History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 143

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

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(V) George E. Sprenkle was educated in the district school, the Keystone State Normal school, at Kutztown, and the Prickett Col- lege of Commerce, corner of Broad and Chestnut streets, Philadelphia. Graduating from the last named, Dec. 15, 1891, he entered the employ of Thomas C. Else & Co., of Philadelphia, with whom

remained three years. In

1893, Mr. Sprenkle located at Nashville, Pa., where he opened a store and mill and became station agent of the Western Maryland Railway Com- pany. He was also appointed postmaster, and is a director in the York County National Bank. He deals largely in grain, shipping prin- cipally to Baltimore; and in all of his various enterprises, Mr. Sprenkle has been remarkably successful, and this fact may be traced to his thoroughness, thrift and excellent management.

On Oct. 12, 1898, Mr. Sprenkle married Maggie Swartz, of Nashville, daughter of Jesse and Catherine (Hershey) Swartz. They have had no children. He and Mrs. Sprenkle are prominent members of the Reformed Church, St. Paul's, known as Wolf's church, and Mr. Sprenkle takes an especially active part in the Sabbath school, being one of its teachers. In 1902, he was instrumental in organizing the Sabbath school at Nashville and became superintendent. He also interested himself in raising funds to build the church at that point, and is ever busy in religious work. An extensive reader, well versed on general topics, and especially in Biblical subjects, Mr. Sprenkle is a pleasant conversationalist, and

Jacob Snyder, his grandfather, was born Oct. 30, 1794, in the State of Pennsylvania. After his marriage he settled on the old Sny- der homestead, and engaged in farming pur- suits in York township. Some twelve years later he became an earnest convert to the tenets of the United Brethren Church, and for about five years was a preacher in that sect. As the church was still in its youth, and practically without means, it could not afford to pay him for his services, and he was obliged to return to farming. About 1830 he was elected justice of the peace by the Democrats, and held that office until his death in December, 1867. For twenty-five years he taught school during the winter months. In 1813 he married Elizabeth Spatz, who was born Oct. 23, 1794. Their children were: Polly, who married (first) he John Krone, who died in Gallion, Ohio, her second husband being John Dice, and her de- mise occurred in Gallion, Ohio; Elizabeth, wife of Daniel Smith; Simon (deceased), who mar- ried Rebecca Hartman, of York township; Sally, who became the wife of Michael Frey, and died in Iowa; Leah, who married Levi Hartman, and died in York township in 1880; Lydia, wife of Jonathan Keller, of York ; John A., father of Eli E .; Juliana, wife of John Fail, of Gallion, Ohio; Rebecca, wife of Charles Reinhart, also of that place; and Susan, who married Aaron Snyder, and died in Yoe.

John A. Snyder was born in August, 1829, in York township, and there he received the benefits of a common-school education. He remained at home assisting in the work of the home farmn until his marriage, when he com- menced an independent agricultural career in the same township, but later settled at Yoe, where he engaged in the coal business. He was the first to engage in that line there, and by his work, his enterprise and his public spirit he did much to make that borough what it is today. After a fine business career, which brought success to himself and to all associated with him, he died April 8, 1890. His widow, who was Catherine Eberly, daughter of Ma-

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thias, still lives in Yoe. Their children were: Lavina, who died aged ten months; Anna Mary, wife of Elias Snyder, of Yoe : Simon j., a school teacher in York and Springfield town- ships, who went West in 1877, and upon his return was killed by a train on the Northern Central railroad in Maryland, his re- mains being brought back to Dallastown for burial; Catherine, wife of Hillary Plymire, of Dallastown; Elizabeth, wife of John J. Ness, of Yoe; Levi, who mar- ried Lydia Lenard, and died in 1902, his widow now residing in Yoe; Anna Barbara, wife of A. P. Neff, of Yoe; W. E., a cigar manufact- urer of that place, who married Malinda Se- christ, of Yoe; Rebecca, wife of G. A. Kohler, one of the largest cigar manufacturers in Yoe ; Eli E .; Emma, wife of B. F. Mundis, also of Yoe; Miss Jennie, at home, and Alice, wife of J. R. Snyder, a mail clerk at York.

Mathias Eberly, father of Mrs. John A. Snyder, was born in Germany, as was also his wife, Catherine Haberly, whom he wedded about 1820. They came to America in 1846, and located in York township, where Mr. Eb- erly followed the carpenter's trade for a few years. He then moved upon a farm, and en- gaged in its cultivation until his death in 1870. His widow made her home with her son-in-law, John A. Snyder, until her death, in September, 1892. The children of Mathias and Catherine Eberly were: Mathias, who married Freder- icka Weinsman, of Dallastown, and died Nov. 13, 1904; Catherine, wife of John A. Snyder ; Tobias, who married Lydia Spotz, of Arbor; Christopher, who married Elizabeth Minnich, of Dallastown; ' Anna Barbara, who married Van Buren Daugherty, of Dallastown; Mary, wife of Josiah Keener, of that town ; John, who married Charlotte Keener, also of Dallastown; Charles, who married Emma Hullinger, of Rye; Henry, who married Louisa Hose, of Dallastown; one who died aged nine months, and Jacob, who died at the age of twenty-one years.

Eli E. Snyder attended the schools of York township until he was seventeen years of age. He then learned the millwright's trade and pur- sued it for two years in Adams county, but abandoned it to take up the carpenter's trade ; in 1888 he began contracting and building, in York county, so continuing for about three years. From that time until 1899 he was in- terested in the cigar business in Yoe, and in

October of the latter year began the manufact- ure of cigar boxes. The firm was originally known as Snyder & Ness, but in 1904 it be- came E. E. Snyder & Co. They have a large plant at Yoe, and the yearly output is about 365,000 boxes, a ready sale for which is found in and around York county.

In 1890 Mr. Snyder was married to Anna Meads, a daughter of N. G. and Ellen ( Her- man) Meads, of whom the former is living at Red Lion, York county, and the latter is now deceased. To this union have been born the following children: Erwin C., Nora Ellen, Cora Ruth, J. Bryan, Paul E., and Herman B. The second daughter, Cora Ruth, born June 17, 1898, died Jan. 19, 1900, and is buried in Yoe.

Mr. Snyder is a Democrat in politics, hav- ing served as a school director and as council- man for Yoe borough. He has followed in the footsteps of his ancestors, and is an earnest worker in the United Brethren Church, at Yoe. He has prospered through honorable methods, and has earned, as he richly deserves, the high esteem of all.

SAMUEL WOLAVER was born in Bit- tersville, Lower Windsor township, June 18, 1856, and is a son of Sampson and Dorothy (Herman) Wolaver.

Sampson Wolaver was born on the farm now owned by Samuel Wolaver, whose grand- father became the owner of the property in the pioneer days, there passing the closing years of his life. Sampson Wolaver was born on this ancestral homestead April 19, 1818, and he lived to attain the venerable age of eighty-three years, passing the declining years of his life in the home of his son Samuel, who accorded him the utmost filial care and solicitude. This honored and worthy citizen passed his entire life in York county, where he was a farmer for many years, being later identified with the to- bacco industry there. He was married to Dor- othy Herman Dec. 29, 1846. She too was born and reared in York county, the date of her birth being Dec. 16, 1824, while she died in 1897, at Windsorville. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wolaver were lifelong and zealous members of the Evangelical Church. Of their children is given the following brief record: Sarah, born Nov. 12, 1847, is the wife of Jacob Smeltzer, of Craleyville, Lower Windsor township; Henry, born March 25, 1849, is deceased ; Su- sanna, born Jan. 5, 1851, is also deceased;

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Catherine, born Feb. I, 1852, is likewise de- ceased; John, born June 28, 1854, is a resident of Brogueville, York county; Samuel is the next in order of birth; Lydia, born Dec. 20, 1861, is the wife of William Winters, of Adams. York county; Daniel, born Oct. 17, 1864, is a resident of Windsorville, the same county.

Samuel Wolaver was reared to the invigor- ating labors of the home farm and received his education in the public schools of the locality, having attended the Crosby school, at Bitters- ville, where his first instructor was George Anstine and his last teacher a man named Gem- mel. He continued to attend school at intervals until he had reached the age of eigliteen years, having in the meanwhile been his father's con- stant assistant in the work of the home farm. At the age noted he removed to Adams county for the purpose of learning the carpenter's trade, but, owing to a disagreement with his employer, remained but a short time, return- ing home and passing the next year in his native county, in the employ of his father and others. He then entered the employ of James Duffy, a farmer near Marietta, Lancaster county, with whom he remained two years, after which he was for one year in the employ of Martin Kri- der, at Mt. Joy, also in that county. He then returned home and began working by the day, later being engaged for six months in repair work on the Peach Bottom road and for three months on the Pennsylvania road, at Wrights- ville and Columbia, acting as assistant foreman during the major portion of that period. He then began learning the trade of cigarmaking, partly under the instruction of George Mc- Guigan, and a few months later removed to Freeport, Ill., where he completed his appren- ticeship to the carpenter's trade under the direc- tion of Zachariah Liephart. He remained there a short time and then went to Clear Lake, Iowa, in search of work at his trade. Being unsuccessful in his quest he returned to Free- port, where he was employed by Martin Gandy, with whom he remained several months. He then removed to Florence, Ill., where he worked for Henry Gochenauer for a short interval, after which he went to Cedarville, that State, and thence to Lincoln, Neb. Failing to secure the desired employment at his trade, he con- tinued his travels to Creston and Bedford, Iowa, in which latter place he found work in the rebuilding of structures which had been de-

stroyed by fire. Three months later he again made his way to Freeport, Ill., in which local- ity he was engaged in farm work for a short time, and thence to Florence and to Thomson, Carroll Co., Ill., where he assisted in the erec- tion of a large grain elevator. His itinerancy thereafter included Rockford and Cedarville, Ill., and a return to his home in York county. He next turned his attention to cigarmaking, at Windsorville, where he remained a few months, after which he had charge of the shop of Melvin Gohn, near Red Lion, for an inter- val. Thereafter he was in the employ of vari- ous individuals, as a cigarmaker, for a time being placed in charge of the shop of James Smith, at Windsorville. He then devoted two years to the carpenter's trade and at the expira- tion of that period located in Brogneville, where he engaged in the manufacture of cigars on his own responsibility, becoming the owner of real estate there. He finally removed his shop to Wrightsville, where he continued op- erations about eighteen months. He then ex- changed his property in Brogneville for his present fine farm property, in Lower Windsor township, giving an extra consideration of $2,000. The farm at the time comprised 127 acres, but he has since disposed of twelve acres. In the summer of 1903 Mr. Wolaver began the erection of his present modern and attractive residence, together with his cigar factory, which is made a portion of the same building, and here he has one of the fine homes of the township, while his facilities for the carrying on of his two lines of manufacture will be unexcelled. In 1902, in connection with the manufacture of cigars, Mr. Wolaver began the manufacture of brooms, in which line he turns out a product of superior excellence, raising upon his farm a considerable proportion of the broomcorn utilized, as also of his tobacco stock. He was induced to add the broom industry by the fact that he had planted broomcorn, expecting to find a profitable market for the raw material. When he tried to sell the product of his first three acres he found that he was mistaken as to the demand, and he accordingly determined to manufacture his stock. He soon became familiar with the trade, personally made his own machine for manufacturing the brooms, and has since continued operations most suc- cessfully. His farm is under effective cultiva- tion, has good improvements throughout and is one of the valuable properties of the town-

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ship. Mr. Wolaver is a loyal and broad- until his death, at the venerable age of eighty- minded citizen, taking a proper interest in all seven years. He was a resident of Springfield that concerns the general prosperity of the com- township until fifteen years prior to his demise, munity and being a stanch supporter of the when he removed to York township, where he principles of the Republican party, though he passed the remainder of his long and signally was formerly associated with the Democracy. honorable and useful life, secure in the esteem He was reared in the faith of the Evangelical and confidence of all who knew him. The Church, of which his wife is a member.

On July 3, 1884, Mr. Wolaver was united in marriage to Maria J. Hill, who was born at Wrightsville, York county, a daughter of Henry and Emma (Mckenzie) Hill. In con- cluding this sketch the following is presented concerning the children of Mr. and Mrs. Wol- aver : Mabel Brooks was born April 21, 1886: Lydia Ann, born June 5, 1887, died on the 9th of the same month, as did also her twin brother, John Oliver; Walter Winfield was born July 23, 1888; Chester Amelious was born Sept. I, 1889, and his twin sister, Cora May, died March 24, 1891; Nora Ida was born June 4, 1892; Rarra, born Jan. 4, 1895, died on the IIth of the same month; Elsie Virginia was born March 24, 1896; Irene and Henry Ralph (twins) were born April 4, 1897, the latter dying April 4, 1898; Dora E. was born Nov. 14, 1898.

CHARLES LUDWIG. The agricultural industry in York county has an able and popu- lar representative in the person of Charles Ludwig who has there passed his entire life. Mr. Ludwig was born in Springfield township, April 30, 1851, and bears the full patronymic of his honored father, Charles Ludwig, Sr. His grandfather is supposed to have been born in York county, of sterling German extraction and he was one of the prosperous farmers of Springfield township. The maiden name of his wife was Kohler, and both died in Springfield township, being interred in the cemetery of Mount Zion church. Of their children, Isaac lives in Springfield township : Daniel passed the closing years of his life in the city of Baltimore, Md .; Joseph, Joshua, John and William died in York county ; and Charles is mentioned below.

Charles Ludwig, Sr., was born in Spring- field township, York county, Pa., June 3, 1814, and was there reared to manhood, receiving a common-school education. At the age of eigh- teen years he entered upon an apprenticeship at the blacksmith's trade, in which line he be- came a skilled artisan, continuing to be actively identified with the sturdy work of his trade

maiden name of his wife was Susan Howard, and she likewise was born in Springfield town- ship, where she passed her entire life, being summoned into eternal rest in 1864, at the age of forty-eight years, her husband surviving her until 1902. Of their children Amanda and Henry died before attaining maturity ; Eman- uel, a railroad man, resides in Stanley, N. Y .; Albert, who married Miss Anne Seitz, is a prosperous farmer of York township; Peter married Selinda Martin, and is likewise a suc- cessful farmer of York township; Charles was the next in order of birth; Emeline is the wife of Frank Strausbaugh, of York; Mary is the wife of John Peregoy, of York; Josiah died at the age of six years ; Jacob is a railway conduc- tor and resides in El Paso, Texas.

Charles Ludwig, Jr., received his early ed- ucational training in the public schools of his native township, where he continued his stud- ies until he was sixteen years of age, and he thereafter devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits in that township until his marriage, in 1876. Shortly afterward he located at Ore Valley, York township, where he was engaged in milling for the ensuing five years, at the ex- piration of which period he located on his pres- ent fine farm, where he has since been actively and successfully engaged in agricultural pur- suits. His farm comprises fifty-nine acres, and is eligibly located in York township. He has made many improvements on the place and it is maintained under most effective cultiva- tion, so that it may well be designated as one of the model farms of the township. In his politi- cal allegiance Mr. Ludwig is stanchly arrayed with the Democratic party, and he takes a proper interest in local affairs of a public na- ture, having served two terms as a director of his school district. Both he and his wife are members of the United Brethren Church.

On Dec. 17, 1876, Mr. Ludwig was united in marriage to Sarah Ann Bradley, who was ·born in 1853, in Lancaster county, being a daughter of John and Elizabeth ( Hugendub- ler) Bradley. Her father was born and reared in Lancaster county, Pa., where he was a

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

farmer and also worked at the ore banks for a Holtz-Schwamm church, and there he con- number of years after initiating his independ- tinued to farm for forty years, retiring a few years previous to his death to a home near the shop of his son, Pierce Stambaugh; there he died in 1901. In religious faith he was a Lu- theran ; in politics he was a Democrat, and he served as school director. He married Elizabeth Beck, of Dover township, daughter of Joseph and Lydia Beck, and they had these children : Amelia, Mrs. Henry Moul, of York; Ella, the widow of Emanuel Mummert, of Jackson township; Pierce; Emma, Mrs. Jonas Geese, of Jackson township; Monroe, of Paradise town- ship; Ezra, also of Paradise township; and Ada, who married William Murphy, and died in 1905. ent career. In his youth he had learned the car- penter's trade. Coming to York county he lo- cated in Hellam township, where he became superintendent of ore banks, and later was sim- ilarly employed in Spring Garden and York townships, holding a responsible position at the Pigeon Hill ore banks, as he was specially skilled in the vocation to which he devoted his attention for so many years. He is now re- tired and resides in the home of his only daugh- ter, Mrs. Charles Ludwig, being seventy-seven years of age at the time of this writing, in 1905. His wife died in 1882, and was laid to rest in the Union Cemetery at Dallastown, York coun- ty. They had only two children, Mrs. Lud- Pierce Stambaugh received a good educa- tion, attending the Holtz-Schwamm school, which he left at the age of seventeen years. Until that age he had been a farmer boy, but he then went to the trade of blacksmith with Henry Moul, whose shop stood on the present site of Mr. Stambaugh's shop. He served an apprenticeship of three years, and then spent seven years with Mr. Moul as journeyman, after which he bought out his employer, who removed to York: Mr. Stambaugh erected a new shop one year after purchasing the busi- ness. He does all of his own work, including the wood work on wagons and carriages, paint- ing and general blacksmithing. He is a thor- ough mechanic, and his work is of the best quality. wig being the eldest. Her brother, Samuel, married Miss Isabella Keesey, and when he died at the age of thirty-four years, was prin- cipal of the high school at Wrightsville, York county ; he was interred in the beautiful Prospect Hill cemetery, at York. He was a young man of fine character and marked ability, having been graduated from the Dallastown high school and being a popular and successful teacher in the public schools of York county for several years prior to his untimely death. Mr. and Mrs. Ludwig have had eight children : Samuel Howard is a clerk in the office of the traction company in the city of York, marry- ing Elizabeth Ness, who died in 1903, in the borough of Yoe, York county; John E., who married Miss Lena Kauffman, is a resident of Windsor township and is a painter and paper- hanger by vocation; Caroline E. is unmarried and remains at the parental home; Charles P., a graduate of the Dallastown high school, is a popular teacher in York township; and Mary Belle, Flora May, Sarah Alice and Daisy Ellen remain at home.

PIERCE STAMBAUGH, proprietor of a blacksmith shop near Big Mount, was born Oct. 4, 1859, on his father's farm in Paradise township. His grandfather, John Stambaugh, was a farmer. He died in Dover township, leaving these children : Polly, Mrs. Benjamin Altland; Levi; Peter, deceased; Jacob; and Michael, of Dover township.

Levi Stambaugh was born in Dover town -. ship, this county, and was there reared on his father's farm, receiving an ordinary education. After marriage he located on a place near

About 1887 Mr. Stambaugh married Miss Lizzie Falkenstein, who, her father having died when she was three years old, was reared by her sister at Big Mount. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Stambaugh : Elma, Allen and Sherman. Mr. Stambaugh and his family are devoted members of the Lutheran Church, to which they contribute liberally. He is a stanch Democrat in politics, and has served three terms as school director.

JOSEPH H. MYERS, proprietor of the "Aldine Hotel" at Windsor, was born in York township, this county, Aug. 28, 1851, son of John C. and Catherine (Seeling) Myers, both natives of Germany.

John C. Myers and his wife came from Ger- many to America in 1843, and settled in York township, York county, Pa., where he pur- chased a small farm, and bent his energies to the making of a new home in a strange land.

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Later he bought a farm of sixty acres in the this calling he followed until his death in 1902, same township, and about 1865 purchased a at the age of seventy-eight years. He married tract of eighty acres in Windsor township, Bridget Madigan, also a native of Ireland, but whose coming to America antedated Mr. Dona- van's. To this marriage were born the follow- ing children: Margaret, who married Adam Knoll: David, of Hopewell township; John, de- ceased; Mary, Mrs. Myers; Ella, deceased ; Thomas, deceased; Catherine, who married Scott Douglass : Daniel, on the home place in Hopewell township. Mrs. Donavan died in 1904, aged seventy-six. Both she and her hus- band were members of the Roman Catholic Church, and active in its support. He was a Democrat in political matters, and was con- sidered one of the honorable and substantial men of Hopewell township. where he still lives. From 1870 to 1873 he rented his farm, meantime living in Dallastown, where he kept a hotel for three years. Upon the expiration of his lease he returned to the country, and is now living practically retired,. the actual work of the farm being delegated to others, although he superintends it. In relig- ious belief both he and his wife are Roman Catholics, and in that faith have reared their children. In political principles Mr. Myers is a Democrat. To him and his wife were born the following children : Joseph H .; Mary, who married Frank Rittes; Edward, living in the West: Elizabeth, who married John Musser, and lives in Lancaster ; Fred, deceased; Cath- erine, who married John Crabb; Charles F., unmarried and living in York ; and Annie, de- ceased.

Joseph H. Myers received his education in the common schools of York county, and re- ceived practical training on the home farm, where he remained until he was seventeen years of age. He then accepted a positon on the York & Peach Bottom Railroad, as foreman of a section, and later for ten years was engaged in the butchering business. The next seven years were spent in staging from York to Windsorville. In none of these callings was Mr. Myers quite contented, but he found more congenial work as proprietor of a hotel, first for seven years as "mine host" of the "Wind- sor Hotel,' which he afterward sold, and built his present modern structure of twenty-one rooms. It is a building 48x58, four stories and basement, and is thoroughly equipped. The popularity his hostelry has attained speaks well for his qualities as genial host, while Mrs. Myers, presiding over the culinary department, merits the highest praise. No one ever leaves the "Hotel Aldine" table feeling he did not get value received.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 143

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