History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 158

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

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J. L. Gerber attended school at Davids- burg until he was nineteen years of age, and then he followed plastering for a year and a half, after which he entered the employ of the Weaver Organ & Piano Co., where he learned the cabinetmaking trade and where he remained six years. On May 16, 1898, Mr. Gerber or- ganized the important business enterprise known as the Home Furniture Co., of York, Limited. Mr. Gerber was the secretary of this company, and had entire charge of the ship- ping department at the factory. On Aug. 14,

1905, Mr. Gerber and D. W. Gerber bought the entire interest in the Home Furniture Co., Ltd., and entered into a co-partnership agree- ment under the laws of Pennsylvania under the name of Home Furniture Co., of York, Pa., J. L. Gerber being chosen as president and manager, and D. W. Gerber continuing as treasurer.

Mr. Gerber was married Dec. 31, 1904, to Katherine Stough, daughter of Zacharias and Sarah (Swartz) Stough, and a member of an old York family. Mr. and Mrs. Gerber have a pleasant home at No. 624 East Market street, York. He is one of the rising young business men of the city.

EMANUEL K. JACOBS, of North Co- dorus township, at the present time engaged in trucking on his cozy little five-acre farm, located nine miles southwest of the city of York, was born Dec. 2, 1854, son of Israel, grandson of Samuel, and great-grandson of Samuel Jacobs, Sr.

The great-great-grandfather of our subject came from Germany to America, and settled in Adams Co., Pa., near East Berlin, where he followed farming.

Samuel Jacobs, the grandfather, was born in Adams county, and later came to York county, settling in North Codorus township, where he purchased a farm of 100 acres, and carried on agricultural pursuits. He also owned a farm of 112 acres in Paradise township. He was a very skillful weaver, and followed that occupation to a certain extent. He died at the age of seventy-nine years, and he and his wife, Mary Jacobs, were both buried at the Altland cemetery. Three children were born to Sam- uel and Mary Jacobs, namely : Jeremiah, Susan and Israel.

Israel Jacobs was born on the old home farm in North Codorus township. He received a common-school education, and followed farming. He was by trade a cooper, and worked at this occupation for a number of years. He spent the last five years retired, with his son, Emanuel K. He assisted in building the North Codorus meeting house. which land was donated by his wife to the church, which was built in 1897, and Mr. Ja- cobs died the following year, May 18th. He is buried at the meeting house, across from his son's home. Mr. Jacobs married Louisa Klinedinst, daughter of Daniel and Eliza

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(Lau) Klinedinst, and she is making her home with her son Andrew, near York New Salem. They had children : Emanuel K .; Samuel, who married Annie Bowser, and lives in North Co- dorus township; Daniel, who married Flora Snyder, and also resides in North Codorus township; and Andrew, who married Emma Miller, also a resident of that township.

Emanuel K. Jacobs attended the township schools until twenty years of age, and remained at home, assisting his father until twenty-five years old, at which time he married Elizabeth Hoff, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Mil- ler ) Hoff, the former a minister in the German Baptist Church in Manheim township, where he died; he is buried at Black Rock meet- ing house. After his marriage Mr. Jacobs lo- cated on the old Michael Bentz farm, which he purchased, and remained on this thirty-eight acres, engaged in farming, for twenty years. In 1901 he came to his present small home, a tract of five acres adjoining his large place, having purchased this place from William Hummer. Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs' only child, a daughter, is now the wife of Jacob Keeny, a son of George Keeny, of Loganville, and they have children, Ervin, Carrie, Paul and Mabel. Mr. and Mrs. Keeny are working the home farm.

Mr. Jacobs is a member of the German Baptist Church, having connected himself with that body when twenty years of age, at Black Rock, Manheim township. He is very active in church work, and assisted in erecting the church which is located just across the road from his house.

JAMES HEIKES, a leading farmer and business man of Warrington township, York county, where he owns and operates a farm, was born Aug. 12, 1851, in Franklin township, son of Jonas and Eliza (Gates) Heikes, and grand- son of Lawrence Heikes, whose father was a native of Germany.

Lawrence Heikes was one of the first set- tlers of Franklin township, where he took up a vast tract of land and was one of the well-to- do farmers of his day. He married Catherine Myers, by whom he had the following chil- dren : David, Andrew, Jonas, Noah and Lewis W. After his first wife's death Mr. Heikes married Elizabeth Smith, by whom he had two children : Elizabeth and George. In his religious belief he was a member of the Re- formed Church, and he died in its faith in 1866, at the age of seventy-five years.

Jonas Heikes was born in Franklin town- ship, and grew to manhood on his father's farm. He followed farming all of his life, and engaged in manufacturing molasses from sugar cane. He purchased the farm formerly owned by his brother Andrew, and in 1867 located in Warrington township, residing upon the farm now owned by his son James, which con- sists of 116 acres, all well-watered and in an excellent state of cultivation. Here he died in 1896, at the age of seventy-four years. His first wife died in 1858, and by her had the following children: James; Lawrence; Fan- nie, who married Noah Arnold; Mary, who married William R. Cooke; and Abigail, who married Moses Bentz. In 1866 Jonas Heikes married Fannie Gates, a sister of his first wife. Mr. Heikes was a member of the United Brethren Church.

James Heikes received his education in Franklin township, and has always been en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. He purchased his present home about four years previous to his father's death, and he has been a very suc- cessful farmer and dairyman.

In 1877 Mr. Heikes married Louisa Coul- son, daughter of William Coulson, and three children have been born to this union: Minnie Smiley, who was married Dec. 5, 1905, to L. A. Burkholder, and lives in Philadelphia; Ira Lawrence; and Martha Gertrude. In religion the family are members of the United Brethren Church, of which Mr. Heikes is a liberal sup- porter. In politics he is a Prohibitionist, and is highly respected by his neighbors for his good citizenship, and for the efforts he has put forth in assisting to build up and improve the community.

HARRY A. MILLER, one of the well- known residents of North Hopewell township, York county, who resides on the old family homestead which he purchased from his father's estate, was born Oct. 26, 1857, on what is now the Freaston farm, a property adjoining his own. His grandfather, Henry Miller, married a Beck.

Henry B. Miller, the father of Harry A., was born in 1826, on the farm on which his father had settled in North Hopewell town- ship, and spent his whole life there as a farmer. There he died aged sixty-five years. He mar- ried Rickie Summers, daughter of Lewis Sum- mers, and she was reared in Windsor town- ship. She died at the age of fifty-one years.

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Henry B. Miller and his wife had children as follows: Caroline, Mrs. J. H. Myers, of York; Catherine, Mrs. Charles Stark, of York; Thomas, who died on the homestead, and who married Margaret Stark; Ellen, Mrs. Hiram Fultz, who died in Wisconsin; Harry A .; Ben- jamin F., who died young; Lewis, of Lower Windsor township, married to Nettie Arnold; McClellend, of Felton, married to Jane Shall; Levi, of York, who married Jennie Freaston ; Sarah Ann, Mrs. Frank Winemiller, of Glen Rock; William and Wesley, twins, the former of whom married Geneva Patterson and re- sides at Red Lion, and the latter married (first) Ida Strayer and (second) Annie Gam- ber; and Leo F., of North Hopewell township.

Harry A. Miller attended school from the age of seven years in his native locality, and when Winterstown became a borough he be- came a student at the Miller school, which stood on a part of the homestead. He lived at home on the farm until he was nineteen years old, and then went to Middletown, Pa., where he hired out for one year for $12.50 a month. He drove a team and worked in a gristmill one mile out of Lancaster City, there making four- teen dollars. After his return to York county he farmed tobacco for two years for Andrew Duncan and J. H. Myers. Mr. Miller then took a trip to the West and worked for a time in Muscatine, Iowa, driving and teaming, and from there went to New Mexico, where he worked in a brickyard at Albuquerque for a time. After all this wandering and many ad- ventures he reached home safely, and for the following year farmed tobacco, later renting a small farm which he operated for four years, He then farmed land owned by P. A. and S. Small for five years. In 1893 he moved onto the old homestead, which he bought as stated, and where he has made many excellent im- provements of a substantial character.

Mr. Miller was married June 1, 1883, to Miss Agnes Mellinger, born in Windsor town- ship, daughter of Milton and Martha Ann ( Hellenburg) Mellinger. Jacob Mellinger, the paternal grandfather of Mrs. Miller, lived first in Windsor township, and then moved to the city of York, where he died. Mrs. Miller's parents were born in Windsor township, the father in 1840 and the mother in 1842. After- ward they settled in Harford county, Md., and after marriage they moved to Winterstown, York county, and then to Windsor township

Mr. Mellinger farmed William Anstine's farm for four years and then the King farm in Hope- well township from 1871 until 1903. They now reside in Shrewsbury township. They have had children as follows: Agnes, Mrs. Miller, the eldest; Wiley, of near York, mar- ried to Lizzie Stark; James, on the Dr. King farm in Hopewell township, who married Lou- isa Wolf; Landis, of Adamsville, married to Clara Faulkner; Arabella, Mrs. William Stark, of Glen Rock; Jacob, deceased; Alice; and Maggie, wife of James Attick. Mr. Mellinger is a strong Democrat.

Mr. Miller was reared in the Union Evan- gelical Church. He has served as school di- rector for the past five years and is a man well and favorably known all over the township. His family consists of three children : Florence M., Milton H. and Latimer.

MARTIN LUTHER HONSERMYER was born in Berlin, York county, Oct. 31, 1864, of German ancestry, his parents, Charles and Mary Honsermyer, having been born and married in Germany, near the city of Bremen.

Charles Honsermyer had two sisters, Mary, the wife of Henry Baughman, and Charlotte, wife of Christian Strater, both now deceased. He and his wife came to America in 1855, set- tled at York, Pa., and there passed the remain- der of their lives on a small farm. They died within a year of each other, Mr. Honsermyer in 1887 and his wife in 1888. Their children were: Martin L .; Mary, the wife of Albert Swantzer; Sarah, Mrs. William Ottmyer; Emma Jane, who married Frederick Blae- baum; Kate, wife of Christian Hentze; Charles H., who resides in York township, married to Amanda Inners ; and Louisa, married to Henry Hurst, of York.

Martin L. Honserniyer was sent to the pub- lic schools of York township for about four months each year during his boyhood, but at an early age he was compelled to go to work and first learned cigarmaking. After working at that for several years he took up the butcher's trade, which he followed for some time. He next tried carpentry for a while and then in 1889 settled down to farming on prop- erty which he purchased in York township. He tilled that place successfully for ten years and then in April, 1903, bought his present farm, formerly known as the Hartman prop -- erty, situated close to the southern limits of

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BIOGRAPHICAL

York, on the old Powder Mill road. He has death he purchased the cafe, which he has op- greatly improved the place, while its fine loca- tion renders it still more valuable.

In 1889 Mr. Honsermyer married Amanda, adopted daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Shleeter, and their union has been blessed with seven children, namely : Charles L., Ada M., Paul H., Ruth M., William Earl, Clarence A. and Emma Grace. Mr. Honsermyer has been a member of the Salem Lutheran Church of Paradise, Springfield township, since he was seventeen years of age, and is a man held in high esteem in the community in which he lives.

ALBERT C. BOLL, proprietor of the Ebner Cafe, and a well known citizen of York, York county, was born April 29, 1863, son of Jacob W. and Mary (Brasch) Boll, and grand- son of Jacob Boll.

Jacob Boll, the grandfather, came to York from Germany, settling at Penn Park, where he carried on a shoemaking business all of his life, dying about 1870, aged seventy-three years. Unto him and his wife were born four children : William, Jacob W., Henry and Catherine. In religious belief he and his wife were German Catholics. In politics he was a Democrat.

Jacob W. Boll was born in York county, and was educated in the old common schools. When a young man he engaged in the gro- cery and liquor business at No. 232 South George street, continuing therein for many years. He finally sold out this business, and for some years previous to his death engaged in the sale of musical instruments on West Market street, where McFall's haberdashery is now located. Mr. Boll died in 1881, aged forty-four years. To him and his wife nine children were born, as follows: Elizabeth, John, Albert, Mary, Victoria, Clara, Edward, Cecelia and Lewis. In religion he was a Cath- olic. After the death of her husband Mrs. Boll married Mr. Edward Ebner, who at that time owned Ebner's Cafe, which had been doing business for twenty-seven years. No children were born of this union. Mrs. Ebner died in 1891, aged fifty-six years.

Albert C. Boll was educated in the common schools of York, and St. Mary's Parochial school. When still a lad he entered Ebner's Cafe as a waiter, was later employed as a sales- man for this institution, and at Mr. Ebner's

erated to the present time. He has one of the best operated cafes in Pennsylvania, all kinds of game being served at all times, and his wine- list is as complete as is to be found anywhere in the State. Under Mr. Boll's able manage- ment the cafe has done a flourishing business, and it may be truly said that Ebner's Cafe is a place "where every bite's a relish."

Mr. Boll was married in 1884 to Miss Car- rie Shillow, of Columbia, Pa., daughter of Charles Shillow, a prominent business man of that city. One child has been born to this union, Charles E. In his political views Mr. Boll is a Democrat. He has been vice-presi- dent of the Vigilant Fire Co., and also served out the unexpired term of L. T. Deminger, de- ceased, as president. Mr. Boll belongs to the Knights of St. Paul, being one of the ten orig- inal members; the York Volunteer Fireman's Relief Association; the Washington Fraternal and Beneficial Society No. 1; and the Frater- nal Order of Eagles, of which he was one of the five men who founded the Order in York. He represented the latter society in four states, viz .: Minneapolis, Minn., New York, Balti- more, Md., and Denver, Colo. He is a past worthy president and district deputy grand president of York Aerie, No. 183, and belongs to the Grand Aerie. Mr. Boll also belongs to the Merry Band Camping Club, which was or- ganized in 1876; the Homeless 26, of Pitts- burg; and the Oriental Club, of York. In all of these associations Mr. Boll has taken an active part, and he is very popular in all organ- izations. He is a member of St. Mary's Church in which he is an active worker. He was chair- man of the committee in charge of a picnic held in July, 1905, which netted the church over $1,000, something never known before in any church in the county. Mr. Boll has traveled a great deal, and is but lately returned from a trip to Los Angeles, Cal., and as far north as Seattle, Washington.

FRANK L. MILLER, a resident of Fair- view township, represents a substantial type of citizen, such as constitutes the real strength of the nation. Although still young he has established a good trade as a butcher, is known for the honesty and fairness of his dealings, and manifests the active and intelligent interest in public affairs which the country may justly look for in its sons, but does not always find.

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Mr. Miller belongs to a family long resi- spent five more in the employ of John K. Tay- dent in Fairview township, where his grand- lor on Slate Hill. In 1898 he moved to his present location, and went into business for himself, putting up new buildings and making a thoroughly up-to-date establishment, one of the best in the county. He kills hogs and calves and attends the Broad street market in Harris- burg. father, Jonas Miller, was one of the early set- tlers. He owned the farm which is now the property of George Bower, and was engaged in its cultivation till his death. His wife, whose maiden name was Nancy Berger, was buried beside him at Mt. Zion cemetery. The children born to them were: Andrew S .; Mr. Miller was united in marriage Oct. II, 1896, to Miss Myrtle Drawbaugh, daughter of Henry and Naomi (Yencel) Drawbaugh, of Fairview township, the former now deceased. To this marriage no children have been born. Mr. Miller is a Democrat in politics, and has served efficiently as inspector of the election board. Henry and John, both living in Fairview town- ship; Jane, Mrs. Frank Miller, of Harrisburg ; Mary, Mrs. Peter Hoover, of Lisbon, Cum- berland county; Lucinda, the wife of George Bower, who lives in the old Miller home in Fairview township; and Annie and Susan, un- married, who live in Lewisberry.

Andrew S. Miller was born Oct. 26, 1836. He was given a common school education, and on reaching an age to choose his occupation,de- cided to become a butcher. He learned the business at Lisbon under Peter Seidle, and fol- lowed it about five years. He then moved to Fairview township, bought a place of seventy- eight acres situated near the Navoo school and there followed farming till his death, which took place in 1894. He married Miss Sarah Ann Sheaffer, who was born Oct. 16, 1839, and died Feb. 24, 1903. Both are buried in Mt. Zion cemetery. Mr. Miller was a Democrat in politics, and in religious matters a member of the Lutheran Church, in which he took a very active part. Andrew and Sarah Miller were the parents of ten children, namely: Alice, born Dec. II, 1858, who married John Leach and died; Ida, May 8, 1860, and Flora, Oct. 18, 1862, who both died young; Rebecca, Oct. 27, 1864, who died aged twenty-three; Nancy, Aug. 8, 1866, living at New Cumberland; John L., Jan. 15, 1868, who married Miss Jeannette Kreutzer, and lives in Fairview township; Jacob S., Oct. 31, 1869, who mar- ried Miss Rosa Smith, and lives in the same locality; Katie, Oct. 9, 1870, who married (first) Mr. Fencil, and (second) James Wise, of Harrisburg; Frank L .; and Charles, July 5, 1879, who married Miss Rebecca Sherman, and lives in Lisbon.

Frank L. Miller was born in Lower Allen township, Cumberland county, Sept. 30, 1872. His education was received in Fairview town- ship, where he attended the Navoo school till he was about nineteen. From his father he learned to be a butcher, and worked at that trade at home for five years, after which he

AMOS ALBERT LEBER. The Leber family was settled in York county in the latter portion of the Eighteenth century, and the name has been conspicuously identified with the civic and industrial affairs of the county from that early pioneer epoch to the present time. In the sketch of Jacob H. Leber, appearing elsewhere are given detailed genealogical data. Amos A. Leber is a representative of the fourth generation of the family in York county, while it has been his ably to uphold the prestige of the honored name which he bears, since he is one of the reputable and pop- ular citizens of his native township of Lower Windsor, where he has passed his entire life.

Peter Leber, son of Conrad and Maria Leber, was born on the paternal homestead farm, at Butcher's Ore Bank, Lower Windsor township, Oct. 12, 1798, and his education was secured entirely in the German schools main- tained in the locality in that early era of the county's history. In his youth he learned the milling trade, which he continued to follow as a vocation for twenty-seven years, in Oberdorf's mill, now known as Anstine's mill. He was three times married. The name of his first wife is not recorded. His second was Mrs. Eliz- abeth Blymyer, widow of Grimm Blymyer ; and his third marriage was to Miss Eugenia Miller. The children. of the first marriage were as fol- lows: Israel, who died in youth; Mary Ann, wife of Hon. George Howenstine, died in Lan- caster county ; Catherine, wife of Elias Rice. died in Mount Joy, that county, leaving one son, Eli; Miss Susan resides in the city of Philadelphia ; and Miss Leah resides in York.

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BIOGRAPHICAL

The following brief record is given of the chil- dren of the second marriage: Peter, who served three years as a member of a Pennsyl- vania regiment during the Rebellion, having participated in the battles of Gettysburg and other prominent engagements, later removed to Fremont, Ohio, where he married and where he still resides; Elizabeth became the wife of Henry Beck, and was a resident of Wrightsville, this county, at the time of her death; Amos Albert, subject of this sketch, was next in the order of birth; and Granville, who resides in Fremont, Ohio, married (first) Miss Mary Ann Craley, of Lower Windsor town- ship, a sister of Aaron Craley.

After retiring from the milling business Peter Leber purchased about one hundred acres of land at East Prospect, this county, and there engaged in agricultural pursuits, while he also assisted in the laying out of the town of East Prospect, a portion of which is located on his farm. He platted this addition and sold the lots, while he also sold from his farm the land now comprised in the cemetery of the village mentioned. He died on this homestead in 1870, and his third wife survived him by about a decade. He was a prominent and valued member of the Evangelical church, in which he served as classleader, exhorter, etc. He was originally an old-line Whig in politics, later espousing the cause of the Know Nothing party and finally identifying himself with the Republican party at the time of its organiza- tion, ever afterward supporting its principles. His second wife, mother of our subject, died in 1840.

Amos Albert Leber was born in the family home near Oberdorf's mill, Lower Windsor township, this county, April 24, 1841, his father being in charge of the mill at the time. His early educational discipline was secured principally in the common schools at East Prospect, the family having removed to the farm there when he was about six years old, and he early began to lend his aid in the prose- cution of the work of the farm, attending school during the winter terms only. In 1862, a few months after attaining his legal majority, he was married, and for the four ensuing years he lived in the home of his father-in-law, in Lower Windsor township, his wife having been housekeeper for her widowed father for about eleven years. During the time of his residence on this farm, Mr. Leber had charge

of its cultivation and management to a large extent. In the spring of 1869 he located on his present fine farm of forty-five acres, in Lower Windsor township, where he has ever since maintained his home. He purchased the property from George Paules, who had secured the same from David Hengst. The latter erected the present dwelling on the place in 1847, and also a store and other farm build- ings, having here conducted a general mer- chandise business for a number of years, after which he removed to the West. Mr. Leber has improved and remodeled the residence, and in 1892 he built his present large and well- equipped barn, the former one having been de- stroyed by fire, enkindled by lightning, in the same year. He is one of the progressive and successful farmers of the county, and every- thing about his place bespeaks thrift and pros- perity. In politics Mr. Leber has ever given an unqualified allegiance to the Republican party, having cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, in 1864, and having ever since done his part in supporting the party cause. He was reared in the faith of the Evangelical church, of which his wife is a member, and which he regularly attends. In a fraternal way he is identified with Winona Lodge, No. 944, I. O. O. F., at East Prospect ; and with Aurora Council, No. 304, Jr. O. U. A. M., in the same town.

On Christmas day, 1862, Mr. Leber was united in marriage to Miss Matilda Kline, who was born in Lower Windsor township,

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 158

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