retired from active labor, continuing to reside in Yoe until his death, in 1896, and being buried in the cemetery of that borough. He was a man of sterling character and ever commanded the esteem and confidence of all who knew him. In politics he was originally a Whig and later a Republican, and his religious faith was that of the Evangelical Church, of which he was a devoted member.

Aaron Snyder was twice married, his first union having been with Catherine Yoe, a mem- ber of the well-known family in whose honor the borough of Yoe was named. She was born and reared in Windsor township, and died when comparatively a young woman. Follow- ing is a brief record concerning her children : George married Rebecca Hartman and they re- side in Yoe. Lydia died unmarried. Elias mar- ried Anna Mary Snyder and they reside in Yoe. Leah is the wife of Abraham S. Strayer, of Yce. Moses first married Catherine Se- christ, daughter of Harry and Mary (Yoe) Sechrist, and the only child of this marriage

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 134

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