History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 135

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

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is Mrs. Emma L. Slenker, of Yoe. After the death of his first wife Moses Snyder married Mary Ann, daughter of Harry and Elizabeth (Ebersole) Detrich, and they still reside in Yoe, having four children. It may further be said that Moses Snyder was practically the founder of the borough of Yoe, erecting the first house in the village and laboring with con- stant zeal for the development and upbuild -. ing of the borough. He has ever been fore- most in the promotion of all worthy enter- prises and causes, and is a prominent and val- ued member of the United Brethren Church, in which he is a local preacher. In every re- spect he is one of Yoe's most honored and in- fluential citizens, having a beautiful modern residence and being also engaged in the cigar business. Aaron Y., the next of the children of Aaron and Catherine (Yoe) Snyder, mar- ried Elizabeth Woods and they reside in Wrightsville, York county. William H., who married Catherine Woods, is likewise a resident of that town.

For his second wife Aaron Snyder chose Susan, the daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Spotts) Snyder. She was born in Windsor township and her death occurred in Yoe, in 1894. She is survived by four children, namely : John W., who married Sarah Grim, resides at Dallastown, York county; Alice is the wife of John Bortner, of that place; Frank P. married Leah Horn and they reside in Yoe ; and Cornelius S.

GEORGE H. WHITELEY, vice-presi- dent and superintendent of the Dentists' Supply Company, is the head of the manufacturing de- partment of one of the most prominent indus- tries of York. His birth occurred at Camden, N. J., Oct. 23, 1857.

Mr. Whiteley's ancestors came from the North of Ireland about 1840, and settled in Philadelphia, where his father became a well- known business man. He married Jane Fox, also of Irish descent, who became the mother of twelve children, seven of whom are de- ceased. The survivors are: Jane, the wife of James D. Finley, a flour and feed dealer of Philadelphia; Minerva, the wife of Al- bert F. Clark, a book publisher of Philadel- phia ; Ellen; Frank, connected with the dental works in York; and George H.

George H. Whiteley was educated in the schools of Camden, N. J., and Philadelphia,

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BIOGRAPHICAL

and after leaving school went to Minnesota, have passed out into the greater world of af- where he kept a store for four years.' Return- fairs and doubtless some have crossed the dark river.

The early work of Samuel S. Zellers was Chester, Pa., where he remained five years, on the homestead farm, where industry was re-

ing to the East, he became bookkeeper and salesman in a manufacturing concern in West after which he removed to Denver, Colo. There he engaged in the stationery and print- ing business and remained two years. Again returning to the East, Mr. Whiteley located in Philadelphia, where for a time he was a manu- facturer of dental supplies, later going to Wil- mington, Del., and becoming a stockholder in and superintendent of the Wilmington Dental Manufacturing Company. In 1899 Mr. Whiteley located in New York and engaged with the Consolidated Dental Manufacturing Company, in which he was a stockholder, but shortly withdrew from that firm, and, with three friends, organized the Dentists' Supply Company, with the main office in New York City. They established their plant in York, where the business has grown so that the force has increased from twenty-five to three hun- dred employees, manufacturing among other articles about four thousand sets of porcelain teeth daily. The trade covers the civilized world. the firm shipping their goods to South America, Africa, China, Japan, Russia and other distant countries.

Mr. Whiteley was married April 29, 1884, to Ida V. Osborne, daughter of Joseph H. Os- borne, a retired farmer of West Chester, Pa. Two sons were born to this union : George H., Jr., who is attending school at Lawrence- ville, N. J., and J. Osborne, of the York Col- legiate Institute (class of 1906). Mr. White- ley is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of York. In politics he is a Repub- lican, and, in all the affairs of life, is an affable, liberal-minded gentleman.

SAMUEL SMITH ZELLERS of Hope- well township, York county, was born Oct. 14, 1849, on the homestead in Hopewell town- ship, son of Levi and Lavina (Lucky) Zellers. It was on his father's farm that he received his agricultural training, receiving his education until he was nineteen years of age in the local schools and at the Stewartstown Academy. Among his early teachers he recalls with kind recollections Abel Kirkwood, Morrison Fulton, Richard Patterson and Henry Gabel, and later. Asa Anderson and Ada Ebaugh, some of whom have happy homes of their own, some

quired of the sons and daughters. No modern machinery was then in use, and the grain was cut with a cradle and the grass with the old fashioned scythe; but the training strength- ened the boy's muscles, so that by the age of fifteen he was able to perform the duties of a full hand in the harvest field. He remained with his father until his brother William as- sumed the management of the home farm and the father moved to Stewartstown, when he accompanied him there and spent a year as clerk in the store of William Hartman. After the death of the mother the father returned to the homestead and for the following five years Samuel worked as a farm hand by the month, when he married and located on the tract near Stewartstown which is owned by William Gem- mill. There he resided for eleven years and then bought his present excellent, well-located. farm of 144 acres, where he has since con- ducted general farming.

In 1883 Mr. Zellers was married to Anna Mary Duncan, born in Hopewell township, whose father was William Duncan and whose mother before marriage was a Miss Wiley. Mr. and Mrs. Zellers have had these children : William Levi, and an unnamed babe, both of whom died in infancy; Myrtle Amanda and Samuel Carlisle, living at home; May- field: Everett Duncan; Wiley Free; Allan Smith; and John, who died in infancy.

SAMUEL H. SMITH, of Lower Chance- ford township, has been identified with its agri- cultural interests, and with its business affairs to a very large extent. Old deeds held by Mr. Smith show that the original farm land, on part of which he now resides, was taken up by James Evans and transferred to his son and the widow Mary Smith, who it is supposed was the daughter of James Evans. The place consisted of about 430 acres, of which the widow received half which is the part now owned by Mr. Smith. The property is still known as Sweet Spring farm, and was en- tered in the name of James Evans March 3, 1767 : by a later deed, dated Jan. 10, 1769, it is found that James Evans deeded the tract to Robert Smith, who, it is supposed, was a

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

grandson of James Evans and a son of Mary Smith. Robert Smith deeded this tract of land to his sons, Robert and James Leper Smith, on Feb. 14, 1823. The first Robert Smith had married Mary Leper, and his son James had for his middle name Leper, his mother's maiden name. The two sons, Robert and James Leper Smith, were bachelors and divided the tract between themselves.

Robert Smith reared his nephew Robert Smith (the father of Samuel H.), the son of his sister Jennie, from the age of four years, and deeded his share of the property to him. Jennie Smith married James Hume Smith, and after their marriage they located in Upper Chanceford township, on the farm now owned by Jesse Runkle, where Mr. Smith died. Mrs. Smith died on the James Leper Smith part of the old Smith farm, in 1873, being over eighty years old at the time of her death. They were devout Presbyterians. Mr. Smith was a cap- tain in the Revolutionary war. They had the following children : ( 1) Samuel Hume married Louisa Clarkson, a daughter of Rev. Andrew Clarkson (the first preacher at the Guinston Church), and died on his farm near Stewarts- town, which is now owned by Henry Kerns ; he was buried in Chanceford Church cemetery. He was a minister of the Presbyterian faith, having charges at Center, Stewartstown and Round Hill, and each church has a memorial window for him. (2) John married Tabitha Collins, and settled on the James Leper Smith half of the farm, on which he died. (3) Mary died in youth. (4) Ann Eliza married Benja- min Manifold, and died in Hopewell township. (5) Sarah Martha died unmarried. (6) Mar- garet lives in Philadelphia. (7) Robert was the father of Samuel H. Smith.

Robert Smith was born on the grandfather's farm in Upper Chanceford township, Dec. 25, 1820, and his early education was received in the subscription schools and in the public schools, this being supplemented by a course at the local academies. While still a young man he commenced teaching in the Manifold school, in what is now East Hopewell township. On Nov. 16, 1841, Mr. Smith married Sarah Ross Manifold, an aunt of Sheriff Samuel M. Manifold, and she was born in Hopewell (now East Hopewell ) township July 1, 1821. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Smith located on the homestead now occupied by Samuel H. Smith, and there he continued farming operations until his death. Ile and his wife were members of

the Chanceford Presbyterian Church from an early date, Mrs. Smith's father being an elder many years in the Round Hill Presbyterian Church in Hopewell township. In politics Robert Smith was a Whig, and later a Repub- lican, and he was a public-spirited and useful citizen. Benevolent to a great extent, he gave largely to the church, while the amount of his private charities will never be known. His home life was ideal, and much of his time was spent with his children or in reading. In his death Chanceford township lost a good man, and one whose place it will be hard to fill. His death occurred at his home, on Nov. 8, 1888, while his worthy wife passed away Feb. 14, 1882, and they were both interred in the Chanceford Church cemetery.

To Robert and Sarah R. Smith the follow- ing children were born: (1) Robert Henry, born Dec. 1, 1845, attended the public schools, graduated at Lafayette College with the class of 1867, read law in Baltimore under Sebastian Brown, was admitted to the Bar, and practiced in Baltimore. He married Helen Alfred. (2) James Hume, born April 3, 1847, received a public-school education, graduated from Lafay- ette College with the class of 1869, and taught school a few years. He was then the manager of a branch house in Chicago for Ziegler & Mc- Curdy (Philadelphia publishers ), and was thus engaged during the great Chicago fire. While in Springfield, Ill., he married Miss Annie Milligan, of Philadelphia. He engaged in the grain business in Baltimore, Md., and for three years was president of the Baltimore Chamber of Commerce. He died Sept. 5, 1904. (3) Lizzie T .. born Jan. 27, 1850, resides with Samuel H. (4) Samuel H. is mentioned be- low. (5) J. Charles, born Feb. 23, 1860, was educated in the public schools and the York Collegiate Institute. was a graduate in pharmacy, and was in the drug business for many years in Baltimore, Md., where he died Feb. 9. 1895.

Samuel H. Smith was born on the home- stead Feb. 25, 1857, attended the public schools of Lower Chanceford township until sixteen years of age and then spent two years at the York Collegiate Institute. At this time he took charge of the family homestead, which he in- herited from his father and which he has since operated successfully in conjunction with other agricultural property which he owns, one other farm in particular consisting of 118 acres.

Mr. Smith's business interests are many

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BIOGRAPHICAL

and large, he being the owner of much bank stock and a director in the First National Bank of Stewartstown. He is also a stockholder in a lumber company, has large holdings in a furniture company, holds securities in a water company and owns stock in the Stewartstown railroad. In his political views Mr. Smith is a stanch Republican, and his first Presidential vote was cast for Garfield. In his religious views Mr. Smith is a Presbyterian, having united with the Chanceford Presbyterian Church in 1873, and since that year has been actively and continuously engaged in religious work, especially of the Sabbath-school and the Christian Endeavor Society.

Mr. Smith's marriage, which occurred Dec. 16, 1891, was to Miss Rachel Jordon, of Trump, Baltimore Co., Md. Mrs. Smith's father, Benjamin F. Jordon, was a farmer of that county, where he died in 1903 at the ad- vanced age of eighty-three years. Mrs. Smith's mother, whose maiden name was Julia Ander- son, is also deceased, having passed away on Feb. 16, 1886, at the age of fifty-nine years. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Samuel H. Smith : Juliet Elizabeth, born Oct. 24, 1892; Sarah Ross, born Jan. 25, 1896; Robert, born Aug. 13, 1901, and Mar- garet J., born April 5. 1905. Mr. Smith may be justly regarded as an important citizen of his section of the county, being honorable and trustworthy, intelligent and public-spirited.

WILLIAM J. SMITH, a contracting plasterer by trade, was born in York, Pa., May 20, 1849, son of Joseph Smith, a native of Ger- many.

Joseph Smith was a silk weaver by trade, a craft which he learned in Germany. He came to America while still a young man, first locating at Baltimore, but shortly afterward removing to Spring Garden township in York county, and securing employment on the old Baumgardner farm, owned by D. K. Stauffer of the city of York. He married Annie Herb, who died at York aged forty years, and his own death occurred at Hancock, N. Y. (where he is buried), at the age of fifty-six years. The children born to this couple were: Mary, Mrs. Reppinger, of Hancock, N. Y .; William J .; Amanda, wife of Irvin Hugo, who lived at Decatur, Ill., and later in Denver, Colo .; and Annie, who is the wife of Frederick First of York.

William J. Smith received his schooling at the German Catholic parish school in York, after which he was bound to a farmer in Spring Garden township for about a year, afterward spending some six months with his sister at Hancock, N. Y. After his return to York county he was employed by J. & D. Rawhauser for one season on a Susquehanna river boat. In 1867 he began to learn the plasterer's trade with Jacob Shrader, of York, with whom he re- mained for four years, but in 1871 he started into business for himself. Being a careful. skilled workman, Mr. Smith has always found plenty of work, and his services have been in demand for much of the important construc- tion work done in the past twenty-five years in York and vicinity. Among the important buildings on which he has worked may be men- tioned :. the new High school, a small college on Duke street, the German Catholic church. the Rupp building, the new Elk and the Keesy buildings, and many more too numerous to mention. He has also been employed on some of the finest residences in the city.

In 1868 Mr. Smith was married (first) to Mary Jane Schroder, who died in 1886 aud was interred at Prospect Hill. Their children were: Millie, wife of Clayton Hess; Luther A., who married Mary Kraft; Mary, wife of Harry Ruby; Charles E., who married Mary Foose ; and Samuel E., husband of Alma Kline- dinst. In the spring of 1889 Mr. Smith was married (second) to Mrs. Louise (Spahn) Roder, who died Jan. 8, 1899, and is buried in the Catholic cemetery at York. Two sons were born to this union, Alfred and Harry, the latter being deceased. The third marriage of Mr. Smith was to Catherine J. Moran, daughter of William and Mary ( Moore) Moran, the lat- ter of whom is a trained nurse at Girard Col- lege, Philadelphia. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have no children.

Mr. Smith owns a handsome residence at No. 146 Freys avenue, which he erected in 1874, and, in addition has other valuable city property. His time is entirely taken up with his contract work, and he gives employment to from ten to forty skilled hands -according to the season. Mr. Smith is a Republican. but he has never consented to accept public office. For the past twelve years he has been an elder in Christ Lutheran Church. Few men are held in higher esteem in either private or business life.

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

WILSON ZENAS MACOMBER was born in the village of Coulson, York county, Sept. 27, 1848, son of Jonathan and Rachel (Drake) Macomber, the latter of whom was a lineal descendant of Sir Francis Drake, the famous English navigator and sea fighter. The first of the Drake family to come to the United States settled in New Jersey. Some of them moved to Bucks county, Pa., where they. played an important part in the early history of that section. Many of the family are in- terred in one of Bucks county's oldest ceme- teries, that at Spring City. The Macomber family have made their impress upon the his- tory of county and State.

Dr. Zenas Macomber, the grandfather of IV. Z. Macomber, served seven years in the Colonial army during the war of the Revolu- tion, first as adjutant of Colonel Carter's com- mand, from May, 1775, to January, 1776; then he joined a regiment of the Massachusetts line, with which he served two months. He was then transferred to Washington's foot guards, with whom he served until January, 1777, when he became one of the bodyguard of Gen. George Washington. He was a valiant soldier and participated in many of the memorable struggles of the Revolution. At the massacre of Paoli he was in the thick of the battle and received seventeen bayonet wounds. Dr. Zenas Macomber married a Miss Huff.

Wilson Zenas Macomber received his edu- cation in the public schools and at a normal school located in West Bangor. After leaving school he worked on a farm until November, 1864, when he enlisted in the Ist Potomac Home Brigade, afterward the 13th Maryland, and was honorably discharged from Company C, of that regiment, June 27, 1865. During his enlistment he participated in a number of encounters with the famous Gen. John S. Mosby in the valley of Virginia, and was in the final engagement at Appomattox, when Lee surrendered. After leaving the army he worked on a farm in Lancaster county until March. 1866, when he shipped as a landsman on board the ship "Constellation," U. S. N. He was transferred to the frigate "Susque- hanna," and served in the South Atlantic squad- rón under Lieut .- Commander R. L. Law. He was transferred from the "Susquehanna" to the "New Hampshire," and was promoted to be quartermaster in the naval service, serving in that capacity on the "New Hampshire" un-

til his discharge in September, 1868. He then settled in York county, and in 1869 engaged in contracting and building, a business he followed with success for several years. At the same time he interested himself in other business matters. In 1881 he engaged in the canning industry, which he continued until 1884, when he took up contracting and building. He then formed a co-partnership with J. Howard . Stubbs, and for several years conducted a lum- ber and coal business under the firm name of Stubbs & Macomber. In 1897, with others, he conceived the idea of establishing an elec- tric power plant in Delta, and assisted in the organization of the Delta Electric Power Com- pany, being a member of its first board of directors and its first treasurer, the latter office still being held by him, as well as that of secre- tary and manager. For the past four years he has been president of the Delta Board of Trade and was one of the organizers of that body. That solid financial institution known as the People's National Bank of Delta was organized in 1892. Wilson Z. Macomber was one of its founders and a member of its first board of directors, serving as teller of the in- stitution for two years. He is manager of the Bel Air Flour Mills, conducted under the firm name of W. Z. Macomber & Co.

While industrial and commercial affairs have taken much of his time Mr. Macomber has not been unmindful of his duties as a citi- zen, has held numerous township offices, and has served as delegate to State and county con- ventions of his party. In 1898 he was elected a member of the Pennsylvania House of Repre- sentatives, and served on several important committees during the sessions of 1899 and 1900, among them being those of Military, Railroads and Banks. He is a past officer of the G. A. R., F. & A. M. and the I. O. O. F.

On May 22, 1869, Wilson Z. Macomber and Harriet Messersmith, daughter of Michael and Eliza (Hartman) Messersmith, were united in marriage. The following children have been born to their union: George, who married Mattie York of Indiana, graduated from Shippensburg College and now holds the important position of superintendent of the Missouri Training school at Boonville, in that State ; Frank, who graduated from the Western Maryland College, married Denney Cole, of Delaware, and now holds an important posi- tion at the School for the Feeble Minded, at

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BIOGRAPHICAL

Vineland, N. J .; Howard died at the age of ing on Market street, York; and Daniel, who twenty years; Clarence, a graduate of an in- was killed in the Civil war. stitution of learning at Valparaiso, Ind., mar- ried Mable Roscoe, and now follows contract- ing and building in Seattle, Wash .; Marion S., a graduate of the Delta high school, is now his father's assistant at Bel Air, Md .; Emma is the wife of William B. Williams, an employee of the Pennsylvania Railway Company at Broad Street station, Philadelphia; Bertha is the wife of Prof. Justin Nelson, of New York.

The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Macomber are as follows : Emanuel A., superintendent of a division of the Philadelphia Traction Com- pany; Lewis, a wholesale merchant of Phila- delphia : Reuben, a prominent agriculturist of Indiana; James, with the Pennsylvania Steel Company, of Steelton; and Leah, the wife of William Gemmill, also of Steelton, Pennsyl- vania.

Seven children were born to Mr. Ma- comber's parents : W. Zenas, the eldest ; Laura A., who married William Slawter, lives at West Chester, Pa. ; Effie N., married to Har- vey Montgomery, resides on the old Macomber homestead in Peach Bottom township; Mary M., married to John Herman, lives in Delta; and three deceased-John A., who lived to be twenty-one years of age; A. Clifton, who died when twenty-three years old; and one who died in infancy.

JACOB A. MAUL was born in 1864, in Dover township, near Big Mount, son of Peter and Sarah ( Altland) Maul. Jacob Maul, his grandfather, settled in York county and fol- lowed farming in Paradise township ( formerly a part of Jackson), where he died at the age of sixty-five years. He was buried at Holtz- schwamm church. Jacob Maul married Susan Martin, who died Nov. 17, 1854, and is buried beside her husband. The children born to them were: Leah, who married Daniel Grove. and resides in Hanover; Peter, the father of Jacob A .; Jacob (deceased), who married Eliza Stover and lived in Paradise township, where he followed farming; Nathaniel (de- ceased), who lived in the West, where he mar- ried; John, who married Catherine Flinch- baugh, and died in York, his widow still re- siding on King street, in that city; Sarah, wife of John March (both are deceased) : Moses, who married Fianna Gross, and resides at York: Chestina, married to M. Lewis and liv-

Peter Maul, the father of Jacob A., was born in 1825, in Paradise township, and at- tended the pay schools of his native place. He learned the carpenter's trade when young, and engaged in that calling for eleven years, at the end of which period he removed to Dover town- ship, where he purchased a farm of fifty-eight acres of fine land, situated in the southwestern part of the township. There he followed farm- ing up to the time of his death, which occurred Jan. 29, 1891. He was buried in Paradise township. Mr. Maul married Miss Sarah Alt- land, daughter of Samuel and Susan (Jacobs ) Altland, of Paradise township, and her death occurred in 1903, when she was buried beside her husband in the township named. The chil- dren born to this worthy couple were as fol-

lows : Susanna married D. W. Gochnour, and lives in Paradise township, where he follows farming and trucking; Elmira married S. B. Mummert, and lives on the old homestead in Dover township ; Flora B. married J. A. Hykes, and lives in Adams county, where he is a farmer; Jacob A. is the subject of this sketch ; Joanna married E. M. Berry, and is living at York Springs, Adams county; Nancy married Howard King and died at Big Mount, being buried at East Berlin, Adams county ; Peter died at the age of ten months, and is interred in Paradise township.

Jacob A. Maul received an excellent edu- cation, attending the common schools of Dover township, York county, and those of East Ber- lin, Adams county, and later graded schools at Dover borough and at Manchester, Md Mr. Maul taught school in Dover, Paradise and Washington townships and achieved quite an enviable reputation as an educator. He then removed to West Manchester township, where he farmed three years, in 1889 locating in Dover, where he has a tract of land, compris- ing seventeen acres. Mr. Maul is also the for- tunate owner of an excellent farm in Dover township, which he purchased in 1900, consist- ing of 100 acres. He devotes his time to agri- cultural pursuits and has been very successful in this line, acquiring a handsome competency. He is also engaged in the manufacture of brooms, during the winter months. Mr. Maul has a good residence, which he built shortly after locating in Dover, and his land is well cultivated and fruitful.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 135

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