History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 173

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

USA > Pennsylvania > York County > History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II > Part 173

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

949

BIOGRAPHICAL

1900, after which he had charge of the cigar factory of Charles Solomon, in the city of York, his employer being a resident of the city of New York. In December of the same year he resigned this incumbency, and entered into a copartnership with Michael Hose, under the name of the Dallas Cigar Co., and they have since been most pleasantly and profitably as- sociated in the manufacturing of high-grade cigars, having two large and well equipped factories, as before noted, and manufacturing about 15,000,000 cigars annually, our subject having the general supervision of the Dallas- town plant, in which seventy-five persons are employed, while in the Windorsville factory employment is given to a corps of fifty in- dividuals.

In politics Mr. Brillhart is a stalwart sup- porter of the principles of the Republican party, and his religious views are in harmony with the tenets of the U. B. Church, in which faith he was reared. In a fraternal way he is identified with Crystal Lodge, No. 248, Knights of Pythias, and Jr. O. U. A. M. Lodge No. 640, in Dallastown, being a past officer in the latter organization. He has marked mus- ical talent, and is a member of the Dallastown cornet band, in which he plays the trombone.

On Christmas day, 1887, Mr. Brillhart led to the marriage altar Miss Rebecca Eberlin, who was born and reared in this county, being a daughter of Mathias and Regina (Heins- man) Eberlin, honored residents of Dallas- town. She has two brothers, Jacob and Henry, and three sisters, of whom Mary is the wife of Henry Seachrist ; Sarah is the wife of Benjamin Wallack; and Margaret is the wife of Cane Smith.

CHARLES ARTHUR LUTZ. The thriving city of York, occupying a position of no mean importance as an industrial and com- mercial center, is fortunate in the character of the citizens who make up its quota of business men, and among the honored and progressive representatives of this class is Charles Arthur Lutz, who is the head of The C. Arthur Lutz Co., Inc., printers, publishers, engravers and stationers, which controls a large and important business.

John Lutz, grandfather of Charles Arthur Lutz, was a native of Holland, and emigrated to America in 1803, locating in Maryland, where he passed the rest of his life. He was a

tailor and farmer by vocation. The lineage can be traced back to stanch German origin, the first progenitors of the family in America hav- ing come hither from the Teutonic Fatherland in the Colonial era of our history.

William R. Lutz, father of Charles Arthur, was born and reared in Baltimore county, Md., in which State he continued to reside until he had attained the age of thirty-three years, when he came to York county. Here he has ever since maintained his home. He was engaged most of his active career as a laborer, and is now living retired in the city of York, where he is held in the highest confidence and esteem. He is sixty-eight years of age at the time of this writing. His first wife, Christiana Wilkerson, was of Scotch-Irish descent, and she was born and reared in York county, where her death occurred in April, 1879. In 1885 Mr. Lutz married his second wife, whose maiden name was Rebecca Stouch, and who likewise was born and reared in this county. She died Dec. 31, 1899. Of the children of the first marriage Ella, Mary A., Agnes L. and Paul E. remain at the parental home; Alexander T. is a potter by vocation ; and Charles Arthur is the subject of this sketch. Concerning the chil- dren of the second marriage we note that Maria J. remains with her parents, and William Elmer and Harry E. are employees of the York Card & Paper Company.

Charles Arthur Lutz was born in Glen Rock, this county, Feb. 23, 1870, and his ed- ucation was acquired in the public schools of the city of York, to which his father removed when Charles was about two years old. He left school at the age of twelve years and worked in a foundry, and at the age of sixteen entered upon an apprenticeship at the printer's trade in the establishment of P. Anstadt & Sons, of York. He completed his apprentice- ship in the office of the York Daily, later he became an employee of the Hubley Printing Company, of this city, and in 1890 was appoint- ed mail clerk in the York postoffice, retaining this position until 1892. He then accepted a position as traveling salesman for a few months. Some months later he established in York a job, book and general commercial printing plant of his own, on Feb. 23, 1893. His first place of business was his father's barn, and to quote his own words, he began "without a dollar in his pocket, but with an honest purpose in his heart." His entire equip-

950

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

ment was bought on credit from a friend, H. A. Free, D. D. S. Mr. Lutz possessed an unusual amount of the German and Scotch-Irish pluck, and determined to succeed, and he has built up a solid and representative business during the intervening period of more than a decade, hav- ing one of the most completely equipped print- ing plants in this section of the State. He has facilities for the prompt and proper handling of all work entrusted to him, while his estab- lishment has gained the enviable reputation of turning out only work of the highest excellence. The business is conducted under the title desig- nated in the opening paragraph of this work.

Mr. Lutz has published two magazines, "Self Help," and "Concordia," and still re- tains the last named, having sold "Self Help" to Mrs. J. F. Mitzel. On Dec. 13, 1895, ap- peared the following sketch of Mr. Lutz, written by the editor of the Duncannon Record :

"York, a city of over twenty thousand in- habitants, claims one of the youngest editors in the State, and possibly the United States. We refer to C. Arthur Lutz, living at 610 Company street. He was only eighteen years old when he wrote the first article for publication. At the age of twenty-five his name first appeared as editor on his journals, "The Council Work," and "The Illustrious Knights of Malta." This young man had very limited education, the highest grade of schooling he received was in the A Primary department, when he was com- pelled to quit school and go to work, in order to help his father to keep the family. But with all this drawback he burnt the midnight oil and put his spare time into study. He has been entirely the architect of his own career." [Note: "The Council Work" is out of print, and the title, "The Illustrious Knights of Mal- ta," was changed to "Concordia Magazine."]

At the outbreak of the Spanish-American war Mr. Lutz signalized his ardent patriotism hy enlisting as a member of Company A, 8th Pennsylvania Volunteers, and on the 12th of May, 1898, he was made corporal of his com- pany. His command was sent to Camp Alger, Va., and later to Augusta, Ga., and was in active service until the close of the war, Mr. Lutz receiving his honorable discharge on March 7, 1899. His discharge bears the fol- lowing significant endorsement : "Service, hon- est and faithful ; character, excellent." After the completion of his military career Mr. Lutz

wrote and published an attractive little brochure descriptive of the war and of the part taken therein by his regiment. Many thousands of these pamphlets have been sold in York county and other sections of the State. Prior to the war Mr. Lutz served as corporal of Company A, 8th Regiment, Pennsylvania National Guard, while for two and one-half years he also held the office of assistant steward in the hospital corps. In a fraternal way he is iden- tified with the Junior Order of United Amer- ican Mechanics, Patriotic Order of Sons of America, Daughters of Liberty, Knights of Pythias, Knights of Malta, and Spanish War Veterans' Association. In politics he is a stalwart Republican, and he is a mem- ber of the Union Lutheran Church, and an active worker and member of the Young Men's Christian Association, to which he has be- longed ever since he was fourteen years old. Mr. Lutz has not as yet joined the ranks of the Benedicts.

WILLIAM EYSTER, of Jackson town- ship, York county, who owns fifty acres in what is known as Spangler's Valley, was born Feb. II, 1868, son of Peter and Sarah (Spang- ler) Eyster.

Mr. Eyster received his education in the schools of Jackson and Paradise townships, and remained at home until he reached his major- ity, after which he engaged in farming on rented land, continuing thus for some years. He then sold his personal property and re- moved to Spring Grove, entering the employ of P. H. Glatfelter, in the paper mill, and re- maining with him for some years. In 1902 he purchased his present home of fifty acres, which was formerly owned by his maternal grandfather, George Spangler, and is located in what is known as the Spangler Valley. Here Mr. Eyster has since devoted his time to agriculture and stock raising.

In 1888 Mr. Eyster married Miss Susan Roth, daughter of John and Susan ( Schwartz) Roth, and two children have been born to the union, namely : Lloyd (deceased) and Beulah. Mr. Eyster is a consistent member of the Lu- theran Church, while his wife is connected with the Reformed Church, and interested in its work. Mr. Eyster is Democratic in politics. The Eysters are representative people of Jack- son township and Mr. Eyster is held in high esteem.

951

BIOGRAPHICAL

JACOB BENJAMIN BESHORE, super-

until his marriage. When about twenty-three intendent of the Manchester Shale Brick Co., years of age, Mr. Beshore embarked in a tile of East Manchester township, was born in 1868 in that township, son of Jacob F. Be- shore, and a grandson of Jacob Beshore.

Jacob Beshore, the great-grandfather of our subject, was probably of German birth. He settled in Manchester township, where he established the family, and followed farming and distilling. He belonged to the family of the name in Berks county.

Jacob Beshore (2), grandfather of Jacob B., was born in Manchester township, where he followed farming on the homestead, which he had bought at his father's death. He mar- ried Lydia Fritz, and they both died on the old farm and are buried in the Manchester ceme- tery. Their children were: Daniel, who mar- ried Mary Fink, and died in Newberry town- ship; Jacob F. and Lydia, twins, of whom Lydia, who married Jacob Good, lives at Emigsville; John, who married Anna Fedrow, and lives in Newberry township; Benjamin, who married a Low, and lives in Newberry township; Lealı, who married John Hoover, and lives in Manchester township; Lizzie, who married Samuel Kauffman, and died in Spring Garden township.

Jacob F. Beshore, father of Jacob B., was born April 29, 1830, in Manchester township, where he followed the business of tilling the soil until he retired from active life. He pur- chased the old homestead and resided there un- til he retired to Manchester when he sold the property to the Manchester Shale Brick Co., in September, 1902. He married Catherine Keller, a daughter of Christian ; she was reared in Manchester township, where she died in 1892, and was laid to rest in the old Manches- ter cemetery. The children of this union were : David, who married Mary Keller, lives in Kan- sas; Josiah, who married Susan Whistler, lives in Newberry township; Augustus, who mar- ried Ellen Wambaugh, resides in Manchester township; Elizabeth remains at home taking care of her father; Catherine, who married Jacob Musser, lives in Lancaster county ; Ja- cob Benjamin; Sarah, who married Harry Kauffman, lives in Manchester township; and Salome married William Sloat.

Jacob Benjamin Beshore obtained his edu- cation in the township schools, and learned to be a practical farmer under his father. He also worked with his father in the tile business

and brick business of his own and operated it for eight years. In 1902 he bought five acres of the old homestead along the turnpike road to Manchester, and there built a brick-yard, and in 1903 the Manchester Shale Brick Co. was organized, of which he is a stockholder and the superintendent. This is a well ordered plant operated with modern machinery, em- ploys twenty-five hands, and turns out twenty thousand bricks a day. This great output is not enough to fill the demands of the trade. The dry house of the plant is 35 x 90 feet, and in it they have a 115-horse-power engine and a 150-horse-power boiler. Brick is shipped all over the State and business is constantly on the increase. In Mr. Beshore the company has an intelligent, experienced man and much of its prosperity is directly due to this fact.

In 1897 Mr. Beshore married Dillie Gross, a daughter of John and Annie (Sprenkle) Gross. They located near the brick plant, where he built a handsome residence. They have three bright, interesting children : Kate, Cecil and Park. Mr. Beshore is identified with the Republican party.

WILLIAM LATIMER MILLER,

a prominent contractor and builder in Newberry township, where many evidences of his taste and skill are to be found, was born Dec. 25, 1869, son of Abraham S. Miller, one of New- berry's most respected citizens. [For the Miller family history, see sketch of H. C. Miller, else- where. ]

Abraham S. Miller was born at the old Miller Mill, and while he did not enjoy very good school advantages, his own observation and study have made him a well informed man. At the age of fourteen he entered the mill, and learned the trade under his father. Locating in Newberry township, at Shindel's Mill, he remained eight years, and then bought the old Fink mill in the same township, now known as Keister's, and there he erected a fine sawmill. He was an expert carpenter, and even yet, when any specially fine work is called for, he is asked as a favor to take the contract. The greater part of his time was spent in farming in Newberry and Fairview townships, and he bought a small home of ten acres on which he erected fine buildings, and there he removed in 1893, now living retired. On June

952

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

30, 1863, he enlisted in Company D, 47th P. V. cator, teaching at Eisenhart's and Hake's I., and was in service doing guard duty until Aug. 13, 1863. At the age of twenty-two he married Cordelia Parthemore, daughter of Frederick and Eliza (Keister) Parthemore, of Newberry township.

William L. Miller attended the public schools until he was fifteen years of age, when he began to learn the carpenter's trade under his father. He continued working with the latter until 1896, when he engaged in the con- tracting and building business on his own ac- count, proving himself most capable and trust- worthy. He has erected many of the good homes in his vicinity, and superintended the building of the Chase Felt & Paper Company plant, and also that of the Susquehanna Roof- ing Manufacturing Company. He has put up a number of buildings at Cly. Besides his building operations, he has engaged to some ex- tent in farming. In politics he is a stanch Re- publican.

In 1885 Mr. Miller married Lucinda Sipe, daughter of Christian and Elizabeth (Ashen- felter ) Sipe, and their children are: Lillie, Bruce, James, Catherine and Celia.

SAMUEL W. LEHR, a well-to-do and in- fluential farmer of Conewago township, York county, was born Nov. 8, 1863, in Manchester township, son of George and Elizabeth ( Alli- son) Lehr.

David Lehr, the grandfather of Samuel W., was born in Manchester township and fol- lowed wagoning to Baltimore and Pittsburg. He married Elizabeth Myers, and located at Round Town, Manchester township, where they both died, being buried at Quickel's Church. They were the parents of the follow- ing children: George, the father of our sub- ject; Samuel, deceased; David, who married Susan Strickler, and died in Manchester town- ship; Henry, who died young; William, a car- penter; John, who married Lydia Strickler; Susannah, who died young; Elizabeth, who married Adam Bowersox; Sarah, who mar- ried Abner Bowersox; Catherine, deceased; and Mary Ann, who died at the age of twelve years.

George Lehr, the father of Samuel W., was born in 1836 in Manchester township, and re- ceived a fine education, attending the York County Academy. He taught school for six- teen years, and became well-known as an edu-

schools. He was a very prominent business man, engaging in the mercantile business, and he was secretary of the Mutual Fire Insur- ance Co., in Dover, Conewago, Manchester, East Manchester and West Manchester town- ships. Mr. Lehr was a Republican, and for a number of years was justice of the peace, also holding all of the township offices. He was very active in politics, and a valuable man to his party. Mr. Lehr married Elizabeth Alli- son, daughter of Samuel Allison. Mr. Lehr died at his home in Round Town, Manchester township, in 1877, being interred at Quickel's Church. Mrs. Lehr is living in Conewago township, with her daughter, Mrs. Winter- myer. Mr. and Mrs. Lehr were the parents of these children: William H., a butcher at Round Town, married Emma Wintermyer ; Samuel W .; Emma Jane married Latimore Wintermyer, and they live in Conewago town- ship; George W. married Martha Crone, and they live in Dover township; and Eli W. mar- ried Lillie Quickel, and lives in Conewago township.

Samuel W. Lehr attended the schools of Manchester township, until about sixteen years of age. In 1886 he married Lydia A. Smith, daughter of John and Sallie (Fake) Smith. After their marriage they located at Round Town for a time, and then spent four years farming in Conewago and Manchester town- ships. In 1899 he bought the old James Ens- minger farm of sixty-three and one-half acres, the ground from which Quickel's Church prop- erty was taken. Mr. Lehr owns a fine farm, with good substantial buildings, and engages quite successfully in general farming.

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Lehr were as follows : Harry W., Bertha M., Lydia Cora, all at home; and two, who died in in- fancy. The family are members of the Lu- theran Church. Mr. Lehr is a stanch Repub- lican, and has been township auditor and in- spector. His main interests have been centered in farming, and he has developed his estate into one of the valuable properties of the township. He is a man of enterprise and public-spirit, and has many warm friends.

ROBERT L. NESBIT. The Nesbit fam- ily are descended from Scotch-Irish ancestry, but for three generations at least have been na- tives of York county. John Creighton Nesbit,

953

BIOGRAPHICAL

the grandfather of Robert L., was one of seven children, all deceased, namely : James, who died in early life; John C .; Hannah, wife of George Lecrone, deceased, and mother of George, a resident of Dover; Eliza, wife of William Ful- ton, and mother of Alice and William, both deceased; Mary, deceased, wife of the late John Weimer, and mother of John, Lewis, Andrew, Henry (deceased), and Alice (Mrs. George Butcher) ; Letitia, who married the late Joshua Taylor, and had three children, John (deceased), Eliza Jane (of Rochester, Pa.) and Thomas (deceased) ; and Jane, who mar- ried the late James Compert, and had one daughter, Mary, deceased wife of Harrison Spangler.

John Creighton Nesbit was born in York county in 1809. A potter by trade, he was also a teacher, a noted mathematician, and fol- lowed both callings during his life time. He died in 1884, two years after his wife, who was Miss Julia Klinedinst, daughter of John Klinedinst, of York county, and was born in 1810. Their family consisted of ten chil- dren. (I) Elizabeth married Isaiah Walker, and lives near Rossville. (2) George and (3) Mary, both died in infancy. (4) John C., by profession a teacher, lives in Upper Allen town- ship, and holds the office of justice of the peace. He married Sallie, daughter of John Sprenkle, and has two sons: Arthur, in the drug business at Philadelphia; and Russell, a telegraph operator. (5) Harrison, now de- ceased, married Miss Mary Sutton. His

widow lives on the old homestead in War- rington township, and is the mother of Flor- ence; Adeline, Mrs. Samuel Deardorff, of York county ; and John Rankin, who married Miss Dollie Bushey, and lives near Mt. Airy. He has one son, Charles, married to Miss Kate Walker. (6) Joseph was married three times, first to a Miss Nester, second to a Miss Hart- man, and third to Miss Mary Brinton. By his first wife he had children : Elmer, who married Miss Clara Ferrence; Ann, Mrs. Wesley Bier- bower; and Sallie, Mrs. Frank Jennings. To the third union was born a son, Lester Creigh- ton. (7) William married first Mrs. Mc- Clellan, and second Miss Matilda Wallet, of Perry county. He is the father of Ward, Pearl, Stiles, Grant, Nettie, Frank and Rush. (8) Maria died at the age of seventeen. (9) James married Miss Bessie Shaw, of New York. He is principal of the schools in Dur-

and, Wis. (10) Louis N. was the father of Robert L.

Louis N. Nesbit was born near Round Top in 1836. He was a carpenter by trade, but spent much the greater part of his life teach- ing. For thirty-seven consecutive terms he taught in Warrington and Fairview town- ships, but finally retired from the profession in 1892, and turned his attention to farming. He is at present living in retirement in Dills- burg. A Republican in politics, he has been active in local affairs and has held various offices, as township clerk, assessor, etc. In re- ligion he is a Presbyterian. His wife, to whom he was united in 1851. was Miss Catherine Bushey, daughter of John Bushey, of Y

county, and Mr. Nesbit met with a great be- reavement in her death, Feb. 7, 1903, at the age of sixty-six. The children born to them were as follows: Robert L .; Annie, who mar ried Elwood Myers, a farmer of Warrington township, and has three children, Carrie, El- mer and Aaron; Mary, who married John R. Laird, a farmer in Fairview township, and has an only daughter, Blanch; Susan, who married H. M. Straley, a farmer and teacher in Warrington township, and has one son, Ralph.

Robert L. Nesbit was born at Fortney, Mt. Airy, Oct. 29, 1864. He attended school in Fortney, and after completing his educa- tion, clerked for a number of years in a dry goods and grocery concern, and having thus gotten a good start, he began in business for himself, March 23, 1887. He bought out the hardware business of John A. Arnold, and from the first did a flourishing business. By 1891, his patronage had so increased that he was obliged to enlarge his main building, but this relief was only temporary, and in 1896 he put up an addition, 125 feet long and three stories in height. Again his business outgrew its quarters, and in 1901, a second three story addition was built, 50x30 feet. His estab- lishment now covers 25,000 square feet of store room, and easily outstrips any other in the valley in size and in the amount of stock covered. The main lines are hardware, house furnishings and stoves, but there are a number of smaller lines carried also.

Mr. Nesbit was married Oct. 25, 1884, to Cora L., daughter of Quincy Swartz, of Adams county. Two children have been born to them, Quay S. and Dewey H. In his politi-

954

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

cal principles Mr. Nesbit is a Republican. He canal boats and boated through several sea- is a public spirited citizen, who does his part sons, finding the business very lucrative. He then rented them, and has farmed ever since.

in municipal life, at present holding the office of councilman for the borough of Dillsburg. He has been remarkably successful in a busi- ness way and stands high in the esteem of the community, where he is a man of both prom- inence and influence.

ALBERT OLPHIN, of Chanceford town- ship, York county, was born March 9, 1857, son of Peter and Henrietta (Greder) Olphin.

Peter Olphin was born in Germany, and came to the United States in boyhood. For · eleven years he followed the sea, sailing out of Baltimore, Md. Later he located at Marietta, and his after life was more or less success- ful, and he was alternately a boatman, a farmer and a contractor. After the death of his wife, mother of our subject, he left the farm and settled permanently at Marietta, marrying a Mrs. Shone, and dying there aged seventy- seven years. His children were: Albert; Barry, of Kansas; Anna, Mrs. William Keifer, deceased; Henry; Lizzie, Mrs. Reuben Howsickle; Sena, Mrs. Henry Runkle; Bertha, Mrs. George Graham, of Longlevel ; and Bert, a farmer and cigarmaker of this township.

When Albert Olphin was a babe of three months, his father moved to Yorkana, and there the family lived nine years, then moving to the farm now owned by our subject. Here the father engaged in contracting, near Stone Station, for four years but later returned to the farm. When Albert was sixteen years of age he boated for his father on the canal, and succeeded so well that his father put him in full charge, and during two seasons he was captain of the boat. When this boat was sold, Albert became bowman for Reuben Howsickle, and later for Mr. Crownshield, of Columbia, and worked thus until he was twenty-one years old. Although he had commenced his busi- ness life with absolutely no capital, he had saved his money, and now bought a pair of boats and boated for himself for three years, during this time, on different occasions, own- ing two sets of boats.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 173

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