History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 162

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

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Alexander C. Martin died Oct. 17. 1865, aged eighty-eight years, three months, thirteen days, while his wife survived until Sept. 20, 1882, dying aged eighty-four years, one month, twenty-seven days. Mr. Martin was a school teacher, and followed that profession all his life.

Jefferson Martin was educated in the com- mon schools of York county. He has devoted his active life to agricultural pursuits, having resided since 1867, on his present farm, which was formerly the property of John Bosch and originally contained thirty-one acres; but Mr. Martin has added to it, and it now covers thirty-five acres. He also owns the farm of twenty-two acres occupied by his twin brother, Jackson, and a seventy-eight acre place (ad- joining his home farm) which was formerly owned by William Porter. Mr. Martin makes a specialty of general stock raising and fruit growing.

In 1867 Mr. Martin married Elmira J.

(Leckrone) Fortney, and four children were born to this union, three of whom still survive: Mary A. married John H. Martin, who is, how- ever, no relation to Jefferson Martin ; Sarah A. married Jacob E. Cook; Lillian F. married Ja- cob R. Weaver. Mr. Martin is liberal in his religious views. In politics he is active in the work of the Democratic party, having served as judge of election and constable for several years. Mr. Martin is enterprising and full of energy and his success in life has been brought about wholly through his own efforts.

Mr. Martin was one of the veterans of the Civil War, having enlisted in 1861 in Com- pany H, 87th P. V. I., in which he served three years; at the end of this term of service he re- enlisted and served until the war was over. He was wounded at the battle of Cedar Creek. -

GEORGE WASHINGTON SHULTZ, one of Wrightsville's progressive citizens, is a well known liveryman of that place. He was born on a farm in Lower Windsor township, York county, July 30. 1867, was brought up there, and educated in the district schools. Among his teachers were Mr. Gilbert, Harry Kellar, James Abel, Harry Stewart, James Sitler, and Edward Strickler. . When he was fourteen his father died, and his mother mov- ing to Wrightsville two years later he left school to help her. He had previously worked on the farm for his parents. After coming to town his first employment was on the turn- pike; he then went to work at packing tobacco for Jacob Zuch, and later worked at the quar- ries, driving a cart. In April, 1895, he set up for himself in the draying business, with money saved from his earnings. By Dec. 21, 1900, he was able to open a livery stable in connection with his draying, and has prospered steadily ever since.

On March 13, 1889, Mr. Shultz married Lizzie Roth, of Wrightsville, daughter of Adam and Mary ( Rankin) Roth, who are de- ceased. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Shultz are as follows: Jennie J., Mary, Amy and Rena May. Mr. Shultz is a Republican in pol- itics, and the family are members of the Luth- eran Church. Mr. Shultz's success is due en- tirely to his own energy and steady application to business.

The grandfather of Mr. Shultz was a school teacher. His son, David I. Shultz, was

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born in Lower Windsor, and died in 1882. He was a Republican in politics, and a member of the Evangelical Church. He was brought up to farm work, but after his marriage worked for a time in the ore banks in Murphy's Hol- low. After a time he bought farming land in Lower Windsor, eighty acres in one tract, and twenty-eight acres in another, which he culti- vated. Shortly after his death his widow moved to town and bought a home on Chestnut street where she still lives. Her maiden name was Magdalena Kinard, and she was a native of Lower Windsor, where her father, Henry Ki- nard, was a well known farmer. David I. and Magdalena (Kinard) Shultz had the follow- ing children : William, a farmer of Lower Windsor, married to Annie Stauffer; Mary, married to John Rau, of Columbia, Pa .; John Andrew, a cigarmaker, living in Lower Wind- sor, who married ( first) Sarah Hill, and ( sec- ond) Mary Greenawalt; David I., a farmer of Lower Windsor, married to Mary Paxton; George Washington; Lizzie, married to Sey- mour Filby, of Wrightsville ; and Charles WVes- ley, of Wrightsville, married to Becky Ruby.

WILLIAM W. SMEACH, formerly high constable of Hanover, and now engaged in butchering at No. 112 Baltimore street, Han- over, was born in Carroll county, Md., in 1859, son of Andrew Smeach.

Andrew Smeach was a miller in early life, and later engaged in farming in Carroll county, Md., following the latter occupation until his death, at the age of fifty-five years. He first married Miss Eliza Wine, who died young, leaving one child, Mandilla. Mr. Smeach's second wife was Maria Myers, who died aged fifty-two years, and was buried in Carroll county. She bore her husband these children : Andrew S., David R., Philip A. and Wil- liam W.

office for nine years. At the time of Mr. Smeach's election to this office George W. King was chief burgess, and at this writing ( 1905) is again serving in the same office. Mr. Smeach engaged in the butchering business May 5, 1905, and his patronage since the start has been constantly growing.

Mr. Smeach married first Mary Baughman, who died leaving two sons : Herbert Clinton is a barber near Pittsburg, Pa .; William H., who married Emma Shilt, is a tinner and plumber by trade, and resides in Indiana. Mr. Smeach's second marriage was to Miss Amelia S. Ster- ner, daughter of David H. Sterner. Mr. and Mrs. Smeach are members of the Trinity Re- formed Church of Hanover, in which he has served as elder for nine years.

WILLIAM H. EISENHART, M. P., a well known practitioner of York, who resides at No. 37 North Hartley street, was born in Upper Windsor township, York county, in 1858.

John Eisenhart, the grandfather of William H., had one son, Levi, who was born June 30, 1831, in Dover township, this county. He at- tended the district school three miles from his home, his education being limited, and learned the blacksmith's trade in York with George Barnhart, later engaging in business at Wind- sorville, where he remained seven years. He then went to Weigelstown, Dover township, where he was engaged in business for twenty years, and locating in York in 1885 he engaged in the chainmaking business, following that un- til his health failed, in 1903, since which time he has lived retired. On March 15, 1855, he was united in marriage with Catherine Saylor, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Ramsey) Saylor, and to this union were born : Jacob S., who married Ella Gross, living in York; Wil- liam H .; Harvey A., who married Sarah Mayer, of York; Franklin E., married to Alice Shaffer, of York; and Charles W., who died when ten months and eleven days old. Mr. Eisenhart was for twenty years superintendent of the Evangelical Sunday-school, and was also a trustee of the church. In politics he is a

William W. Smeach received his education in the public schools of Carroll county, Md., after leaving which, at the age of fourteen years, he assisted his father in farming until twenty-one years old. He then went to learn the carpenter's trade in his native county, in 1893 coming to Hanover, where he followed Democrat. his trade until 1896, when he was elected high William H. Eisenhart attended the public schools at Weigelstown, Dover township, and then learned the blacksmith's trade, later com- ing to York, where he was employed nine years constable of the borough of Hanover. Al- though elected on the Republican ticket in a Democratic district, his faithful services were appreciated to the extent that he was kept in at the Standard Chain Works as chain inspec-

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

tor. During the time he was employed at the latter place Mr. Eisenhart prepared himself for entrance to the Academy of Medical Sciences at New York City. from which he was graduated in 1901, and in 1902 he graduated from the Weltmer Mental School of Healing, of Nevada, Mo. He is now engaged in the practice of his profession in York, his office being at No. 324 West York avenue.

Mr. Eisenhart married Sarah Heilman, daughter of Israel Heilman. In politics he is a Republican. He is a member of the U. B. Church of York.

WILLIAM H. MASAMORE was one of the highly esteemed retired farmers of Man- heim township, York county, at the time of his sudden death, which was a shock to the entire 'community. He had passed all his life there, having been born April 1, 1842, on the farm where he always resided, a son of Daniel Mas- amore.

The latter was born Jan. 1, 1800, near Han- over, York county, and died June 2, 1893, at the advanced age of ninety-three years, five months, one day. He was one of the best known and most respected men of his time in this locality. He bought the old Roleman farm in Manheim township, then containing 150 acres, on which he built a fine two-story brick home, and lived there all his days. He is one of the oldest people buried in the old Stone Church cemetery of Codorous township. Both he and his wife were devoted members of the Lutheran Church, and good Christian people.

Daniel Masamore married Cassandra WVritz, of York county, who was born April 26. 1799. and died Dec. 3, 1865, at the age of sixty-six years, seven months, and seven days. Their children were as follows: Eleanor, wid- ow of Emanuel Wentz, resides in Manheim township: Mantilla is the wife of John Linch. of near Glen Rock, Pa .; Matilda is the wife of Jacob Bortner, of near Glen Rock; Daniel is a farmer in Ohio; Edward is a well-known miller in Adams county ; William H. is the sub- ject of this sketch : Elizabeth, Leah, Sarah and Susan are all deceased.

William H. Masamore attended what was known as the Duck Hill school in his native township until about eighteen years of age, and he assisted his father on the farm, remain- ing at home. At the death of his father Mr.

Masamore bought the farm on which he erected a fine new barn, 72x42 feet, and also good, substantial outbuildings, making it one of the finest places in the county. There is a fine or- chard, the fruit comparing favorably with any in the State. Aaron Wattersdorff operated the land for Mr. Masamore, residing with him. The farm now consists of 103 acres at the Summit Station on the Western Maryland railroad. He lived retired from 1900 until his death, which occurred Dec. 2, 1905. While engaged in threshing, the day before, he was working on top of the straw. A helper noticed that the straw was no longer being taken away and one of the men immediately looked for Mr. Masamore. He had fallen head first down the hay hole in the barn, and though given medical aid without delay died from his in- juries the next day.

Mr. Masamore was a member of the Stone Lutheran Church of Codorus township. . In politics he was a Democrat, but never sought office. He was very well known throughout Manheim township, and his many sterling traits of character made him respected and es- teemed by all.

JOHN WILLIAM HARTLEY, junior member of the firm of Ebert & Hartley,contrac- tors for cement pavements, was born in East Berlin, Adams Co., Pa. He received a com- mon-school education, and then learned the milling trade in his native town, which occupa- tion he followed seven years. At the end of that time he engaged in the lumber and coal business at East Berlin, which he followed un- til the spring of 1887, when he located in York and was employed with A. B. Farquhar, later going into the candy business. In 1900 he en- gaged in the cement business, contracting for cement pavements, and he has continued in that line ever since, having become one of the lead- ing business men in that line in York. The firm is known as Ebert & Hartley. The part- ners have one of the largest contracts ever given in York on their hands at the present time, the contract calling for the paving of East York, formerly the Kelsey farm, which is now one of the finest suburban parts of the city.

Mr. Hartley was married, in 1887, to Su- san R. Hellerman, a daughter of John Henry and Julia Hellerman, and to this union have been born: Edna, Annie, John, Helen and

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Edward. In politics Mr. Hartley is a Demo- crat. He and his family reside in their pleas- ant home at No. 137 South Water street, York.

John Henry Hellerman, the father of Mrs. Hartley, was born in Germany and was a shoe- maker by trade. He married in the old coun- try, and he and his wife emigrated to America, landing at New York City. They came direct- ly to York, Pa., however, where Mr. Heller- man engaged in shoemaking, continuing in that business until his death in his eighty-third year. He is interred at Prospect Hill cemetery. He is survived by his widow and his two daugh- ters, Mrs. J. W. Hartley, of York, and Mrs. John Hollinger, of Philadelphia. Mrs. Hel- lerman makes her home with Mrs. Hartley.

JOHN McCLEARY. Among the old and highly respected farmer citizens of York coun- ty perhaps none is better known than John McCleary, of North Hopewell township. He was born in Fawn township, between Wood- bine and Bald Eagle, June 15, 1826, son of William and Martha (Ewing) McCleary.

William McCleary was born in York coun- ty, where he farmed all of his life, settling in Fawn township, where he died in 1838, aged about fifty years. He was a member of the M. E. Church, and in politics was a Democrat. He married Miss Martha Ewing, daughter of Rev. Mr. Ewing, of the M. E. Church. Mrs. McCleary died in Fawn township. She was the mother of children as follows: Abraham; Jane, Mrs. Edward Boyd, deceased; Isaac, the father of Isaac R. McCleary, of Lower Chance- ford township; Henry, who died in Airville, York county; Sarah, Mrs. John Scott, who died in Fawn township; James, who died in Iowa; Martha, Mrs. Henry Stilts, who died in Fawn township; Mary Ann, Mrs. William Thompson, who died in Hopewell township; William, who died in Iowa, and John.

When John McCleary was eighteen years of age his mother removed from the home farm to Gatchellvile. His father died six years prior to this time. Mr. McCleary received his education in the subscription schools and later in the public schools and left school on remov- ing from the farm. He was reared to the life of a farmer, an occupation he has followed his entire life. He remained at home until 1852 when he married Julia F. Laird, who was born in Fawn township, daughter of John Laird and Lydia (Musser) Laird. Children have been

born to him and his wife as follows: Winfield Scott; Samuel Huston, of York; Hugh D., of Hopewell township; Ellen A., Mrs. Dallas Shaw, deceased; and several children who died in infancy.

After his marriage Mr. McCleary farmed for two years on shares in Fawn township, at the end of that time purchasing his present place of thirty-six acres, where he has made his home for almost half a century. Mr. Mc- Cleary has erected good new buildings on his farm, which he has improved to a high degree, and he can truly say that farming pays if prop- erly managed. He is a member of the Evan- gelical Church. His political faith is that of the Democratic party, and he has served as judge of elections and assessor.

SAMUEL WAMBAUGH, of Airville, Lower Chanceford township, York county. where he carries on shoemaking and farming, was born Nov. 6, 1835, near old Blue Ball, in Fawn township, son of Daniel and Catherine (Hise) Wambaugh. He comes of an old family of Fawn township, his grandfather, Peter Wambaugh, having resided there. Dan- iel Wambaugh, his father, was a farmer, fol- lowing that occupation first in Fawn town- ship and later in Chanceford township, where he died in 1876; his wife, who was formerly Catherine Hise, of Shrewsbury township, also died there.

Samuel Wambaugh attended the public schools until about fourteen years of age and then learned shoemaking with William Thomp- son, of Hopewell. After having served an ap- prenticeship of two years he worked as a jour- neyman for two years, and in 1856 went into business in Fawn township for two years, re- moved to Hopewell township, and in 1860 moved to near Airville. In 1862 Mr. Wam- baugh enlisted in Company I, 130th P. V. I., with which he served nine months, participat- ing in the battles of Chancellorsville, Freder- icksburg and Antietam. He was discharged at Harrisburg in May, 1863, returned home for one month, and then re-enlisted, in an inde- pendent company, under Capt. E. O. Stevens. He was discharged at the end of one month, again returned home, and on Feb. 29, 1864, enlisted at Harrisburg in the regular army, being first stationed at Governor's Island. From there he went as general service reserve that spring and as general reserve recruit, and

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

was then ordered to Buffalo, to join the 10th Regulars. From there he was sent to the front, under Grant, with whom he served until the close of the war, being in the battle of the Wilderness and at Spottsylvania, in which lat- ter engagement he was wounded in the right shoulder. He was sent to a hospital at Wash- ington, D. C., and from there to one in Balti- more, and then to York, where he remained five months, at the end of that time going to Governor's Island and rejoining his regiment, with which he remained until the surrender of Lee. In the October following he went to Washington, D. C., and was ordered to St. Louis, and from there to St. Paul, Minn., where the regiment divided, the company to which Mr. Wambaugh belonged being sta- tioned at Fort Ripley, Minn., where it was kept two years. There he was discharged March 4, 1867.

After his discharge Mr. Wambaugh re- turned home, making the first 125 miles of his journey on the Northern Pacific railroad. Ar- riving in York county he resumed his trade at Airville, and has worked at that trade off and on ever since. About fifteen years ago he bought seventeen acres of land and has done considerable farming, devoting most of his time to tobacco.

Mr. Wambaugh is a member of the G. A. R., belonging to Gatchellville Post, No. 605. He was reared in the faith of the M. E. Church. He was formerly a Democrat, but is now a be- liever in the principles laid down by the Re- publican party. He was married in 1869 to Miss Hannah McCue, of Maryland, and they have become the parents of the following named children: Ida, now Mrs. Heffner ; Jesse, a telegraph operator; George, who is at home; and Louis Cleveland, a stenographer and bookkeeper at Camden, N. J. Mr. Wam- baugh is well known in his community.

WILLIAM E. WALKER (deceased), who for many years carried on agricultural pursuits successfully in Lower Chanceford township, was born in Cecil county, Md., Feb. 3, 1835.

Mr. Walker passed part of his boyhood days in Fulton township, Lancaster Co., Pa., in the old Cross Keys Tavern, which his father conducted about 1845. His father re- moved to Lower Chanceford township, York county, and here William E. grew to man-

hood. Although the school was two miles from his home young Walker rarely missed going, and being fond of his books studied hard, receiving more than the ordinary com- mon-school education. Among his teachers he could always remember a certain Mr. Court- ney, who was very strict. Another remem- brance of Mr. Walker's was that as a boy he had a very good appetite, and often when car- rying his lunch to school would eat it in the morning, thus having to go without his mid- day meal. He was reared to farming, and con- tinued at same all his life. He was married in Lower Chanceford township to Miss Je- mima Arbuckle, daughter of William Ar- buckle, of Lancaster and York counties, and after his marriage located in the log house on one end of the farm, later building a frame house. In 1862 he enlisted in Company H, 166th P. V. I., and served gallantly for three years, during which time .he was slightly wounded by a bullet in the right ankle.

After leaving the army Mr. Walker re- turned home, and in 1882 he and his wife re- moved to York Furnace, where he did general work for two years. He was married (sec- ond) March 11, 1884, to Mrs. Sarah Jane Murphy, widow of Charles W. Murphy, and daughter of Nehemiah and Maria (Penning- ton) Robinson. After his second marriage Mr. Walker lived at York Furnace for two years longer, and then removed to Havre de Grace, Md., where he kept a hotel nine years, at the end of that time returning to Lower Chanceford township and locating in his pres- ent home, which he had built while in the hotel business. He farmed the balance of his life, dying on his farm Aug. 18, 1904. Mr. Walker was a stanch Democrat.

Mr. Walker's children by his first wife were as follows: Elizabeth, Mrs. Edward Saun- ders; Mary, Mrs. Robert O. Mitchell; John, who married Cora Murphy; Jennie, Mrs. Lindsey Forsythe; Emma, Mrs. Albert Hall : and Wilhelmina, Mrs. George McMasters. All are residents of Havre de Grace, Md., except Mrs. Hall, who lives in Baltimore. To Mr. Walker and his second wife were born chil- dren as follows : Pearl, Mrs. Harvey A. Runkle of Chanceford township; Florence Rose, who is at home ; and Vandiver, born Dec. 23, 1891. Mrs. Walker had the following children by her first marriage : Cora, who married John Walker, son of our subject; Nettie May, who

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died at the age of ten years; Irene, Mrs. Fred farm in Hellam township. After his marriage Olds, of Reading, Pa .; and Lillie Belle.

PHILIP WILLIAM BURG, of Hellam township, is a son of C. C. Burg, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere, and was born in Lower Windsor, York county, on the old mill property on the Susquehanna. The place has been known as Burg's Mill for nearly one hundred years.

Born Sept. 22, 1856, Philip William Burg began attending school at the age of six, and went to school at intervals until he was eight- een. His father was a canal-boat owner, and much of the boyhood of Philip William was spent as a driver on the tow path. When he was twelve years old he began driving, and had many interesting and curious experiences while thus engaged. The drivers worked six hours, then were off duty six hours, and so on, and, for a growing boy, the work was very ex- hausting. Sometimes he would sleep with his feet caught in the harness, his head on the mule's rump, and his arms around the ani- mal. He drove through heat and cold, thun- der and lightning, daylight and dark, and at at night the lonely stillness, broken only by the barking of a dog, or the croaking of a frog, was weird and awe-inspiring, and made a last- ing impression on his mind. Impressions of a different character were made by the lan- guage, more forcible than elegant, used by some of the boatmen. During a cold storm one fall Mr. Burg's boat had to break the ice to Clark's Ferry. A large flock of turkeys flew over the island, and some went into the lock. Mr. Burg and his friends went in after them, but a rough lot of boat repair men who were there at work threatened them so vio- lently that they were obliged to let the turkeys go.

When he was eighteen years old Mr. Burg began teaching, and taught a term in Spring Garden, and another in Hellam township. He attended the Millersville Normal School at dif- ferent times, and spent almost two years at the Eastman Business College at Poughkeep- sie, graduating in 1887. After that he was at home for a few years, and added to his stock of knowledge by careful study of things and people about him. His father had given up his canal-boat business in 1872, and for the following four years lived at Stony Brook. From there he moved, in 1876, to the home

Mr. Burg continued at home for two years, engaged in farming, raising tobacco and mak- ing cigars. In the spring of 1884 he bought the farm of thirteen acres on which he now resides, where he raises general produce and tobacco, marketing his crops in Columbia. He also devotes some attention to the dairy busi- ness.

Mr. Burg was married Sept. 21, 1881, to Leah Rutter, who was born on the Rutter farm in Manchester township, a mile north of York. Mrs. Burg's father, George Rutter, is still living; her mother's maiden name was Annie Diehl. Mr. and Mrs. Burg have had children as follows: (1) Daisy Ella has had exceptional educational advantages, having graduated from the Wrightsville high school in the class of 1898; spent two terms at the York County Normal School, a summer school for teachers; a year at York Collegiate Insti- tute; and a year at Westchester State Normal School. She has taught for four years with success. (2) Walter Rutter, a sixteen-year old boy, attends high school in Wrightsville. (3) Albert Philip is seven years old; and (4) Horace Edward is aged three.

Mr. Burg cast his first Presidential vote for Hayes, and during Blaine's campaign made political speeches through the county. He was elected justice of the peace on first attaining his majority, but never lifted his commission. He joined the Lutheran Church at Wrightsville, where his parents went to live when he was three years old. He has always taken a keen interest in the schools and in general educational matters, is a great reader, and has lectured at the teachers' institutes. He has also been active in arranging for de- bates and lyceum courses. He is a man of unimpeachable honesty, and highly esteemed by his friends and fellow-townsmen.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 162

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