History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 139

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

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Henry Knaub attended the schools of Manchester township, the Brillinger school and the York County Academy, and was then em- ployed by P. A. & S. Small from 1869 to 1873. At that time he engaged in the mercantile busi- ness in York, at the corner of Penn and Mar- ket streets, where he remained three and one- half years, and later with E. C. Beck, at No. 19 West Market street, in wholesale and retail groceries and liquors. He was then with a Mr. Bender for over three years, and from 1879 to 1884 was employed by Mr. Hoffman at the One Price Clothing House of York. In 1884 he engaged with the Weaver Organ & Piano Company, with which firm he remained twenty years, selling organs and pianos throughout Pennsylvania, Delaware and Mary- land, and doing a large business in seventeen counties of those States. Mr. Knaub had a fine record, selling at retail $285,000 worth of goods, drove 100,000 miles and traveled by rail 120,000 miles. Mr. Knaub is well known throughout the surrounding country, and is very highly esteemed. In 1905 he severed his connection with the Weaver Organ & Piano Company, since which time he has been selling musical instruments around York. Mr. Knaub resides at No. 433 West Philadelphia street, in the house which he remodelled to suit his own taste.

In 1872 Mr. Knaub married Ameatha Martin, daughter of Abraham and Louisa (Menges) Martin, and to this union have been born: Charles H., who learned the ma- chinist's trade with A. B. Farquhar and the York Manufacturing Company, is now located in New York City, engaged in the automobile business; Luther M., a painter and paper hanger by trade, resides in Long Island, N. Y .; Saide E., the wife of Otto WV. Gertz, lives at Williamsport, Pa .; and Warren G., died at the age of five years and seven days and was buried at Prospect Hill cemetery. In politics Mr. Knaub is a Republican, but has never sought office. He is a member of the Luth- eran Church, in which he has filled all of the

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habits, having never used tobacco in any form, promising field in this agricultural section in nor indulged in strong drinks or intoxicating liquors. He is very highly respected wher- ever known for his many sterling traits of character, and he possesses a reputation for honesty and fair dealing that might be envied by any man. A good citizen, a practical busi- ness man, and a Christian gentleman, Henry Knaub is surely a representative of the best type of York county's citizens.

NOAH MARKEL, manufacturer and dealer in fertilizers at Seitzland, York coun- ty, was born Sept. 21, 1844, in Shrewsbury, that county, a son of Henry and Catherine (Kunkle) Markel. Peter Markel, the pater- nal grandfather, was an old resident of York county who was well and favorably known throughout Shrewsbury township, being the owner of considerable land and a farmer there for many years. Of his children, his sons (Henry, Peter and John) were all well known. One daughter married William Fair; another, Michael Bortner; a third, Samuel Fair, a brother of William, and a fourth, a Mr. Shue. On the maternal side the grandfather was Henry Kunkle and he was also a farmer in Shrewsbury township. His three children were : Joseph Charles, Catherine, and Susan, who married a Mr. Hershner. Henry Markel, father of Noah, was born in Shrewsbury town- ship, where he was a highly respected citizen, following agriculture all his life. He was prominently identified with the Lutheran Church. His children, ten in number, were: William: Emanuel; Henry: Levi; Charles ;- Elizabeth, wife of Emanuel Anstine: Sarah, Mrs. Daniel Ehrhart; Samuel; Catherine, wife of Jesse Lentz, and Noah. Henry Markel died in 1850 and his wife in 1896.

Noah Markel was educated in the common schools of Shrewsbury township and worked out on neighboring farms until he was eigh- teen years of age, when he became an appren- tice to the carpenter's trade, which he pursued in conjunction with bridge building for twen- ty-one successive years. During one year of that period he was employed in the car shops of Billmyer & Small, of York, a firm that has been engaged in the manufacture of railroad cars for a great many years. Mr. Markel then devoted his attention to huckstering and for thirteen years was thus prosperously engaged. Then he became convinced that there was a

the manufacture of fertilizers, and on Dec. I, 1896, he embarked in that line at Seitzland. His beginning was on a small scale but he has now the control of a large and constantly ill- creasing trade. His plant, located at Seitz- land, has been enlarged and his custom is drawn from all portions of York county. He understands all the details of the manufacture, has modern machinery and prepares his prod- uct in a scientific manner. In addition to farming a fertile tract of thirty-five acres in this vicinity, he keeps his plant in operation throughout the season.

In 1868 Mr. Markel was married to Julia Shuman, daughter of George Shuman, of Car- roll county, Md., and they have these children : James F., Harry A., Edward L., Emmor L., Anena B. and Emma K., wife of Harry C. Neller. For several years Mr. Markel has been a member of the Reformed Church and during a part of this period he has been on its official board. He has taken part in the township's public affairs, has served as judge of elections and also as township collector. Mr. Markel has been connected with the Ma- sonic fraternity for many years, and belongs also to the Patriotic Order of Sons of Amer- ica. He is a man who stands high in the es- timation of his fellow citizens.

HENRY K. BENTZ, of North Codorus township, who is engaged in the manufacture of carpets near Jefferson borough, was born in North Codorus township March 9, 1854. son of Michael Bentz.

Andrew Bentz, the great-grandfather of Henry K., is supposed to have come from Ger- many to the United States. He was a land- owner in North Codorus township, where he died. He was the father of the following named children : Andrew, George, Michael. Susan, Barbara, Elizabeth, Grace, Bollie and Myrtle.

Michael Bentz. the grandfather of Henry K., was born in North Codorus township. where he owned a farm of ninety-five acres. which he cultivated until he was sixty-five years of age, when he became blind, but, after two years of treatment by Dr. Fisher, of York, he recovered his sight. He died aged eighty years, and his wife at the age of seventy-five. both being buried at the Ziegler church. They had these children : John, Michael, Jacob, An-

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

drew, Elizabeth. Peter, Catherine, Becky and Susan.

Michael Bentz, the father of Henry K., was born in 1818, and was a farmer and dis- tiller. He married Eleanor Klinedinst, a daughter of George Klinedinst, and died on his farm in 1879. being buried at Ziegler's church. His widow married ( second) Henry Ramble, who died in 1884. She is now living in North Codorus township. To Mr. and Mrs. Bentz were born: George, who married Katie Lau, and lives in North Codorus town- ship; Peter, who runs on a local freight train from York to Marysville, married to Alverta Marthenthall, and residing in York; Jacob, who died young ; and Henry K.

Henry K. Bentz attended the common schools of North Codorus township until twenty years of age and then for a short time worked as a day laborer, later being employed at the carpet weaving trade with William Freysinger, of York, with whom he remained three years; he then located at his present place of business. He has twenty-six looms and employs from fifteen to twenty people in his factory, which is in dimensions 72x20 feet, with a 14x34 foot annex, two stories ir height. He finds a ready sale for his goods throughout Pennsylvania, New York and Maryland. He is a director and stockholder of the Codorus Canning Company, and one of the promoters of that industry. He is a trus- tee of the cemetery association.

Mr. Bentz married Emma J. Kessler, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth ( Brillhart) Kessler, and to this union have been born : Alverta, the wife of George Trump, an em- ployee of Mr. Bentz; and Henry H., who died at the age of eighteen years. Mr. Bentz is a Republican, and served as a census taker in 1900. In religious matters he is a member of the Reformed Church, in which he has been a deacon and elder. He is connected with the P. O. S. of A.

JESSE LICHTENBERGER was born in Manchester township June 10, 1845. a son of John, a grandson of Rudolph, and a great- grandson of Casper Lichtenberger.

Rudolph Lichtenberger, the grandfather, was born May 8, 1797, in Manchester town- ship, where he died Oct. 20, 1843, aged forty- six years, five months, twelve days. Like his father he was a farmer and tanner, owning a

tract of fifty-four acres of the old homestead farm. There he lived an honest, industrious life, married and reared an estimable family. and was laid to rest in the Union cemetery at Manchester. His wife died April 2. 1836, aged thirty-seven years and twenty-four days. She had formerly been Elizabeth Bear, and was born March 8, 1799. Their children were : Rudolph, who lives at Sterrett's Gap, Cumber- land county; Emanuel, who died in Ohio; Catherine, who died in Silver Spring town- ship, Cumberland county : William, buried at. Union cemetery. and John, whose sketch fol- lows.

John Lichtenberger, the father of Jesse, was born May 27, 1821, in Manchester town- ship. His education was the best afforded by the local schools of his day: his life was passed in the occupations of farmer and tan- ner, and he died April 25. 1848, when only twenty-six years, ten months, two days old. He married Louise Hoffman, daughter of Henry and Lovina (Kann) Hoffman, the latter of whom lived to the unusual age of ninety-five years. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Lichtenberger settled on the old Lichten- berger farm, upon which the widow continued to reside one year after the early death of her husband. She survived until the age of sixty- two years, and was buried in the Lutheran cemetery at Manchester, her husband's grave being in the Union cemetery amid the remains of his ancestors.

Jesse Lichtenberger was his parents" only child. His education was gained principallv in the public schools, which he attended until he was seventeen years of age. after which he enjoyed one session at the Millersville Normal school. Prior to settling down to farming. he taught four terms of school in East Manches- ter township, one term in Conewago township and one term in Dover township, meeting with much success and making many friends. In 1868 he was united in marriage with Eliza Kohr, a daughter of Henry and Lydia (Stauffer) Kohr. natives of Manchester town- ship. Mr. and Mrs. Lichtenberger have had four children, namely: Ellen J., who is the wife of Elmer Bahn, resides in North York borough; Clara J. is the wife of Harvey Glat- felter, who is in the marble business in Man- chester borough : Annie died aged two months ; John married Lottie Bear and lives at North York. For three years after his marriage Mr.

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Lichtenberger was a farmer in Manchester township and then was a clerk for two years for G. H. Wolf. In 1899 he bought twenty- one acres of the old homestead, on which he has erected some of the finest buildings in the neighborhood and made excellent, substantial improvements of all kinds. In addition to his homestead just mentioned, he owns two other valuable farms, one of twenty-one acres and another of fifty-five acres.

In addition to his farming interests, Mr. Lichtenberger has been a tobacco buyer for M. H. Engle, of Lancaster, Pa., for the past fif- teen years, and since February, 1904, has been in the tobacco business for himself. His office and warehouses are at Lancaster, and the busi- ness is conducted under the firm style of J. Lichtenberger & Co. Since 1903 he has re- sided in Manchester borough and is considered one of the leading business men of that locality.

Mr. Lichtenberger is a Republican, and for years has been very active in the party, by which he has been honored with office on many occasions. He has served five terms as school director, has been township assessor and town- ship clerk, and for nine years was township auditor. The duties of these offices have all been discharged with an eye to the welfare of the public and with the same business success which has attended his personal enterprises. As a citizen no man stands higher in his sec- tion of the county than does Mr. Lichtenber- ger. For many years he has been one of the leading members and active workers, as well as liberal contributors, of the Lutheran Church, having served in that body both as deacon and elder for a long period. It is in- teresting to thus historically trace the old fam- ilies of a section and to note how the estimable characteristics and goodly virtues of the an- cestors have an influence in shaping the char- acters of the descendants. The Lichtenber- gers and Bears of York county are both well known and most honorable families of the old Keystone State.

AARON H. CRALEY. The post office of Craley, named in honor of the family of that name, was established about a score of years ago, and Aaron H. Craley has served as postmaster from the beginning to the present, while he is known as one of the worthy citi- zens of York county, with whose history the name which he bears has been continuously

identified from the period of the early pio- neers.

The original progenitor of the Craley fam- ily in the United States was George Craley, grandfather of Aaron H. This ancestor was one of the Hessian soldiers who came to Amer- ica to assist the Britishi troops in their attempt to suppress the Revolution. He was stationed in the State of New York, and it is practically authenticated that ere the close of the war his sympathies were so strongly enlisted in the cause of the struggling patriots that he arrayed himself in the Continental line, and thereafter aided in gaining the boon of independence to the American colonies. After the close of the war he came to York county, Pa., and settled in the primitive wilds of what is now Chance- ford township, his location having been at the point which was later called New Bridgeville. He cleared a tract of land in the midst of the virgin forest, and was numbered among the representative farmers of the locality and period. In York county was solemnized his marriage, and there were born his three chil- dren, namely: George, father of Aaron H; Martin, who married a Miss Mitzel, and who settled and died near New Bridgeville: and Elizabeth, who died unmarried when well ad- vanced in years. The grandfather continued to be identified with agricultural pursuits until his death, and his widow later contracted a sec- ond marriage, the name of her second husband being Baymiller. By this marriage she had two children: Andrew, who became a success- ful farmer in Morrow county, Ohio, where lie died at the age of ninety-two years ; and John. who is a resident of Lower Windsor township, being nearly four score years of age.

George Craley, the father of Aaron H., was born on the old homestead at New Bridgeville, in 1814, and his educational ad- vantages were such as were afforded by the common schools of the locality. He early be- gan to follow the vocation of fishing, drawing many a fine catch from the river, and when the tidewater canal was in process of construction he conducted a somewhat primitive hotel at Green Branch, to which place the name of New Bridgeville was applied at the time the postof- fice was located there. While in the hotel busi- ness Mr. Craley had the somewhat responsible task of entertaining as guests about one lun- dred laborers on the canal, the force being com- posed principally of Irishmen and Germans. It

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

length of the room. At meal time Mr. Craley would have a bushel of potatoes cooked with- out removing the skins, and, standing at the end of the table, would throw the potatoes along the festal board, each of the guests seiz- ing his portion. The guests would then re- spectively circle their potatoes with forefinger and thumb, and by pressing the tuber through the grasping digits were able to remove the peeling or skin. The accommodating landlord had no little difficulty in maintaing peace- ful relations among his guests, the impetuous sons of the Emerald Isle being ready to fight a person one moment and die for him the next. Often when the men would engage in free-for- all fights Mr. Craley would be compelled to take his gun and line them up on a long bench, thereupon giving them the warning that if any one of them started further altercation he might expect to receive a ration of powder and shot. Having thus pacified the belligerents the landlord would then draw a large bucket of whiskey and serve the men. In that early day shad-fishing was unexcelled in this section, enormous quantities being taken from the river by the use of seines. Mr. Craley con- ducted this hotel for a period of ten years, con- tinuing to live in the locality until he was about thirty years of age, when he located at what is now known as Craley, for the purpose of establishing a hotel at that point. There, however, he secured a large tract of land and turned his attention to farming, being the owner at one time of fully 300 acres of land, his possessions extending from Craley to the river. He purchased the property from the Reynolds family, of Lancaster, who had se- cured it from the heirs of William Penn. The tract was covered with a fine growth of hick- ory and oak timber, and this Mr. Craley cut and took to the river, where it was transported on boats to Columbia and there sold to the rail- road, which was then owned by the State, the timber being sawed the proper length to serve as engine fuel, etc. Mr. Craley improved a fine farm and continued to be here identified with agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred on the old homestead, in June, 1876, in his sixty-third year. He was a man of large physical proportions, strong

may be said that the provender supplied con- and vigorous, and was endowed with those sisted principally of potatoes and whiskey. The estimable and amiable attributes which ever hotel shanty was one hundred feet in length, gain to a person the confidence and good will and the dining table ran practically the entire of his fellowmen. He was well known throughout the county, and was a man of ster- ling character and fine mentality. When the Albrights began the erection of a small church building near his farm he assisted in the work and was finally converted, thereafter living in harmony with the faith which he professed. He had previously been associated with such companions as to cause him to become some- what rough and heedless, but upon his con- version he determined to withdraw from the hotel business permanently and to cease sell- ing whiskey. He identified himself with the Republican party at the time of its inception, and ever afterward remained a stalwart sup- porter of its cause. Mr. Craley was thrice married. His first wife was a Miss Gable. She died without issue. His second wife bore him one child, whose advent resulted in her death. This child, Ann, became the wife of Granville Leber. The third wife of Mr. Cra- ley bore the maiden name of Julia Ann Peters. She was born in York township, and was there reared and educated, her father, Henry Peters, having been a prominent and influen- tial farmer and a member of one of the old and honored families of that section. The maiden name of his wife was Miller. Julia Ann (Peters) Craley long survived her hon- ored husband, her death occurring in 1898, at which time she was more than seventy years of age. Of her five children Aaron H. is men- tioned below; Amos, who married Amelia Mowry, is a shoemaker by vocation, and re- sides in Lancaster; Caroline, became the wife of John Liephart and her death occurred in Lower Windsor township; Jeremiah, who mar- ried Tracy Fry; is engaged in the ginseng busi- ness at Craley; and Julia Ann, who became the wife of William Ness, is deceased.

Aaron H. Craley was born on the old home- stead, March 16, 1845, his birthplace having been the house first erected by his father after locating upon the place. He secured his early educational discipline in the old log school house, and recalls as one of his first instructors Joseph Butt; also an Irishman named Demin- shire, who taught him several terms; but the first teacher who accomplished much in the in- structing of Aaron H. was the late Charles Fry, of York, who was an able man and one

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of sterling character. Mr. Craley continued to his wagon in the morning and returning at · attend the old home school until he had at- tained the age of eighteen years, his last teacher there being William Miller, who is now a resident of York. Thereafter he at- tended school in York during several winter terms, assisting in the work of the farm dur- ing the summer seasons.

When about nineteen years of age Mr. Craley went to Union county, Ohio, then con- sidered in the far West. He arrived in the Buckeye State in December, and a farmer of the county mentioned offered him $25 a month to feed sheep, being the owner of 2,000 acres of land on the Darby plains. On the farm were kept about two thousand sheep, and by starting early in the morning Mr. Craley was able usually to complete the feeding before five o'clock in the afternoon. He remained thus engaged until April, when another farmer offered him $30 monthly, to be increased to $40 during the harvest season; and he consid- ered himself fortunate in commanding such wages, as the average pay received by farm hands in Pennsylvania at the time was from $6 to $8 per month. In the autumn of the same year he made his initial business experi- ment in an independent way, going to Morrow county, Ohio, to visit his uncle, and there in- vesting his savings, about $40, in apples, which he shipped to the city of Columbus, where he sold them at a profit of $30. He then invested his $70 in more apples, upon which he cleared $150. With his newly acquired fund Mr. Craley then returned to his home in York county, where he engaged in the cigar and to- bacco business, opening a small shop at Mar- tinsville and employing three cigarmakers. Six months later he removed to Craley, where he built the residence now occupied by John Reichard, establishing his shop in the house and employing eight hands. Here his first wife died in 1869, and he later married her sister, after which he went to the river and built a house-boat on the canal, fitting up a shop and increasing his force of workmen to forty-five. He had manufactured a special wagon, and, in company with his wife, started to visit the various towns along the canal, selling his cigars and tobaccos from his vehicle. The wagon was transported on his house-boat from one point to another on the canal, Harrisburg being his first stopping place. There he would usually tie up his boat for two days, starting out with

night. In this way he made his way from town to town along the canal and river, penetrating the coal districts and usually being absent from four to six weeks, returning home after dis- posing of the stock of goods on the boat and then starting out again. This proved a rather idyllic method of living and the profits were of a satisfactory order in a financial way. Mr. Craley knew every grocer on each side of the river for a distance of ten miles inland and be- tween his home and the city of Wilkes-Barre, and he was well known as the "Dutch Yan- kee," from the fact that he could usually make a dollar where most men would fail. The depredations of the "Molly Maguires" in the coal regions eventually became so flagrant that Mr. Craley did not consider it safe to longer visit that section, as he often found dead men along the river-victims of the members of the society mentioned; so he abandoned his house- boat and his wagon plan of operations after a period of six years, his wife having accom- panied him on his various trips. He reverts to this period as one of the most pleasing in his experience. After thus abandoning his boat he returned to Craley and erected a building for a cigar factory, later adding a general store, and further showing his enterprising spirit by building dwellings for rent. At the present time he is the owner of seven residence prop- erties there, besides his own attractive home. In connection with his cigar business he con- ducted a general merchandise enterprise for eighteen years, and at one time his cigar man- ufactory made shipments into the most diverse sections of the Union. He has personally traveled through fifteen or more States in the interest of his business, and he is known and honored as a progressive, reliable and honor- able business man and public-spirited citizen. He is now living in comparative retirement, having closed out his cigar manufacturing in 1904.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 139

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