History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 165

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

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ALFRED BIXLER, farmer, and one of the leading citizens of Hellam township, York county, has resided there for over thirty years.

The Bixler family in America is traced back to a Swiss ancestor who came over at an early day and settled in Maryland, where he and his wife, who was of Scotch-Irish blood, both died. John Bixler, grandfather of Al- fred, was born in Maryland, where he married, and had a large family of children, of whom record has been preserved as follows: Esther, born April 30, 1814, died unmarried; Martha,

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born Jan. 1, 1815, is deceased; Nancy, mar- ried John Overholt, a Mennonite preacher, and mmoved to Westmoreland county, Pa., where she died at the advanced age of ninety-four, after several years' blindness; Jesse moved to Westmoreland county, where he lived to a good old age; and David became the father of Al- fred Bixler. Grandfather John Bixler passed the last years of his life with his daughter Nancy in Westmoreland county.

David Bixler, father of Alfred, was born Jan. 12, 1820, in Manor township, Lancaster county. where he attended school and learned the trade of shoemaker. He married in Manor township, Lancaster county, Susan Eshelman, of that place, daughter of John Eshelman. About the year 1846 David Bixler moved his family to Wayne county, Ind., the journey be- ing accomplished by canal-boat from Columbia to Harrisburg, thence to Pittsburg, and down the Ohio river to Cincinnati, from which place the party went by wagon to its destination in Wayne county. ' The Bixlers were accom- panied on this journey by the Brennerman family of Cumberland county. For several years David Bixler and his family resided in Germantown, a village of Wayne county, where he plied his trade of shoemaker. But times were hard, money was very scarce, and pay- ment for the mere necessaries of life was made by barter, so the family decided to return to Pennsylvania. The return trip was made in a two-horse wagon, other families joining the party. On reaching Westmoreland county the Bixler family stopped for a time with David's sister Nancy, at Mt. Pleasant, and Mr. Bixler purchased a farm near by. through which ran a valuable coal vein. There the family lived for six or eight years, Mr. Bixler cultivating the farm and doing a profitable business in buying and selling horses. He then sold the farm, which has since changed hands again at over $300 an acre, to Abraham Overholt, and moved back to Lancaster county. He located in Mountville, buying a property on which he lived for five years, carrying on his business in horse dealing. After this he bought property in Hellam township, whereon he lived for some time, until he went to pass the remainder of his life with his son Alfred. His death occurred in 1885. His wife survived him a few years, passing away in the home of her son Hiram.

Alfred Bixler was born in Manor town- ship, Lancaster county, Jan. 18, 1843, and his

early school days were spent in the district schools of Westmoreland county. He had more than ordinary difficulties to overcome, as he did not know a word of English when he entered school. Later he attended school in Mountville, Lancaster county, and in Hellam township. York county, but his school days were short at best. for he began work at the age of thirteen. His first position was that of clerk in the liquor store of Abraham Hiestand at York, where he remained several years. His next venture was as a huckster in Balti- more, Md. Soon after his marriage he began farming on the Daniel Loucks farm, in Hellanı township, remaining there four years. He then went onto the David Strickler farm in the same township, where he lived for eight years. In 1883 he bought his present farm of forty acres, formerly the Reisinger farm, from David Stoner. The barn on this place was built by Mr. Bixler in 1892, and the other buildings were erected over thirty years ago by Samuel Leiberknecht. The farm known as the Jacob L. Dietz place was purchased by Mr. Bixler in 1903, and is occupied by his son-in- law. Harry Dietz.

Alfred Bixler married, at York. Pa., Nov. 24, 1870, Amanda Lehman, of Hellam town- ship, where she was born Nov. 5, 1842. Her father was George Lehman, also a native of Hellam, where he spent most of his life as a farmer. He was born April 21. 1818, and died in Druck Valley, Hellam township, in 1884. He married, Feb. 18, 1841, Susan Druck, who was born in Hellam March 6, 1819, daughter of Gottlieb Druck. The children of George and Susan ( Druck) Lehman were as follows : Amanda, who married Alfred Bixler ; Henry, born April 8. 1845, who married Sarah Druck ; Samuel, born Oct. 6, 1847, who married Feb. 24, 1870, Lena Druck; John. born June 27, 1850, who married (first) Nov. 9, 1876, a Miss Kauffman and (second) a Miss Crumling : Mary Ann, born Nov. 21. 1852, who married, Nov. 9. 1876. John Druck ; Franklin, born Dec. 1, 1853, who married Alice Sechrist ; Leah, born Aug. 9, 1855, who married Michael Strickler ; and Frederick, born Nov. 14. 1863, who married Mary Major.

To Alfred and Amanda (Lehman) Bixler have been born the following children: Annie Lehman, born July 24, 1871, who married Harry Dietz, a farmer of Hellam township, and is the mother of two children, Esther and

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA

Vera; Ellen Lehman, born Feb. 9, 1874, who married William Dietz, Jr., a farmer of Hellam township, and has one child, Harold; Susie, born July 12, 1877, who lives at home ; Harriet Lehman, born Jan. 30, 1880, who died Sept. 2, 1901 ; and Latimer, born Jan. 13, 1885, who is at home.

Alfred Bixler has earned his success by dint of hard work. From his boyhood he has had to make his own way, and what he has ac- quired has been by long, hard,honest toil. His early earnings went to help his parents, and he cared for them in their old age, buying for them a comfortable home and letting them want for nothing that kindness could suggest. Mr. Bixler has been a lifelong Democrat, and cast his first vote for Gen. McClellan. He was brought up in the Lutheran Church, and has been active in the township for the past twelve years as one of the relief directors.

JOSEPH B. DILLER, one of the promi- nent and influential farmers of Heidelberg township, York county, is engaged in the cul- tivation of his fine tract of land near Bear Meeting House, along the York Road. He was born in 1864, near Newville, Cumberland Co., Pa., son of Francis and Mary ( Burk- holder ) Diller.

The founder of the above named Diller family was Francis Diller, the great-great- grandfather of Joseph B. Diller, who came with his wife Anna and family from Switzerland in 1754, and settled in Lancaster Co., Pa., where he died in 1783. His wife Anna went with her son Abraham to Cumberland Co., Pa., and about 1790 settled on the "First farm," about two and one-half miles northeast of Newville, on which part of said tract (if not misinform- ed) now stands the Diller Church ( Mennonite) and the burying ground is located where Anna Diller was buried. She attained the age of one hundred and two years.

Francis Diller, son of Abraham Diller, was married to Mary Detwiler, and following are the names of the children born to that union : Abraham, Susannah, Martin, Francis, Eliza- beth, John and Jacob. Francis Diller was a prominent farmer, yet gave a liberal portion of his time to winning souls to Christ, being a preacher in the Mennonite Church, and for many years preaching in the Diller Church. He made his home in Cumberland county, Pa., all his life, and he died in 1857.

Francis Diller, the father of Joseph B., re- ceived a common school education, and when young learned the cooper's trade, which he fol- lowed for fourteen years in Cumberland Co., Pa. He then went to farming in Greene township, Franklin county, where he owned a tract of land, and there he died in 1886, aged sixty years. His wife passed away in 1895, in the faith of the Mennonite Church, to which her husband also adhered. Both were buried in the graveyard near Chambersburg, at the Mennonite Church. Their children were : Elizabeth, deceased; Mary, deceased; Joseph B. ; Samuel married Lucy Strite and lives in Franklin county; Jacob married Nancy Det- rich, and lives in the same county ; Noah died young ; Jolin married Maggie Strite, and lives in Washington county, Maryland.

Joseph B. Diller was but eight years old when he left Cumberland county and went with his father to Franklin county. He attended the Smoketown school until seventeen years of age, and then worked at farming in Franklin Co., Pa., until twenty-two years old. He mar- ried Elizabeth Shank, of Adams Co., Pa., and they began housekeeping and farming in Franklin county, later moving to Adams coun- ty, Pa., where Mr. Diller followed trucking, and attended the Gettysburg markets. He re- mained in Adams county nine years, after which he moved to York county, locating in his present home in 1904; in 1903 he erected a fine house and barn along the York road, at Bear Meeting House. Mr. Diller has been very successful in his undertakings, and is rated one of the substantial men of the community. Mrs. Elizabeth (Shank) Diller died in 1899.

In 1901, Mr. Diller was married to Annie S. Bair, daughter of Daniel and Maria (Shenk) Bair, and granddaughter of John Bair, a very prominent farmer of West Man- chester township. John Bair died in North Codorus township. Daniel Bair, Mrs. Diller's father, was born in West Manchester township, and after marriage located in North Codorus. township, where he became well known as a prosperous farmer, and died aged fifty-nine years, the father of the following children : Reuben, John, Daniel, Henry, Annie S., Jacob, Maria. After his first wife's death Mr. Bair married Mattie Stauffer, and had three chil- dren : Mattie, Amanda and Lydia.

The children born to Mr. Diller and his first wife were: Annie M., Jacob A., John D.,

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Samuel J., Levi J., and Martha E. To the Royce Company, of Cleveland, Ohio, selling second marriage were born : Lydia M., Emma M., and Reuben H. Mr. and Mrs. Diller are members of the Mennonite Church.

CHARLES HOLTEN BYERS, traveling salesman for L. M. Hartman, dry goods and notions, was born on his father's farm, which his grandfather had entered in 1836, situated close to Burbank, Wayne Co., Ohio.

Carley Byers and his wife, the great- grandparents of our subject, came from Ger- many to the United States before the Revolu- tionary war, in which struggle he served as an officer in Washington's army, being wounded in battle. John Byers, his son, was born in Warrington township, York county, in 1800, died at Burbank, Ohio, Sept. 20, 1879. His wife was Elizabeth Umberger, of Lisburn, Pennsylvania.

David Byers, father of our subject, was born in Warrington township, Aug. 28, 1827, and lived there until 1836, when he was taken by his parents to Burbank, Ohio. The . family made the trip across country in a wagon, walk- ing the greater part of the way. while the mother carried a sick infant for most of the journey. Mr. Byers was a farmer all of his life, and was very successful in his operations. He died Aug. 12, 1905. He married Miss Ann Rebecca Rieff, an aunt of the famous jockeys, Lester and Johnnie Rieff. Charles Holten is the only living child of his parents union, his brother Abraham R., having died at the age of twenty-three years, and a sister, Ora, having died in infancy.

Charles Holten Byers's education was be- gun in the public schools of his native place, and continued at Burbank Academy and Ashland College, Ashland, Ohio. He left school at the age of twenty-one years, having had as class- mates some of the most prominent men of the State, many of whom are now well-known men in manufacturing and political circles. As a boy and young man he worked on his fath- er's farm. He came of a prominent Republican family, and during many of the late President McKinley's campaigns was in close touch with the future president and accompanied him on many of his stumping tours through that sec- tion of Ohio. Prior to 1891 he travelled for the Western Publishing House of Chicago, selling school books and supplies. In this year he accepted a position with the Abner

wholesale perfumery, extracts and soaps, and remained with this firm until 1900. After his second marriage Mr. Byers left the road, and for a period resided in Burbank, Ohio, looking after his farming interests. In 1904 Mr. Byers took his present position, removing from Ohio, to different points in Virginia, and in November of that year settled in the city of York.

Mr. Byers has been twice married, first at Louisville, Ky., Nov. 29, 1883, to Miss Emma Jahrreis, then residing in Louisville, daughter of Frederick Jahrreis, a marble dealer of Mad- ison, Ind., and she died in Louisville, Nov. 19, 1898, leaving these children : Lee D., born at Wichita, Kans., June 3, 1885, taught school at Northwood, N. Dak., and is now teaching at Portland, Ore .; and Ralph Eckeman, born at West Salem, Ohio, June 22, 1892, is now at school. Mr. Byers married (second) at Scranton, Pa., Sept. 5, 1900, Miss Alice Lenore Harvey, born at Mansfield Centre, Conn., daughter of Joseph and Emily ( Phillips) Har- vey. Her father died in 1901. while her mother still survives. One child has been born to this union, Charles Harvey, born May I, 1903, at Burbank, Ohio. Mr. Byers was rear- ed in the faith of the Evangelical Church, but is liberal in his religious views. He is a mem- ber of the Jr. O. U. A. M., West Salem (Ohio) Council, No. 168.

HENRY F. ROHRBAUGH, of Penn township, was born in that locality Feb. 24, 1854, on the old Rohrbaugh homestead, son of Amos and Fanny ( Forry ) Rohrbaugh.

The maternal grandfather was John Forry, who married a Miss Myers; the paternal grand- father was Henry Rohrbaugh, a native of York county, whose wife was a Miss Runkel. Amos Rohrbaugh was born in Manheim township, in 1827, and died in 1896, aged sixty-eight years ; he was widely known as a successful farmer, and was a man very highly respected for his many sterling qualities. His wife was a na- tive of Penn township, born in 1825. and is still living, residing in Hanover, near the toll gate. To their union were born two sons, -- Henry F. and John F., the latter a prominent contractor in Hanover .- and six daughters. Mary, Fannie, Katharine, Amanda, Sarah and Barbara, all married.

Henry F. Rohrbaugh attended the village

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

school in New Baltimore until he was nearly Lutheran Church. He died in 1889, at the eighteen, and then continued at home, helping age of seventy-four ; his wife is still living, in her eighty-fourth year. his father on the farm for the next six years. He then married and settled on his father's property, where he has ever since been engaged in general farming and stock raising, and he has become an extensive feeder of cattle for export. He has also branched out into a dairy business, milks ten or twelve cows, and sells to the creameries in Hanover. The farm, known originally as the Jacob Bucher farm, contains 108 acres of choice land in a high state of cul- tivation, and with a goodly number of substan- tial buildings. It is supplied with the best of machinery for all the various activities carried on. and the place is altogether one of the best equipped properties in the vicinity. In politcs Mr. Rohrbaugh affiliates with the Repub- licans.

At the age of twenty-four Mr. Rohrbaugh married Miss Catherine Bare, daughter of Daniel and Susan (Bechtel) Bare, of Penn township. Six children have been born to them. namely : Emma J., wife of George Bar- gelt, a tinner of Hanover; Catherine, Amos, William, Edward, and Daniel, at home. Mrs. Rohrbaugh is a member of the German Bap- tist Church.

CHARLES NELSON WOLF, M. D., of Hellam. York county, is very popular in the town where he has lived since he was a small boy.

The great-grandfather of Dr. Wolf was a native of Germany, where he lived and died. His son came to America and settled in Lan- caster county, Pa., moving from there to Adams county. He was the father of Susan, Mrs. Zouck, the mother of Jacob Zouck, a wealthy man of Hanover, Pa .; Mrs. Jacob Stock; Samuel, father of Dr. Wolf; Mrs. Meakley : and Jacob and Reuben, deceased.

Samuel Wolf, father of Dr. Wolf, was born in Hamilton township, Adams county, where he spent his life as a farmer. He married Gertrude West, and they had the following children : Mary, wife of Dr. J. A. Armstrong, of Hellam; Aaron, a stock farmer of Adams county, married to Emma Hare; William, a farmer of Adams county, married to Rachel Wolf; Sarah, wife of Jacob Hoover, of Adams county ; Lewis, a farmer of Adams county, married to Lydia Reynolds; and Charles Nel- son. Samuel Wolf was a Democrat in politics. and he and his family were members of the

Charles Nelson Wolf was born Oct. 9, 1863, in Hamilton township, Adams county, and his first school days were spent at Pine Run in that county. When he was eleven years old, he left school there, and came to Hellam to live with his sister, wife of Dr. J. A. Arm- strong,and there he attended the public schools, making rapid progress. One of his teachers was Mr. Gardiner, present county superintend- ent of schools. In due time he received a teacher's certificate, and taught in Druch Val- ley for one term. Not taking kindly to the profession of teaching, he returned to his sis- ter's, where he steadily added to his knowledge of medicine under Dr. Armstrong's tutelage. He spent a year at York Academy under Prof. Stauffer, and then decided to enter Gettysburg College to study for the ministry. He mas- tered the two years preparatory work in twelve weeks, but when ready to enter college found that the field of medicine was more attractive than the ministry. Once more, therefore, he returned to his sister's, determined on the study of medicine for his life work. He passed a preparatory examination at York under Dr. Kerr and Dr. Blair, and in 1866 entered the medical school of the University of Pennsyl- vania, in Philadelphia. He was graduated with the class of 1889, Dr. Frank Small, of York, being one of his classmates. He began practice in Hellam, where he remained two years. He then went to Yorkana, where he soon built up a large practice, equal to that of any country doctor in the county. The work presently becoming too heavy, Dr. Wolf went to East Berlin, Adams county, hoping for a less arduous life, but there also he had more to do than his strength would permit. Then the health of his brother-in-law, Dr. Armstrong, failed about this time, and Dr. Wolf returned

to Hellam to assist him, and he is at present in charge of the greater part of his practice. Dr. Wolf is an able physician, he is greatly liked and his services are much in demand.

Dr. Wolf married in Hellam, Dec. 25. 1888, Alice Abel, daughter of Benjamin and Maria ( Ness) Abel, the latter of whom is liv- ing. The children of this marriage are: Stella, Vera, Erma, Ruth, Nelson, Carrie and Lorene. Dr. Wolf was brought up in the Lutheran faith, but is not connected with any church. In politics he is a Democrat.

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HENRY F. WALKER (deceased) was for a number of years engaged in a coal and wood business in York, Pa., where he died in dustry. 1902. He was born in Cleveland, O., in 1865, son of Girard Walker.

Henry F. Walker received a good educa- tion, and for a number of years was employed by the Adams Express Company, of Cleveland. He spent two years in Virginia in the mercan- tile business, and came to York in 1892, en- gaging in the coal and lumber business with his brothers-in-law, later embarking in the coal

business on his own account. He was a good. lower end of York county, where he died. His

business man, and his business was prospering greatly, when he died in York, Sept. 19, 1902, and was buried at the Prospect Hill cemetery.

In 1886 Mr. Walker married Louise W. Grothe, daughter of Henry and Wilhelmina (Brinkman) Grothe, and to this union were born : Emma, William, Martin and Gerhard. In politics Mr. Walker was a Democrat. The family were members of St. John's Lutheran Church. Mrs. Walker resides at her home, No. 407 East Prospect street, York, superin- tending the coal business, which her brother is carrying on for her.

HENRY W. EMIG, a prominent farmer citizen of Hellam township, is an elder brother of Albert G. Emig.

Mr. Emig was born in Hellam township, on the beautiful family farm, Jan. 20, 1846. He attended school from the time he was six years old until he was twenty, but although he was fond of study, he was more fond of work. He began his chosen work of farming when only a boy, and remained with his father until he was twenty-six years old. He then bought his present fine farm of 118 acres. The house in which he lives was built by the man who bought the property from William Penn. Mr. Emig has made many improvements on the farm; the present barn, one of the best in the county, 80x60 feet in dimensions, was erected by him in 1889. In 1878, he built the tobacco shed, 80x64 feet.

For ten years Mr. Emig lived on his farm in bachelor solitude, and then married Susan Smuck, daughter of Henry and Mary Ann (Keener) Smuck. They have two children, Guy and Clare. Mr. Emig is a loyal Repub- lican in politics. He has no church connection. He is a man much looked up to in the com- munity where he lives, and he has earned his position by hard, honest work. He began

with almost no capital, and has accumulated a competence through untiring energy and in-

JOHN FORSYTH MAUGHLIN, justice of the peace and school director of East Hope- well township, York county, Pa., was born on the home farm near Airville, York county, Sept. 17, 1865, son of John James Maughlin.

William Maughlin, the great-grandfather of John F., came from the North of Ireland to America, and is supposed to have settled in the son, John, was born in the neighborhood of Airville, and was a cooper by trade, although farming was his chief occupation throughout life. He married Miss Mary Smith, also of that section. He was a soldier in the War of 1812-14 and was stationed at Baltimore, Md. He died near Airville in 1881, aged ninety- three years, his wife preceding him to the grave. These children were born to him: Joseph Smith, who died in Washington State; Martha, Mrs. William Wilson,, of Airville; John James, the father of John F .; Margaret, Mrs. John Mckinley, who died in College Springs, Page Co., Iowa; Jane, Mrs. Murray Wilson, who died in Chanceford township; Mary Ann, Mrs. David Forsyth, of College Springs, Page county, Iowa; Lizzie and Eze- miah, residents of Airville; and William, who married Rachel Mckinley, and died in Air- ville.

John James Maughlin was born in 1828 near Airville, and followed the occupation of farming all of his life. He married Mary Jane Grove, born at Muddy Creek Forks, in 1837. daughter of Thomas W. and Susan (Lemon) Grove. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Maughlin settled on a portion of the old home- stead, and there the former died in 1890, Mrs. Maughlin surviving and making lier home near Airville. During the Civil War, the father of John F. Maughlin was a member of the Home Guards. He was connected with the Guinston U. P. Church for the greater part of his life, but in his later years joined the Air- ville U. P. Church. He and his wife had children as follows : Ida, who died young ; John F., a detailed record of whose life is found be- low : Mary E., Mrs. William McBurney Grove. residing near Airville; Thomas Grove, who married Jennie Skelton, and lives on a part of the home farm.

John Forsyth Maughlin attended the com-

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mon schools of his township, and the Normal school of York, later taking a course at a Phil- adelphia business college. His first local teacher was Frances Cameron, his last being Agnes Campbell, and while in York he was under the tuition of Prof. D. H. Gardner. He was reared to farm pursuits, and taught school for three years in Chanceford and Lower Chance- ford townships. On Oct. 1, 1896, he married Miss Ella E. J. Hyson, of East Hopewell town- ship, daughter of Archibald Hyson, a full sketch of whom will be found elsewhere. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Maughlin lived at Mc- Call's Ferry for six years, and Mr. Maughlin was in the general store of Samuel D. Fry. At the end of that period Mr. Maughlin purchased his present farm of sixty-two acres from the estate of John C. Liggett, upon which he has since resided and which has proved to be a very productive, fertile piece of farm property. Mr. Maughlin has been very successful in his agri- cultural operations, and can speak from exper- ience and say that farming, when properly man- aged. is a profitable business.

Mr. Manghlin is now serving his third year a's school director, and was elected a justice of the peace in 1905. He takes a great interest in all educational matters. He is a member of the Guinston U. P. Church, in which he is an elder (ordained May 3, 1895), and was a trus- tee of the church for six years. At present he is superintendent of the Sunday school.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 165

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