History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 163

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

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ABRAHAM FLORY, who died April 13, 1904, was a substantial farmer of Jackson township, and came on both sides of families long identified with York county. He was born there in 1846, son of Jacob and Leah (Deal) Flory, the former of whom is still living, now aged ninety years.

Abraham Flory was reared upon a farm, and continued to follow that honorable calling until his death. His life record presents no thrilling incidents, but represents long years

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of honorable toil and of faithful performance He was a gunsmith by trade, and, it is fair to of duty, both in his home and in the com- presume, found his services in that line much in requisition by the pioneers, who depended largely upon their firearms to secure proven- der for their tables as well as protection from the Indians. Among the children of this progenitor was his namesake, Jacob, who fig- ures as the grandfather of him whose name initiates this paragraph. munity, and high integrity of conduct. He married Miss Amanda Smyser, daughter of Henry and Mary (Emig) Smyser, and four children were born to their union, Harry, Ella, Edward and Lillian. Mr. Flory was a mem- ber of the Lutheran Church, and in political sentiment a Republican. His death occurred at his home April 13, 1904, when he had reached only his fifty-eighth year, and his pass- ing away was a source of deep regret to all who knew him.

After the death of Abraham Flory his son Edward took charge of the homestead. He was born Oct. 5, 1876, in West Manchester township, has been educated in the public schools of Lancaster and York counties, has been reared to farm work, and brings to his present responsibilities thorough familiarity with its demands and great capacity. He is also a Lutheran in religion and a Republican in politics. He is unmarried.

Mrs. Amanda Flory was born in Springets- bury township, then Spring Garden, in 1857, the only daughter of Henry and Mary ( Emig) Smyser. Her maternal grandfather was Val- entine Emig, a native of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Flory had three brothers, Michael, Alexander and Horace. Her mother is still living, and is now seventy-seven years old, but Henry Smyser was called from this world in Jan- uary, 1900, aged eighty-eight. He was a Lu- theran in his religious belief, while his wife is a member of the Reformed Church.

NOAH J. INNERS. Few names still marked as representative of York county's best citizenship have been longer or more promi- nently identified with the annals of this sec- tion of the Keystone State than has that of Inners. The original progenitor of the family in America, as well as in Pennsylvania, was Jacob Inners, great-grandfather of Noah J. This sturdy ancestor was born and bred in the fair little republic of Switzerland, whence he emigrated to America early in the eight- eenth century, soon coming into the practical wilderness of the great domain in whose colonization the name of William Penn stood high above all others. This Jacob Inners set- tled in Bucks county, Pa., and as nearly as can be determined from data extant, it is probable that he there passed the remainder of his life.

Jacob Inners (2) was born and reared in Bucks county, whence as a young man he re- moved to Lancaster county, where he became a farmer. At the age of twenty-five years he became a soldier in the Continental Line, and did his part in gaining the boon of independ- ence for the struggling colonies. After the close of the Revolution he returned to Lancas- ter county, where he married, and somewhat later removed with this, his first wife, into Hellam township, York county. Mr. Inners removed from Hellam to York township, where he became the owner of a tract of more than three hundred acres of heavily timbered land, a considerable portion of which he re- claimed and put under cultivation. As the years passed he became one of the prominent and influential farmers of the county, and he resided in York township until his death, at the advanced age of ninety-one years. Both he and his wife were interred in the cemetery at Blimyer's Church, York township. Of the children of this worthy couple is entered the fol- lowing brief record : Henry and Jacob died in York township; John died in Springfield town- ship; Conrad died in York township; Eva and Catherine died when young. After the death of his first wife Jacob Inners married Sarah Geesey, who died in York township. Of the children of this union it is recorded that Peter, Michael, Sallie and Polly died in York town- ship; Abraham and George were next in order ; Daniel was the father of Noah J .; and Susan was the last born.

Daniel Inners was born in York township, in the year 1807, and there received such edu- cational advantages as were afforded in the common schools of the locality and period, while in his youth he learned the blacksmith's trade with his brother George, becoming a skilled and reliable artisan, and continuing to be engaged in the active work of his stalwart trade for a number of years in York township. Finally he purchased two acres of the George Keener homestead, and there he continued to

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live retired from active labors. He died on the old homestead, April 1, 1890, at the age of eighty-three years, three months and twen- ty-eight days, while his remains and those of his wife repose in the cemetery at Blimyer's Church. In 1838 Daniel Inners was united in marriage to Miss Mary Neff, who was born in Springfield township, York county, a daughter of Samuel Neff ; she was summoned into eternal rest Feb. 22, 1879, at the age of sixty-one years, two months and twenty-two days. Two large stones of chaste design mark the last resting-place of these honored and worthy citizens, whose lives were true in all relations, offering much of lesson and inspira- tion. Both were consistent members of the Re- formed Church, and Mr. Inners was known as a stanch advocate of the Democratic party, while he ever showed a loyal interest in pub- lic affairs of a local nature. Of the children of this union we have the following record : Noah J., subject of this review, was the first born; Amos married Louisa Sipe, and they reside in Pleasureville, York county ; Solomon married Catherine Rupp, who is now deceased ; Daniel, who married .Catherine Sipe, is a rep- resentative farmer of York township; Sam- uel died in the State of Oregon, unmarried; Mary has never married and resides in the city of York; Sarah, widow of Alexander Sipe, maintains her home in York; and Amanda is the wife of Henry Honserinyer, of York town- ship.

Noah Jacob Inners, to whom this sketch is dedicated, was born on the homestead farm in York township, Aug. 22, 1840, and his boy- hood days were passed in essentially the same way as were those of the average farmer boy of the locality and period. He soon began to assist in the work of the farm, and in the meantime did not neglect to enliven and expand his mental faculties by due attendance in the common schools of his home township, where, until he was nineteen years of age, he continued to pursue his studies during the winter terms. He then learned the blacksmith's trade under the able direction of his father, and followed that vocation for a short time, after which he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits on the old homestead, which he eventually purchased. There he continued to be actively engaged in general farming for sixteen years, in the mean- GEORGE D. JULIUS, residing retired on his fine farm in Jackson township, belongs time making many excellent improvements, in- cluding the erection of substantial and well- to one of the very old families of Pennsyl-

equipped buildings, his present fine and thor- oughly modern residence having been com- pleted in 1903, and being one of the most at- tractive farm homes in this section. His farm comprises 105 acres and constitutes one of the model places of the county. Mr. Inners still maintains a general supervision of the home- stead, though he is living practically retired from active labor and enjoying the rewards of his past years of toil and endeavor.

Mr. Inners signalized his intrinsic patriot- ism at the time of the war of the Rebellion, in 1862 enlisting in Company G, 166th P. V. I., was mustered in at Harrisburg, and continued in active service until the expiration of his nine months' term of service, when he received his honorable discharge, after having partici- pated in various engagements, including the battle of Black river. In politics he gives a stanch allegiance to the Democratic party, and his religious faith is that of the Reformed Church, with which he has been identified from his youth, while he has held various official positions, including that of deacon. He was one of those prominently concerned in mak- ing needed repairs upon the old Blimyer Church, in York township, which was the pioneer religious edifice of this part of the county.

On Oct. 9, 1864, Mr. Inners was united in marriage to Miss Agnes Liebenstine, who was born in York township, June 28, 1841, a daughter of Jacob and Charlotte (Ebert) Liebenstine. Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Inners is incorporated the following record : Jacob, who married Emma Bupp, conducts a well appointed meat market in the village of Paradise, York county, and is a popular and enterprising young business man; Aaron is a resident of Los Angeles, Cal., where he is en- gaged in gardening; Amos, who married An- nie Hess, resides on the old homestead, and is associated in its management; Noah married Elizabeth Leader and is a farmer in York county; Howard is in the employ of his brother Jacob, in the meat market: Latimer married Mary Bahn, and is likewise associated in the work and management of his father's farm; Alice married Albert Deitz, a farmer of Springfield township: and Annie is the wife of Charles Stump, of York township.

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vania. His birth took place June 6, 1850, and he is a son of George and Hannah (Lane- hardt) Julius.

Philip Jacob Julius, the great-grandfather of George D., was a native of Germany, who came to America and settled in Pennsylvania in the early part of the eighteenth ceutnry. By a deed which is in the possession of George D. Julius, it appears that Philip Jacob Julius pur- chased a farm of 147 acres of land in 1770. This deed has passed down from great-grand- father to grandfather, from grandfather to father, and from father to son, our subject. On this farm Philip Jacob Julius spent his en- tire life in farming. His son was born upon the place, as was George Julius, George D. Julius and our subject's son, who now occupies the farm.

The children born to John and Sarah Julius, the grandparents of George D., were : George, Peter, Frank, Charles, Sarah, Louisa, Thomas, and Elizabeth. In religion the family were members of the Reformed Church and in politics Mr. Julius was a Democrat.

George Julius, the father of our subject, was the father of these children : Louis, George D., William, James, Jolın, Emma and Annie. George Julius was a stanch Democrat, and held the office of school director. His death oc- curred in 1884, when he was aged sixty-four years, and Mrs. Julius passed away in 1903, in her seventy-ninth year.

George D. Julius was educated in the schools of Dover township, and resided on the farm until 1898, when he retired. On June I, 1874, Mr. Julius married Alice A. Bott, daughter of Peter Bott, of West Manchester township, and the children born to this union were: Bertius, Harvey, Minnie, George, Jr., Curtis, Annie and Mazie. In religion the family are members of the German Reformed Church, with the exception of Mrs. Julius, who is a member of the German Lutheran Church. Mr. Julius is an active church worker and has been deacon. Like his father he is a stanch Democrat, and has been active in the work of that party, although never as- piring to public office, having preferred to de- vote his attention to his large agricultural in- terests. A man of sterling character, progress- ive and public-spirited, Mr. Julius is much esteemed by his fellow citizens.

CONLEY. The Conley family of York county is descended from the branch that

early settled in Lancaster county, Pa. Its rep- resentatives have been honorable and in- dustrious citizens, whose upright lives have gained for them the esteem of their fellowmen.

Joseph Conley was a shoemaker near Eliza- bethtown, Lancaster county, and there he died while still a young man. His children were : Samuel, of Newberry township; William, of Fairview township, York county; and Eliza- beth, who married Thomas Kohr, and died in Dauphin county.

Samuel Conley, son of Joseph, was born near Elizabethtown, Lancaster county, and was but four years of age when his father died. He came to York county at the age of fifteen years, and learned the weaving trade, which he followed about thirteen years near Emigsville. He married . Elizabeth Plymire, daughter of John and Elizabeth Plymire; she died in 1874 and is buried at Miller's Cemetery in Newberry township. Mr. Conley started farming in Manchester township, where he remained two years, and spent the same length of time in Conewago township, after which he returned to Manchester township, this time remaining ten years. He then located in Newberry town- ship, and bought the old David Bryan farm, which consists of about ninety acres, where he is still residing, now aged eighty-four years. For several years Mr. Conley has lived a re- tired life, and he is honored and respected by all who know him. The children born to him and his worthy wife were : Mary lives at Golds- boro, the widow of David Prowell, who died in 1888; Sarah, now deceased, married Jacob Fink, deceased; Jacob; Samuel, Jr., died in 1864; Elizabeth married Henry Rebman, de- ceased, and she now lives with her father; Annie, who lives in Fairview township, is the widow of Alexander Stittler, who died in 1904; Alice married Clayton Groom and lives at Goldsboro borough; Henry died at home; Eli married Sarah Strickland, daughter of Jo- seph Strickland, of Chester county, and lives at New Cumberland, Cumberland county; and John, who married Clara Frey, daughter of John and Amanda Frey, resides at New Cum- berland.

Jacob Conley came to Newberry township at the age of nine years, and with his father learned the carpenter's trade, which he fol- lowed about three years, and then went to farming. In 1880 Mr. Conley bought his present home of ninety-eight acres, and also owns a farm of 133 acres which his son Sam-

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uel is working. Mr. Conley is also the owner of a fine piece of woodland, which consists of sixteen acres. Mr. Conley has proved to be ? very successful farmer, but the success he has attained has been through years of hard work. His buildings are modern, well-built structures, his land is highly cultivated and very product- ive, and his farms well-situated and capably managed.

In politics Mr. Conley is a Democrat, has been school director six years and has also held the office of supervisor. Mrs. Conley is a valued member of the Dunkard Church. The family is very highly esteemed in the com- munity.

In 1874 Jacob Conley married Frances Detwiler, daughter of Elias and Frances (Got- wals) Detwiler, descendants of Montgomery county pioneers. The children born of this union were : Samuel D .; Howard D. ; Elias, of Cumberland county, Pa .; Elizabeth and Charles, living in Newberry township; James, at home; Jacob, married and residing in the same township; Samuel D .; Susan, married and living at New Cumberland; and Mary, Joseph, Frances, Katie and Sarah, all at home.

SAMUEL D. CONLEY was born in Newberry township, in 1877, and until he was eighteen years of age, enjoyed the privileges of the pub- lic schools. He then began farming on the homestead, remaining with his father until his marriage. At the present time he is farming a fine place of more than 133 acres, belonging to his father, and is prospering in his under- taking. He is a great reader of good books, and is keeping himself thoroughly posted on current events. In politics he is a Democrat.

In 1900 Samuel D. Conley was married to Emma Fisher, daughter of Jeremiah and Sarah Fisher, and they have three children, Jere- miah, Harry and Sarah.

HOWARD DETWILER CONLEY was born in Newberry township May 16, 1878. When he left school at the age of twenty years, he be- gan work on the home farm under his father's guidance. After his marriage he located on the S. H. Creeps farm near Yocumtown, but is now on his own farm in Newberry township. where he is finding success as the reward of his industry.

In 1902 Howard D. Conley married Carrie Betz, daughter of Reuben and Elizabeth (Hykes) Betz, and they have two children : Minnie and Annie. In his political faith Mr. Conley is a stanch Democrat.

WORLEY F. RUDISILL. The Rudisill family in America was planted here by Wyer- ley Rudisill, who came from Germany in the early days of Pennsylvania, and followed his trade of tailor. He had three children : Andrew, Eve and Elizabeth.

Andrew Rudisill, born May 17, 1756, mar- ried Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob Wildasin. They had these children : Polly, John, Andrew, Eve, Elizabeth, Jacob and Henry. Andrew Rudisill died Jan. 22, 1821, aged sixty-four years.

Henry Rudisill, the youngest son of An- drew, was born Nov. 12, 1797, in Heidelberg. township, York county. On March 25, 1823, he married Susanna, daughter of Samuel Eichelberger, by whom he had these children : Andrew, Henry, Adam, Samuel, Edward, Sarah, Catherine, Amanda, Susanna, Louisa Elizabeth, Henrietta Matilda, Maria, Reuben and Aaron. Henry Rudisill was a farmer in' Heidelberg township, where he died at the. age of ninety-four years, being buried at Bear's Meeting House, near Hanover. Mrs. Susanna (Eichelberger) Rudisill was born Oct. 9, 1803, and died Aug. 23, 1851, aged forty-seven years, ten months and fourteen days. Catherine. Eichelberger, the mother of Susanna ( Eichel- berger) Rudisill, was a granddaughter of the great-grandfather of the elder Mathias Smy- ser, whose sketch will be found elsewhere in. these annals. She was also a granddaughter of Philip Frederick Eichelberger, who came to America from Germany April 17, 1693. To Henry and Susanna Rudisill were born the following children : Andrew E., born Aug. 10, 1823, died in Hanover; Henry E., born Oct. 27, 1824, died in Greene Co., Ohio; Adamı: E., born March 23, 1826, died in Iowa; Sam- uel E., born Jan. 25, 1828, died in Penn town- ship, York county; Edward E., born Dec. 5, 1829, died in Dayton, Ohio; Sarah C., born Dec. 30, 1831, is the wife of C. H. Sultner, of York; Amanda S., born Feb. 16, 1834, died young : Louisa E. E., born Sept. 7, 1836, died in York; Henrietta M. E., born Aug. 9, 1839, lives in Hanover; Maria E., born Jan. 2, 1841, died in Hanover : Reuben, born March 1, 1843, lives in Hanover ; and Aaron E.

Aaron E. Rudisill, the father of our sub- ject, was born Dec. 22, 1844, in Heidelberg township, York county, where he received a common school .education. He married Amanda Forry, daughter of John and Nancy, (Myers) Forry, the former of whom was a

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farmer near Hanover, who died at the age of "seventy-three years, while his wife passed away when eighty years of age. After mar- riage Mr. Rudisill located at Hanover, where he engaged in the feed business, continuing in that line eight years, and then went to farming" in Adams county, near Gettysburg. He re- mained there three years, and then located in Eberton, now West York borough, where he engaged in farming. He retired from active work in 1895. His children are: Annie S., the wife of Joseph Graybill, living in North York borough; Sadie M., the wife of W. Heindle, a farmer of West Manchester town- ship; Amelia B., the wife of William Seager, living in Spring Garden township; Worley F .; Harry J., who married Ella Dittinger, and lives in West York borough; Percy M., who married Dora Plagman, and resides in South Dakota; Amanda J., the wife of Harry De- veny, living in West York borough; and Mi- nerva F., at home.

Worley F. Rudisill was born in Heidel- berg township, York county, Sept. 20, 1874. He attended the schools of Adams and York counties, and worked at home on the farm until twenty-one years of age, when he went to learn the brick laying trade with David Shrum of West Manchester township. continuing there for two years. He then engaged with Horace Epply, with whom he remained three years, at the end of which time he engaged with George K. Spangler. After leaving Mr. Spangler, Mr. Rudisill engaged in business for himself, and built his present home in 1903, at No. 820 West Princess street, York.

On May 1, 1898, Mr. Rudisill was united in marriage with Miss Eliza A. Spahr, a daughter of Samuel and Emeline ( Altland) Spahr, and to this union came the following children, all born at York: Aaron S., Ray- mond E., Alda R., and Worden W. In politics Mr. Rudisill is a Democrat. He is connected fraternally with Lodge No. 141. A. O. K. of M. C.

SAMUEL A. SHROFF, active in insur- ance work in York, was born March 20, 1834, in Rapho township, Lancaster county.

Samuel A. Shroff's grandfather, who lived near Colebrook Furnace, was drowned, in early manhood, while crossing a stream, and John Shroff, his son, the father of our subject, who was a native of Mount Joy, Lancaster county,

died in 1894, aged eighty-six years. John Shroff married Mary. Miller, daughter of a prominent farmer, who resided near Ephrata, Lancaster county, and three sons were born to her and her husband, as follows: Peter, who was a supervisor for the Pennsylvania Canal, was accidentally killed in an attempt to board a moving train of cars; John is deceased; and Samuel A. Mr. Shroff's paternal grand- mother lived to be eighty-seven years old, while her mother lived to the remarkable age of one hundred and two years.

Samuel A. Shroff received his education in the schools of Mt. Joy borough, where he was employed in the store of J. E. Cassel, re- maining there thirteen and one-half years. Mr. Shroff then removed to Bainbridge, Lancaster county, and embarked in storekeeping, trad- ing under the name of John S. Groff & Co., in which business he continued three years. His next business enterprise was in forming a partnership with M. W. Smith, in the Canal Grocery business, continuing at that for twen- ty-three years, and he then conducted the store alone for a period of four or five years. In 1883 Mr. Shroff located in York and embarked in the life insurance business, with an office on the second floor of' the Western Bank . building, on West Market street, where the business has grown to be one of the largest in that line in the city of York. .

Mr. Shroff married Sarah Reiff, daughter of Joseph Reiff, a coach builder and farmer of Manheim, Lancaster county, and of the chil- dren born to this union Mary A. is the widow of B. F. Mullen, assistant postmaster of Columbia, Lancaster county ; and Gertrude, deceased, was the wife of William C. Hay, of Washington, D. C., superintendent in the drilling of guns in the navy department. They had one son, Samuel S., who died in 1902, aged thirty-four years.

Mr. Shroff is an attendant of St. Paul's Lutheran Church. In politics he is a stalwart Republican, his fidelity to the principles of that party having been recognized in an appoint- ment to a government position at Harrisburg, and he has been frequently a delegate to Re- publican county conventions.

DR. EDWARD D. STERNER, a repre- sentative physician and surgeon of York, Pa., where he has been engaged in the practice of his chosen profession for the past decade and

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a half, has his office and residence at No. 527 West Market street.

Nicholas Sterner, the founder of this branch of the family in America, came from Germany, and in 1799 located in York county, becoming one of the early settlers of Man- heim township, where he developed a farm, and where he passed the remainder of his life.

John Sterner, son of Nicholas, was born in January, 1800, in Manheim township, this county, and died in 1897. He married Eliza- beth Kessler.

Jesse Sterner, son of John, was born in York county in 1837, and has passed his entire life here, still making his home in Codorus township, one of the honored citizens of the county. He devoted his active years to farm- ing. He married Leah Deagan, who was born in 1837, in York county, daughter of George and Annie ( Brenneman) Deagan; she died Dec. 7, 1889, aged fifty-two years, two months and nineteen days. To Jesse and Leah (Dea- gan) Sterner were born children as follows: Dr. Edward D .; Nathan D. is a telegraphı operator and resides in York; Jacob D. is a successful contractor and builder in York; Priscilla (deceased) was the wife of Martin S. Kase, of Jefferson borough; Estella is the wife of John Miller, and they reside with her father on the old farm in Codorus; C. D. was elected to the Pennsylvania Legislature in 1898, served two terms and is now farming in Codorus township (he married Elizabeth My- ers) ; Wesley, of York, married Elizabeth Stansbauch : and William D., a farmer of Co- dorus township, married Lydia Cornbower.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 163

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