History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 159

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

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July 8. 1842, daughter of Peter and Mary Ann (Flory) Kline, the former of whom died in 1867, the latter having passed away in 1852, after which Mrs. Leber kept house for her father, as be- fore stated. In conclusion of this resume we enter brief record concerning the children of Mr. and Mrs. Leber: Mary Ann, born in 1863, became the wife of Daniel S. Baer, and her death occurred at their home, in Chance- ford, this county, in 1891, her husband and three children surviving her. Arvilla, born Oct. 8, 1864, is the widow of Simon W. Kise and resides in East Prospect, having four chil- dren. Peter Harrison, born April 1, 1866, died in infancy. George Henry, born Oct. 4, 1867, married Fanny Kraft, and they have three children. He is employed as clerk in a general store at East Prospect. The fifth child died in infancy, unnamed. Edwin C., born

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Feb. 16, 1872, has attained marked success as an educator. He secured his rudimentary ed- ucation in the district schools, which he at- tended until he had attained the age of sixteen years, after which he spent two years in the York County Academy and the next two years in the Northern Indiana Normal School, at Valparaiso, Ind., being there graduated as a member of the class of 1894. Soon afterward he entered the normal school at Millersville, Pa., where he was graduated in 1896. He be- gan teaching in the district schools of his home county before entering the York County Academy, later taught for three years in the Will school, in Lower Windsor township, and an equal period in the village schools at York- ana. While holding the position last noted he taught one term also in the York County Academy. Later he held the principalship of the schools at York Haven for two years, and then, in the autumn of 1902, assumed his pres- ent incumbency as superintendent of the pub- lic schools at Dauphin, Dauphin county, Pa. He remains a bachelor at the time of this writ- ing. Arthur, born July 31, 1873, a manufact- urer of cigars at Red Lion, this county, mar- ried Savilla Smith and they have two children. James Irving, born Jan. 3, 1875, is engaged in the bakery business at Red Lion. He married Octavia Detwiler and they have four children. Matilda Angeline, born Nov. 23, 1876, re- mains at the parental home. John, born Sept. 29, 1877, is a baker by trade and resides in Red Lion. Clara, born April 20, 1879, is the wife of Edward Garner, of East Prospect, and they have no children. Bertha, born April 28, 1883, and Virginia, born April 19, 1887, are still beneath the parental rooftree.

FREDERICK BENTZ, a well-to-do agriculturist of Warrington township, York county, was born Aug. 15, 1851, son of Jacob L. and Elizabeth (Slothour) Bentz.

Jacob L. Bentz was born in Dover town- ship, this county, and was educated in the com- mon schools. He took up farming when young and followed that occupation all of his life, owning a farm of 155 acres in Warrington township, and was considered a prosperous farmer of his day. His first wife, Elizabeth Slothour, bore him eleven children, as follows : John; Michael; Susan, deceased, who married Henry Arnold; Mary, deceased, who married John T. Wireman; Jacob; Lewis; Rebecca,

married to Samuel Deardorff; David; Leah, married to Rudolph Saunders; Adam; and Frederick. In religious belief Mrs. Bentz was a Lutheran, and she died in that faith in 1851, at the age of forty years. Mr. Bentz afterward married Susan Hartman. His death occurred in 1873, when he was aged seventy years.

Frederick Bentz was educated in the com- mon schools of Warrington township, and has devoted all his life to farming. In 1879 Mr. Bentz purchased his present home, which con- sists of 115 acres, and he has cultivated it until it is at the present time one of the finest in the township.

Mr. Bentz married, in 1875, Miss Laura E. Frick, daughter of Christian P. and Matilda J. (Speck) Frick, and four children have been born to this union: George E., Harry F., Orie B. and one that died in infancy.

In their religious belief Frederick Bentz and his wife are devoted members of the Ger man Reformed Church. In politics, while never seeking public office, Mr. Bentz has al- ways voted the Democratic ticket, and watches with interest the success of his party. He is considered one of the substantial men of his township, and his knowledge of things agri- cultural is conceded to be far above the av- erage.

CHARLES G. MYERS, who is a promi- nent and industrious farmer of Codorus town- ship, was born in that township, son of Elias H. and Amanda Glatfelter ( Stover) Myers.

John Myers, his grandfather, was born in North Codorus township, York .Co., Pa., and had a large tract of land which he farmed in North Codorus and Codorus townships. He married Estra Henry and they had children as follows: Elias H .; Jesse, deceased; Lydia, living in Springfield township; Levi, living in Codorus township; Harriet, deceased; Naomi ; Edward; and Mary. The mother of these chil- dren died at the age of seventy-five years, and the father at the age of sixty-seven years. Both are buried at Shuster's church in Springfield township.

Elias H. Myers, father of Charles G., at- tended the schools of Codorus township, and assisted his father at farming. In 1859 he mar- ried Amanda Glatfelter, a daughter of Jacob and Nancy Stover, and located where they now reside, on his father's farm. They have a fine farm of 130 acres of good land in the

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northern part of the township, which he has built up and farmed well. For the last four- teen years, however, he has lived a retired life, which he has justly earned. To Mr. and Mrs. Myers came children as follows: John H., who married Neeley Weaver, is the well known merchant tailor, of York. Edward G., a graduate of the University of Maryland, and admitted to the bar Jan. 8, 1900, now practic- ing in York, married Emma Glatfelter. Agness, who is the wife of William Stover, is living in North Codorus township. Charles G. is the subject of this sketch. Annie, the wife of Charles Diehl, a Lutheran minister, is living at Chambersburg, Franklin .Co., Pa. Harvey J. is a tailor of Chicago, Illinois.

Charles G. Myers attended the township schools and assisted his father at farming. For thirteen years he farmed his father's farm, and in 1903 bought the Levi brothers' farm of forty-five acres, upon which are many fine buildings. This farm is situated a short dis- tance from his father's, and is well kept.

Mr. Myers married Clara Holtzapple, a daughter of Israel and Annie Lecrone. Their children are : Lloyd, Paul, George and Naomi. Mr. Myers is now serving as school director of his township, in which he is a well known and respected citizen. In politics he is a Democrat.

LEVI GERBRICK, proprietor of the hotel at Railroad borough, York county, was born in Shrewsbury township, in 1867, son of Noah Gerbrick, and grandson of John Gerbrick.

John Gerbrick was a carpenter by trade and this he followed for a number of years, and then engaged in farming. His children were: William, Jacob, Noah, Levi and Lydia.

Noah Gerbrick, father of Levi, was born in Shrewsbury township, where he received a common school education and grew up on his father's farm. He followed farming until 1895, when he moved to Glen Rock, where he now resides. 'He married Servilla Warner, and their children were: Levi; Mary, wife of J. F. Lentz, a passenger fireman on the North- ern Central Railroad; and Henry A., a car- penter at Glen Rock.

Levi Gerbrick attended school in Codorns township, and was a pupil of the Rohrbaugh school until he was nineteen years of age. He then entered upon railroad work, becoming a brakeman for the Northern Central Railroad,

and followed that for several years. He then accepted the position of fireman for the Glen Rock Wire Cloth Company, at Glen Rock, and continued there about ten years. He was one of the original stockholders of that company.

In August, 1905, Mr. Gerbrick bought the "Jackson House," at Railroad. Under his management this is becoming one of the best hostelries along the line. Mr. Gerbrick has modern ideas and he has just completed the in- stallation of steam heat and has equipped the whole house with a system of baths, with hot and cold water. He has thirteen desirable rooms, and he makes it his pleasure to have his guests comfortable.

Mr. Gerbrick was married (first) to May Greenplate, who died in 1894. His second marriage was to Rebecca Trout. He is a mem- ber of the Red Men and of the Heptasophs.

SAMUEL I. HOFF, for many years prominent in real estate and insurance circles in York, is one of the most unique figures in York county. He was born in York, May II, 1861, son of Isaiah Hoff, a wagon builder of that place, who was killed June 23, 1864, in front of Petersburg, Va., while gallantly bat- tling for his country as a member of Company C, 87th Regiment, P. V. I. Mr. Hoff's mother was Katherine Kreider, daughter of Jacob Kreider, a farmer of York county, and de- scended from the Weigels, an old family of York county, the settlement of Weigelstown, in Dover township, having been founded by them. Mr. Hoff's paternal line is as old in Pennsyl- vania as the maternal, an island in the Susque- hanna, still known as Hoff's Island, having been owned and named by his great-grand- father.

Mr. Hoff was an only son, and having been bereft of his parents at a tender age he ran away to Kentucky, where for a time he carried water to workingmen for twenty-five cents a day. He next became assistant in a store in Illinois, and then found employment on a farm at Wolf Creek, Tenn., at three dollars a month. After that, while still a mere lad, young Hoff made his way to New Orleans, and found em- ployment as cabin boy on the sailing ship "Hagerstown," at five dollars a month. On this stanch old vessel he made an extended voy- age, touching at Callao, Peru, Liverpool, Eng- land, and Shanghai, China, and came back to the Peruvian coast; from there went to Dover,

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

England, and London, Calcutta, and finally for in addition to thirteen years at sea and two San Francisco, Cal. He has sailed over the years in the United States Navy, he served as North Atlantic, South Atlantic, North Pacific, a member of Company A, 8th Regiment, P. South Pacific, Mediterranean, Red Sea-in fact N. G. has made ports in every country that flies a Mr. Hoff was married to Miss Virginia Hildebrand, daughter of Reuben Hildebrand, a car builder of York. flag. Having been honorably discharged after a term of years, Mr. Hoff returned to York,his birthplace, on a visit, but remained only a few In fraternal circles Mr. Hoff is very well known, belonging to several very prominent orders. He is also a member of several for- eign orders into which he was admitted in his traveling days. Mr. Hoff, owing to his busi- ness acumen and his untiring efforts, together with his adaptability and quick recognition and. acceptance of business opportunities, is recog- nized as rapidly approaching the front rank among the financiers of York county. He has won an enviable reputation as a business man of integrity and as one who is always ready to endorse measures that promise to be of per- manent benefit to the community. days, his roving disposition taking him once more from the place of his nativity. He found his way to Galveston, Texas, and became em- ployed herding cattle on the Brazos river, be- ing a cowboy for several years, at the end of which time he returned to York. Remaining but a very brief time, however, he went to Phil- adelphia and joined the sailing vessel "Jennie V. Strickler," as seaman. Leaving the sailing vessel after a time, Mr. Hoff joined the crew of forty-five men on the American ship "Star," which foundered off the River Plate, in the Pacific ocean, and for eleven days the sur- vivors were without food or drink. Of the crew of forty-five men Mr. Hoff and a companion JACOB WILLIAM TROUT, of Chance- ford township, is a son of Judge Valentine Trout, and was born on the home farm in Chanceford township, May 10, 1847. were the only two saved. They were picked up by a Norwegian bark and carried back to the English coast. Finding his way to Liver- pool, Mr. Hoff joined the White Star Line of passenger steamers, and successfully took the post commander's examination when only nineteen years of age; he served for one year as second officer on the "Germanica," one of the White Star Line ocean passenger steamers. At the expiration of this service Mr. Hoff again returned to York, but still possessed of the rov- ing spirit, he went to Washington, D. C., and enlisted on a United States monitor, serving under First Lieutenant York Nole. Finally he became a railroader on the Illinois Central, subsequently entering the service of the North- ern Central, and later the Pennsylvania Rail- road Company. He continued in the railroad service until Dec. 5, 1883, when he lost his right leg in a wreck.

After his recovery Mr. Hoff occupied him- self as a clerk, and later was the proprietor of a livery and exchange stable. Retiring from the latter business he opened a real estate and insurance business, in which venture he has been eminently successful. Mr. Hoff has, in his office, a frame containing four discharges from the ocean service, and in the center of these discharges a picture of the first vessel on which he sailed as a boy. He rejoices in the possession of twelve honorable discharges,

Mr. Trout attended the public schools of his day, but as the war came on at the time his education was in progress his advan- tages in that line were rather limited. He re- mained at home on the farm until twenty-one years of age, and then left home and worked for Dr. B. F. Porter, with whom he remained one year. His next employer was A. K. Fry, for whom he worked in his store at Brogue- ville, being the latter's first clerk. He then en- gaged in carpentering for part of a year. After his marriage he settled on his father's place where he remained twenty years, in 1892 locating on his present farm of 131 acres, which he has taken "right out of the woods." His present residence was built in 1896, his barn ten years previous to that time, the tim- ber being taken off the farm. Mr. Trout fur- nished the timber for the present New Har- mony Presbyterian Church, with which he united when a young man, and in which he has been an elder for many years. In poli- tics he is a Democrat.

On Jan. 4, 1872, Mr. Trout married Miss Susan Miller, and they became the parents of the following children: J. Thomas, a farmer of Lower Chanceford township, who married Miss Annie Atkins; Valentine C., of Phila-

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delphia, who married Miss Jane Long; Lizzie J., at home; Ada M., a school teacher; and James Kerwin, at home.

Phillip Miller, Mrs. Trout's grandfather, was a native of Maryland, whence the fam- ily removed to near York, and after his mar- riage came to Chanceford township, where he died. His wife,who had been Elizabeth Young, died at the age of eighty-two years in the same township. John Miller, son of Phillip, and father of Mrs. Trout, was born near Brogue- ville Station, Chanceford township, and lived within two miles of his native place all of his life. He had received but a limited education, being eight or nine miles from a school house when young, and all of the geography he knew was studied after his sixtieth year. In spite of handicaps Mr. Miller became a well informed man, having a most retentive mem- ory. He was a close Bible student. He had learned the cooper's trade at Cross Roads, Hopewell township, and followed same many years. His first religious affiliations were

with St. Luke's German Reformed Church, which he attended when a boy. After his marriage he united with the Round Hill Presbyterian Church, and later was one of the organizers of the New Harmony Pres- byterian Church, at the Brogue, and helped to build the first church there. He was a devout. God-fearing man. In politics he was a Demo- crat. Mr. Miller's death occurred in his eighty- eighth year. He married Catherine Shaull, and they were the parents of the following children : Elizabeth, who married Charles Wolf, of Hope- well township; Catherine, who married John Patterson, of Chanceford township; Agnes, who married Thomas J. Douglas, of Chance- ford township; Sarah, who married John R. Saylor, of the same township, and Susan, Mrs. Trout.

Catherine (Shaull) Miller was born in Chanceford township, where her father, George Shaull, owned the farm which is now divided into three farms, owned by Harry L. Grove, Samuel Anspacher and Mr. McClure. George Shaull married Barbara Swisher, and they had the following children: John, who married Catherine Heffner; Elizabeth, who married George Hubbard, and died in Hopewell town- ship; Sarah, who married George Spear, (they migrated to Cadiz, Ohio, where Mr. Spear fol- lowed his trade of blacksmith, later removed to Crawfordsville, Ind., and thence to Washing-

ton, Iowa, where he kept store, and to Berlin, Iowa, where he was also a merchant, and where he and his wife died leaving two children-( 1) Amelia, Mrs. William Bowers, who has three children, Fleta, Mrs. Samuel Rathbone, of Red Oak, Iowa, Mildred, a teacher at Eldora, Iowa, and Ella, Mrs. Roland Heard, of Gran- ville, Iowa ; and (2) Helen, Mrs. Luther Allen, of Ames, Iowa) ; Henry, who married twice, his second wife being Mary McCoe (he died at their home in Cumberland county, Pa.) ; Cath- erine, the mother of Mrs. Trout; Barbara, who married William Workinger, and died at her home in Hopewell township; and George, who died in 1903 in Hopewell township, (he mar- ried Rebecca Wolf).

DAVID H. STRAYER is the owner of an excellent sixty-four-acre farm in North Hope- well township, York county, upon which he was born Nov. 20, 1857, son of David W. and Lydia (Strayer) Strayer, and brother of A. F. Strayer, deputy revenue collector of York.

Mr. Strayer attended the Duncan public school near his home, under H. H. Snyder, until he was thirteen years old. At the age of fourteen he left home to find work, having fourteen cents in his pocket-a cent for each year of his life. He found employment with Benjamin Strickler, two miles from Columbia, and worked through harvesting, the following year attending school. From Mr. Strickler, Mr. Strayer had received the high wages of two dollars for harvesting, and one dollar for general work. When school closed the follow- ing spring the boy was employed by Ben Mus- ser to drive a milk wagon in Columbia, and for this work he received fifteen dollars per month. After one and one-half years of that employment he went to Chicago to see the city. There he remained but a short time, returning to Columbia, and being employed for a time as a bowsman on a canalboat. He then returned home and for one year worked for his father, at the end of which time he went above York to help take out timber for Edward Smyser, continuing at that occupation for a short time and then re-locating on the family homestead. Mr. Strayer remained at home until his mar- riage.

On May 29, 1881, Mr. Strayer married Ellen E. Grim, of North Hopewell township, daughter of Daniel F. and Rebecca ( Phillips) Grim. After his marriage Mr. Strayer re-

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moved to a small twelve-acre tract close to the home farm, which he worked for one and one- half years, and then operated the home place on shares for several years. In 1899 he purchased the homestead, consisting of sixty-four acres, remodeled the residence, built additions and made general improvements, and transformed the place into an attractive and valuable prop- erty.

Mr. and Mrs. Strayer are members of the Evangelical Church, and he is a teacher in the Sabbath school. In politics he is a consistent Republican, and has served in a number of township offices. To Mr. and Mrs. Strayer have been born : Claudia A., Mrs. A. F. Sny- der, of Winterstown; Naomi R., a student of the Millersville Normal school, and a teacher in the public schools of North Hopewell town- ship; Marvin E., who lives at home; and Lydia Lovella, deceased.

In 1878 Mr. Strayer joined the Felton band and continued to be a member of that or- ganization four years, three years of which time he was its leader. In 1883 he joined the Loganville band, remaining with them until 1898 and playing several of the instruments at different periods. He is a first-class musi- cian and has an excellent reputation as a band leader.

JOHN WESLEY HORN, of Yorkana, who is engaged in the manufacture of cigars upon an extensive scale, was born near York- ana Jan. 29, 1854, a son of John and Eliza (Shapp) Horn.

John Horn, his father, likewise was born and reared in York county, where he learned the blacksmith's trade in his youth, continuing to follow it for many years. After the close of the Civil War he purchased fifteen acres of land near Yorkana and there took up his resi- dence. He erected a small shop on the place in which he continued to follow the work of his trade until he had attained the age of three- score years and ten, when he received a para- lytic stroke which caused him to be practically an invalid until his death, in 1897, at the age of seventy-four years. He was a man of im- pregnable integrity, loyal and earnest in every relation, and ever commanded the regard and confidence of all those whose life lines crossed his own. He was a stalwart Republican in politics and his religious connection was with the United Evangelical Church, of which his

venerable widow also has long been a devoted member. Mrs. Eliza (Shapp) Horn was born in what is now the village of Yorkana, Lower Windsor township, being a daughter of Jacob Shapp, a blacksmith by trade and long identi- fied with the agricultural interests of that town- ship. The maiden name of his wife was Slenker. Mrs. Horn makes her home in York- ana, where she is held in affectionate regard by her wide circle of friends. She is past sev- enty-six years of age at the time of this writ- ing. Of her children is presented the follow- ing brief record: Alexander married Elizabeth Leiphart and is a representative farmer of Lower Windsor township; Lavina and Amanda died in early childhood; John W. was the fourth in order of birth; Albert and Arthur are deceased; Eliza remains with her mother ; Ida is the wife of Frederick Snyder, of York- ana; and Morris, who married Alice Keller, is a resident of Yorkana.

John W. Horn obtained his early educa- tion in the common schools, yet such were the exigencies and conditions that his attendance was desultory and of brief duration; but his alert mentality has enabled him to make good progress despite the handicap of his youth, for he has learned valuable lessons under that wisest of all head-masters-experience. From boy- hood up he assisted his father on the farm, and when his services were not thus required worked for other farmers. He received thirty cents a day when a boy and was permitted, as were his brothers, to keep all that he was able to earn when not needed at home. He continued to be thus engaged during his early youth, while for three years prior to his mar- riage he worked at the carpenter's trade, and learned the manufacture of cigars under the direction of Samuel Shearer. When twenty- one years of age Mr. Horn married, having saved $600 as a basis for his domestic career. The second year after his marriage he pur- chased a house and ten acres of land in York- ana, and early in the eighties engaged in the manufacturing of cigars on his own responsi- bility, utilizing the basement of his house for a shop and employing only one assistant for some- what more than a year ; thereafter he gradually increased his facilities and corps of workmen, in proportion to the gratifying expansion of his business. For some time he sold his entire product in the local market, but he now ships goods (principally five-cent) to the most di-

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verse sections of the Union, having gained a His son, Abraham, was born Feb. 13, 1792, in high reputation for the various brands of cigars which he manufactures. In the third year after starting his enterprise Mr. Horn erected a little shop, 16 feet square and one and one-half stories in height, which stood on the site of his present office. About five years later he found his quarters so inadequate that he built a two-story addition to his factory, the new building being 32 feet in length. Two years later he was again compelled to enlarge his establishment; so he tore down the old build- ing and erected his present finely equipped fac- tory, the structure being 35 x 24 feet in di- mensions and three stories in height. Mr. Horn's force of operatives varies from twenty to forty hands, according to the demands of the trade, and his factory represents one of the im- portant industrial enterprises of his section of York county.

As a public-spirited and progressive citizen Mr. Horn has ever manifested a deep interest in local affairs, and his political allegiance is given to the Republican party. He and his wife are zealous and valued members of the United Evangelical Church at Yorkana, in which he has held various official positions, in- cluding those of trustee and treasurer.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 159

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