History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 161

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

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The first summer Mr. Hilt worked away from home his wages consisted of a pair of two dollar boots which he earned from George Gohn, and of which he was very proud. While working at berry picking for Mr. Kauffelt he received five cents an hour, quite an increase over his beginning. During the time he was employed there, Mr. Kauffelt was terribly burned by a premature blast of powder, and the boy took care of him for twenty-one con- secutive nights. Always industrious, Mr. Hilt at various times was employed in the planing mill of Sourbach & Dunden ; as the driver of a market wagon to Columbia, when he would often start at midnight, sell out and return by noon and work till evening; at the furnace of Shaw, Steary & Denny; at ice cutting during the winters; and in the quarries, which last became his settled occupation for many years. When he was working at the furnace, it was common for him to go to work Sunday noon and not return home until the following Sat- urday night. When engaged in ice cutting, he did that work at nights and did quarrying by day, once working for 100 hours in a week. In everything he was faithful to an extreme, and an untiring worker, and his services were al- ways in demand.

In March, 1893, Mr. Hilt moved from

. Wrightsville, where he had been for five years engaged in the quarries, and settled on his present farm home, where for the first four years he worked on wages, then for a half in- terest for nearly two years, and then rented it

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until in the spring of 1902 he was able to pur- cestors who served in the Revolution and the chase the place. It consists of fifty-six acres, War of 1812. It is believed that the Wellers formerly part of the McConkey estate. The settled originally along the Delaware river, and the maternal ancestors made a home in Berks county, near Reading. John Weller, grand- father of Reuben H., was a farmer of Fred- erick county, Md., and died when his son Reuben was an infant.

house was built by the McConkeys, but the barn was put up by Mr. Hilt himself, not long after he bought the farm. Though largely covered with timber when he took it, he soon cleared the place. He is engaged in general farming, and since the fall of 1904 has been carrying on a dairy in York.

On Oct. 9, 1884, Mr. Hilt was married to Miss. Annie Fry, born in Lower Windsor town- ship, Aug. 9, 1865, daughter of Henry and Catherine (Cupp) Fry. Mr. Cupp and his wife are both living and are farming people. The children born to William and Annie Hilt were five in number, namely : Maggie May, Virgie, Flora, Mary and Joseph. Mr. Hilt is a member of the Wrightsville Evangelical Church, while in political matters he is a Re- publican.

While Mr. Hilt's life might seem a prosaic record of ceaselsss toil, it has been marked by a number of hairbreadth escapes from death or injury, which are almost sensational. On one occasion while driving a cinder cart at the furnace, liis horse backed over a bank with him into the Susquehanna river thirty feet below. He stuck to his wagon and came out unin- jured, while if he had tried to jump it would have meant certain injury on the red hot cinder beds. At another time he fell from the top of the Kauffelt quarry to the bottom, narrowly escaping being crushed by a stone that weighed a ton falling on top of him. The fall, however, injured him severely, and he was obliged to use crutches for some time. Yet another accident at the furnaces was the falling of some red hot cinders into Mr. Hilt's shoe and as he could not immediately get the shoe off he jumped twelve feet down into a pool of water. This filled the shoe with steam and caused his foot to swell until the shoe had to be cut off, but Mr. Hilt did not leave work because of his injury, being of a truly spartan mold. His faithfulness, industry and endurance are well known, and he has the name of being the most energetic worker in that section.

REUBEN H. WELLER, a well-known contractor' and builder of Wrightsville, lias spent the greater part of his life there.

The Weller family has been settled in this country for two hundred years, and boasts an-

Reuben Weller was born in Frederick county, Md., and lived many years in Balti- more. He moved to Wrightsville in 1855, and there his death occurred in 1863. His wife, Anna Reifsnyder, was also a native of Frederick county, Md., daughter of John Reifsnyder, who married a Smith; both her parents died when she was an infant. Mrs. Weller is still living, aged eighty-six years. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Weller were as follows: Reuben H., mentioned below ; John Robert, of Wrightsville, a sketch of whom appears else- where; Emma Matilda, wife of Charles D. Marquette, of Carlisle; Anna, wife of Ellis Carlton Schindel, of York; and others, de- ceased.

Reuben H. Weller was born in Baltimore, Md., April 2, 1846, and his home was in that city until he was nine years old. He attended school in Baltimore, and after the family re- moved to Wrightsville went to school there for a time. His father's death obliged him to leave school when he was only thirteen, but he studied at home, and learned much by ob- servation and thought even when he was hard at work all day. His first position was as clerk in a store in Wrightsville, but this proved dis- tasteful to a mind- with a strong bent for con- structive work. He enlisted, Sept. 3, 1864, in the 20th New York Independent Battery, and served one year. He received his discharge în New York City in August, 1865. He was stationed at different points during the war, detailed much of the time for provost duty.

After the war Mr. Weller returned home for a time, and then went to Williamsport, where he worked for seven or eight years in a planing-mill. His health failing, he came back home again, married, and engaged in planing- mill work and house building on his own ac- count, building and selling many houses. He has also put up many houses for other people, and does a large and increasing business. His interests have been in Wrightsville since the early seventies.

Mr. Weller married, in 1876, Elmira Zor-

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

baugh, who was born and brought up in tion for twelve years. Following this he farmed Wrightsville. Her father, Solomon Zorbaugh, for a number of years, and then moved to Mid- dletown to become superintendent of the Amer- ican Tube & Iron Works. He held this position for ten years and then became proprietor of a coal yard, jointly conducting it and a whole- sale and retail bakery for eight years, when he retired. Mr. Wagner is an active local Re- publican politician and has held some municipal offices. His family numbered eight children : Abrahamı L .; John; William; Charles; Simon ; Elizabeth, wife of John Klinger; Emma, wife of Edward Bierly; and Anna, wife of Frank Douglas. was a well-known builder of York county, and married Matilda Wertz. Neither is now living. Mr. and Mrs. Weller went to housekeeping at once in Wrightsville, where their home has been ever since. Their children are as follows : Herbert and Marshall, at home; Tillie, Mrs. Morris Poet, of York; and Jennie and Sidney, at home. The family attend the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Weller is a Democrat in politics, and has served as school director for three years. He is a member of Lieut. R. W. Smith Post, No. 270, G. A. R., Wrightsville, and of Riverside Lodge, No. 503, F. &. A. M., Wrightsville, joining the latter order at Wil- liamsport in 1870. Mr. Weller is a man of ability, and is esteemed in the community, where he has a wide acquaintance.

CHARLES WAGNER, M. D., a practic- ing physician of the Homeopathic school, at Hanover, Pa., is a native of Middletown, Datt- phin Co., Pa., born Sept. 1, 1867, son of Fred- erick and Leah ( Peters) Wagner. His pa- ternal lineage is German; on his mother's side he is of English descent.

John Wagner, the Doctor's great-grand- father, was a native of Maryland, but in later life came to Pennsylvania. Upon his removal to the Keystone State he located in the county of Dauphin. In politics he was a Whig; by occupation a farmer. His son, also named John, was born during his parents' residence in their native State of Maryland, where he ac- quired his education in the common schools and at one of the Maryland academies. Meanwhile he worked on his father's farm and acquired an intimate knowledge of agriculture. Thus equipped he took to the soil at the conclusion of his school life and for many years followed farming, retiring in his later years. His death occurred in 1876. Mr. Wagner was a Repub- lican in politics, and in religion an active and faithful member of the United Brethren Church. He and his wife had eight children : Frederick, father of Dr. Charles Wagner; Anna, wife of Solomon Swartz; John; Sarah, wife of David Roop; Elizabeth, wife of Jacob Gingerich; Mary, wife of David Eshenour; Catherine, living ; and Caroline, deceased.

Frederick Wagner was born in Dauphin county in 1830. He obtained a good common- school education and entered the profession of teaching, with which he retained his connec-

Charles Wagner acquired the rudiments of his education in the public schools and then entered Lebanon Valley College, where he com- pleted the four years' course of study and en- tered the profession of teaching. He followed this calling for one year at Middletown and then entered upon a course of reading medicine. After three years of study he graduated from Hahnemann Medical College, at Philadelphia. Before entering upon the practice of his chosen profession, however, the Doctor took three special additional courses, and then located at Middletown, where he remained for a year. Then he came to Hanover and located, and he has since built up a good and substantial prac- tice and has made himself a popular and re- spected citizen of his adopted town. He is a member of the Golden Eagles, Knights of Py- thias, Mystic Chain, and Junior Order United American Mechanics, at Middletown. In politics he is a stanch Republican.

On June 4, 1895, Dr. Wagner married Beulah, daughter of Napoleon B. Carver. They have had three children : Dorothy (deceased), Frederick C. and Charles Christopher.

HENRY BRUBAKER, one of the enter- prising business men of York, Pa., who, since 1900, has been engaged in the manufacture of sash, doors and blinds, was born Nov. 26, 1866, son of Samuel and Rebecca (Frey) Bru- baker.

Samuel Brubaker was born in Windsor, but now carries on farming in Chanceford township. He married Rebecca Frey, and they have had these children: Milton, of York; George; Mary, the wife of George Elfner, of Chanceford township; William; Henry, the subject of this sketch; Matilda, the wife of Edward Olewiler ; and Eleanor.

Henry Brubaker spent his school days in

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Chanceford township, attending school until beth Mosher, daughter of Jeremiah Mosher, seventeen years of age. He learned the car- who was a brother of Judge Mosher, and nine children have been born to the union: Rachel, who married Ira Hart, and lives in Cumberland county ; Mabel, married to Ira Anderson, and living in York county; Rebecca, who married Charles Miller, and lives in Cumberland coun- ty; Russel; Pearl; John F., Jr .; Mary, who died when two months old; and two who died in infancy, unnamed. penter's trade in his native township, where he spent three years,after which he located in York working for different firms until 1900, when he embarked in business for himself, starting with a hand lathe, and a 3-horse power engine. Strict attention to business and Mr. Brubaker's fine personal management, enabled him to build a three-story shop, where he is now doing a large business. He has a 40-horse power boiler Mr. Sherman is a stanch Democrat and has held the office of school director. He is a mem- ber of the Church of God, in which he is a deacon and has been an elder. The members of this family are very well known and are held in high esteem in Monaghan township. and a 25-horse power engine, and his shop is fitted with all the latest improvements in ma- chinery. Mr. Brubaker is also a skilled pat- tern maker, and employs fifteen skilled work- men in his planing mill. He is now working in Codorus township, where he employs a gang of six men.

In 1894 Mr. Brubaker married Mina Mary Ziegler, daughter of George Ziegler, and these children have been born to this union : Elthan- na May, Lester K., Walter Raymond, Bernard and Dorothy. In politics Mr. Brubaker is a Republican. In religious faith he is a Lutheran. He and his family reside in their pleasant home at No. 926 West King street, York.

JOHN F. SHERMAN, who resides on his farm of seventy-eight acres in Monaghan town- ship, was born Feb. 19, 1852, in Berks county, Pa., son of Isaac and Sarah Sherman, and is of German descent.

Isaac Sherman was a farmer at Sinking Spring, Berks county. He died in 1882, aged seventy-two years, his wife surviving until about 1892, when she passed away aged eighty- two years. Nine children were born to this worthy couple, namely : Aaron, Catherine, Het- tie, Henry (deceased), Mary, John F., James, Isaac and Elizabeth. Mr. Sherman belonged to the Reformed Church, while his wife was a member of the Lutheran Church. In political affairs he was identified with the Democratic party.

J. F. Sherman was educated in the schools of Berks county, attending up to the age of eighteen years. Locating in Cumberland county, he worked by the month on a farm and later learned the trade of blacksmith, for ten years working at his trade in Shepherdstown, that county. He then bought, in 1884, his pres- ent farm of seventy-eight acres, which formerly belonged to Judge Mosher.

In 1876 Mr. Sherman married Miss Eliza-

JAMES McCALL, foreman in the Wrightsville limekilns, has been a resident of that place since he was twenty years old. He was born Jan. 1, 1831, in Ballymacool, County Donegal, Ireland.

His grandfather, James McCall, was a farmer and lived near the seashore in County Donegal. His father, John, was a cooper by trade, a well-to-do man, having his own horses, cows, etc. He married Catherine Harvey and lived all his life in County Donegal. James was the oldest boy and went to school off and on, in the intervals working in his father's cooper shop and learning considerable of the trade. James had the following brothers and sisters: Catherine, two years his elder, who married (first) a Mr. Hamilton, and ( second) John Snyder, and died in Allentown, Pa .; John, who was a cooper, and died in Philadel- phia; Daniel, who died in Conshohocken, Pa .; Ellen, who married Edward Gettigan, and died in Allentown; Unity, who married a Mr. Gal- lagher, and died in Philadelphia ; and Ann, who married C. McCall, of Allentown. After her husband's death Mrs. McCall, the mother of this family, sold her home in Ireland, and came to the United States to live with her children. She soon became homesick, however, and re- turned to Ireland hoping to buy back her prop- erty. This she was unable to do, and so came once more to this country, and spent her last days at the home of her daughter in Allen- town.

Catherine, elder sister of James McCall, came to the United States in 1842, and two years later, James, then a lad of thirteen, fol- lowed her example. He went to Liverpool,

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

where he expected to take passage on the "Ellen he followed four years. At the age of twenty- McGoy." This proved to be a small vessel, one he went to Lancaster county, and was em- ployed for three years at farming in Manor township, at the end of that time returning to his native home. On Oct. 1, 1888, Mr. Beck bought the stage line from Loganville to York, from Daniel Raffensberger. Mr. Raffensber- ger started this line with a small blind horse and a small wagon. Today Mr. Beck drives a four-horse team, and his large coach is al- ways well filled with passengers on both trips. Since he has been at this business he has missed but few days, when the snow was drifted so high that it was impossible for him to make his way through. and was so overcrowded that he sailed instead in the "Ivanhoe," a much larger vessel. His change was fortunate in many ways, as the "Ivanhoe" made port in New York sooner than the "Ellen McGoy," which had sailed earlier. He went at first to a cousin of his mother's, James McCoy, in Philadelphia ; and then to the home of an acquaintance, James Brogan, in Chester county, Pa. He found employment driving oxen, and later in the lime kilns of Mr. Phillips, and remained in Chester county seven years. He then came to Wrightsville, where he was employed in the lime kilns in various capacities until he became foreman, a position he has ever since held. Mr. McCall enlisted in 1862 in the Home Guards, and was on duty near Hagerstown, Md., for a few months, and thèn received his discharge.

In 1849 Mr. McCall married Catherine Fitzpatrick, a native of County Galway, Ire- land, who came to the United States as a young girl and lived in Chester county until her marriage. Her father was John Fitzpatrick, a shoemaker, who lived and died in County Galway. Mrs. McCall died July 10, 1894. She was a member of the Roman Catholic Church, as is her husband. Mr. McCall is a Democrat in politics. He first built his home, and has since built two other houses, and is the owner of still another house, in town. Mr. McCall is the father of the following children : ( I) John was born in Wrightsville, and went to school there to Col. Magee ; he began railroading when a young man, and is an engineer on the North- ern Central railroad; he married Mary An- thony, and lives near Hanover. (2) Catherine died young. (3) Daniel is a conductor on the Pennsylvania railroad; he married Sue Koch, and lives in Columbia. (4) Sarah mar- ried Barney Keys, of Camden, N. J. (5) Mar- garet married (first) Alexander McManus, and (second) Harry Luger ; she lives in Philadel- phia. (6) Mary is at home.

FRANK J. BECK, who is successfully conducting the stage line between Loganville- and York, was born in Springfield township, this county, July 28, 1858, son of John F. Beck.

Mr. Beck attended Bubb's school in Spring- field township until he was sixteen years old, and then learned the shoemaker's trade, which

On Dec. 16, 1888, Frank J. Beck married Rosa E. Beck, daughter of Andrew and Cath- erine (Bentz) Beck. Mrs. Beck was born in Codorus township, where her parents, who are farming people, still reside. She was one of five children, her brother and sisters being : Jacob H., Elizabeth, Ida and Amanda. Mr. Beck bought his present home on Main street, in Loganville, in February, 1889, and he has since made many improvements. Two chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Beck, Mary C. and Carrie E., both of whom are at- tending school. In politics Mr. Beck is a Re- publican, and he served the borough as school director for nine years, and as council- man three years. He is actively connected with the Lutheran Church, at present serving as a member of the council.

WATSON A. MCLAUGHLIN, who has done much to further the development of Delta, was born in Mifflin county, Pa., Feb. 14, 1842, son of John and Mary (Miller) Mc- Laughlin. While he was still a boy his par- ents moved to Dayton, Ohio, and there both died, leaving six children-of whom Watson A. was the eldest-to make their way in the world Thus Watson Mclaughlin was hardly more than a lad when he was thrown on his own re- sources, but he started out bravelv. He went back to Pennsylvania, secured employment as a clerk with his uncle, Watson H. Miller, in Lancaster, and for several years followed that line of work, meantime improving every oppor- tunity offered him for continuing his educa- tion. In 1860 he learned the milling trade, which he followed for about ten years in Conestoga township, Lancaster county, at the same time giving considerable attention to the

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culture of tobacco. In 1862, however, oc- Our subject has one sister, Margaret, who re- curred a break of one year, when he was in sides in Germany. the government service, but at the end of that time he took up once more his accustomed oc- cupations.

In 1874 Mr. Mclaughlin ventured out in a new line, undertaking the management of a hotel in Gatchellville, York county, and for sev- eral years continuing that business in Peach Bottom and Lower Chanceford. In 1876 be- gan his connection with the "Railroad House" at Delta, now known as the "Hotel Delta," while still later he became the proprietor of the "Delta House," the present Auditorium. The "Hotel Delta," of which he is now proprietor, is one of the best known and most popular hotels in the county, and Mr. Mclaughlin pos- sesses an unusually happy faculty of making every guest feel at home.

While' Mr. McLaughlin has been gaining his enviable reputation as a host he has also found time to do much in furthering the devel- opment of the rich mineral deposits of lower York county and the adjoining section of Harford county, Md. The opening up of the slate and other mineral lands there has added greatly to the wealth of the section, and much of this progress has been due to Mr. Mc- Laughlin's energy. He first engaged in slate quarrying in 1879, in Delta, and later opened a mine in Harford county, thereby giving much impetus to the industry, although not reaping as much profit himself as he had hoped. He has not confined his attention to slate, how- ever, but for many years has carried on general explorations which have resulted for one thing in the discovery in the Peach Bottom district of a deposit of variegated green stone, which is not surpassed anywhere in the country for beauty of formation and strength.

The marriage of Watson A. Mclaughlin took place in 1864, when he was united with Miss Elizabeth Moore. Seven children have been born to them, but only two are living, viz. : Daniel A., a merchant of Delta; and Nora O., who married Harry Garell and resides in York.

GEORGE F. KRANTZ. Among the self- made men of York, Pa., who have won their way to success through their own industry and strict attention to business, is George F. Krantz, a native of Germany, born March 3. 1862, son of George F. Krantz, a laborer of that country, and Maggie (Evert) Krantz.

George F. Krantz learned the weaving trade in his native country. He was early left an orphan, and worked at different farms until en- tering the German army, from which he was discharged one year afterward, on account of his eyes. He came to America at the age of twenty-one years, staying in New York for one day, when he went to Baltimore, where he remained six years. Most of this time was spent in railroading and at the carpenter trade. In 1888 he came to York, and engaged in the draying business, in which he has since con- tinued very successfully. He erected a fine house at No. 608 West College avenue in 1898, where he and his family now reside. Mr. Krantz married Miss Minnie Huber, born in Germany in 1861, daughter of Ernest Huber, who came to this country in 1865. To Mr. and Mrs. Krantz have been born : John F., who is learning the printing trade with the York Daily; Charles H., a messenger of the same paper : George F., Ernest F. and Magdalena Catherine. In politics Mr. Krantz is a Demo- crat. The family attend St. John's Lutheran Church.

JOSHUA E. FOUST, who was engaged in agricultural operations for twenty-five years in Springfield township, was born Aug. 16, 1841.

Mr. Foust attended the schools of Spring- field township, being reared to manliood on the home farm, which he left at the time of his marriage, at the age of twenty-five years. He married Mary Goodling, daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Overmiller) Goodling, and until 1904 resided on the farm in Springfield town- ship, in that year removing to his present home in the village of New Paradise, where he has since resided. For some time he has engaged in horse dealing in Paradise.

Mr. and Mrs. Foust have had children as follows: Virgie is the wife of Frank Lehman, of York. William Tell, proprietor of the "Lo- ganville Hotel," is one of the capable young business men of this section and one of the most popular hotel keepers in York county ; he married Ida Sprenkle, daughter of William and Lydia (Strine) Sprenkle. Howard married Elmira Bupp, and resides in York. Eli, who married Mabel Lillie, is a dentist at Spring Grove, being a graduate of the Baltimore Den- tal College, class of 1901.

In politics Mr. Foust is a Republican. He

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was township supervisor for two terms and has Fortney, daughter of David and Mary A. also served on the election board.

JEFFERSON MARTIN, of Monaghan township, York county, was born July 29, 1840, near Dillsburg, York county, son of Alexander C. and Sarah (Lightfoot) Martin, the former a native of Belfast, Ireland, and the latter of York county.

Alexander C. Martin was born July 4, 1777, and came to America in 1797. Prior to this he had clerked on a sailing vessel, making seven trips across the Atlantic. He first settled in the vicinity of Lake Erie, in Pennsylvania, near Erie, and there married and reared a fam- ily of children, of whom our subject knows nothing. After the death of his first wife Mr. Martin came to York county, where he mar- ried Sarah Lightfoot, who was born in 1798, and their children were born as follows : Leslie J., May 14, 1817; John H., Dec. 2, 1818 ( died Aug. 18, 1825) ; William C., Feb. 14, 1820; a son, Sept. 9, 1821 (died June 18, 1822) ; Lut- cinda, Dec. 9, 1822 (died Oct. 23, 1823) ; Cy- rus, July 29, 1825 ; Cynthia A., Aug. 6, 1827; Harriet, Sept. 13, 1829 (died April 7, 1890) ; Catherine, Sept. 27, 1831; Alexander L., March II, 1834; Henry L., Oct. 14, 1835 (died Dec. 26, 1888) ; Rebecca J., June 29, 1837; Jefferson, July 29, 1840; Jackson, twin brother of Jefferson, July 29, 1840; and Eleanora, March 8, 1844.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 161

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