History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 175

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

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John Bortner, grandfather of C. Alexan- der, was a well-known farmer of York county, who was accidentally killed on the Northern Central Railroad, and is buried in Fiscel's cem-

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

etery. His children were : Michael, of brothers, Thomas, John and Samuel, who Shrewsbury township; John and Adam, de- came from the north of Ireland to York coun- ceased; Isaac, of York ; and Mrs. Allison, de- ty, Pa., early in the eighteenth century. John ceased.

Michael Bortner, father of C. Alexander, learned the milling business with H. M. Bort- ner, in Codorus township, which he followed about twenty years in that and in Shrewsbury townships, and he now resides on a small farm in the latter township, near New Freedom. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John Gantz. Their children were: C. Alexander; Jennie M., wife of Emanuel Luckabaugh, of Codorus township; Rosa, deceased; Killian C., at home; Lettie May, wife of William Black, of Codorus township; Edward L., of Illinois; Harvey W., also of Illinois; Blanche, at home; John; Sadie, deceased; and one that died in infancy.

C. Alexander Bortner was educated in the schools of Codorus and Shrewsbury town- ships, completing his education at the age of nineteen years. Since the age of twelve years Mr. Bortner has made his own way in the world, and for his success deserves a great amount of credit. From that time until his twenty-first year he had two different homes with farmers, and then went to Illinois, where he spent five years engaged in farming, re- turning to his native place in December, 1895.

In February, 1896, Mr. Bortner was mar- ried to Joanna Leese, daughter of Benjamin Leese, of Jefferson borough, who died March 24, 1897, and is buried at Fiscel's Church in Shrewsbury township. Mr. Bortner married (second) Alice Gantz, daughter of Adam H. and Caroline Gantz. His two promising young sons, Ralph Adam and Perry Clifford, were born to his second union. Ralph Adam is in school.

After this marriage Mr. Bortner bought the old Dellone farm of 106 acres, but he has sold a part of this, retaining only ninety-one acres. It is located on the old Baltimore Road, near Stiltz post office. Both lie and wife are member of Fiscel's Lutheran Church, he being a deacon and very active in the Sunday- school. In politics he is a Democrat. He owns some of the finest land in this section, and has the reputation of being one of the best farmers.

JOHN L. McCREARY. The McCreary family of York county are of Scotch-Irish de- scent, and trace their ancestry from three

settled in the western part, Samuel in the lower and Thomas in the vicinity of what is now known as Hanover. This Thomas, founder of the Hanover branch of the family, was the great-great-grandfather of John L., and the next in direct line was his son, also named Thomas.

John L. McCreary, grandfather of our subject, was born in Hanover in 1793. A farmer by occupation, he died in 1824, at the early age of thirty-one, leaving a wife, Juli- ana (Lease) McCreary, and two children, Juliana, and Samuel. Mrs. McCreary lived to the ripe old age of eighty-four, and passed away in 1882. The daughter died in 1894, aged seventy-four.

Samuel McCreary was born in 1818, at Dover, York county. He was well-educated, and in early life taught school. Of versatile ability, he was for a number of years a brick maker, and also a tailor, while the latter part of his life was spent in farming. He was well known in the community and highly esteemed; he served for several terms as school director in Washington township. His death occurred in 1897, when he was aged seventy-nine. He married Harriet, daughter of Aaron Black- ford, also of York county, who is still living, a resident of Franklintown. There were five children born to this union: (I) Aaron, died at the age of twenty-one. (2) Juliana married Jesse Ruhl, a farmer of Cumberland county, and was the mother of Samuel, who married Miss Annie Beitzel, of Cumberland county, has three children, and lives on the McCreary farm in Washington township; (3) John L. was the third. (4) Elizabeth be- came the wife of Daniel Baker, a teacher formerly of Warrington township, now of Dillsburg. They have a daughter, Virginia. (5) Samuel married Carrie, daughter of Dan- iel Brougher, of York county, and has one child, Roy. He combines the occupations of farming and teaching. (6) Catherine is the wife of Joseph Hershey, a farmer living in Franklintown.

On the maternal side John L. McCreary is connected with the Blackfords and the Yoners, old original families of the county. Samuel Yoner, his great-great-grandfather, was one of the earliest settlers of Dover, but this was then called Yonerstettle, in honor of

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resided, April 9, 1871, son of Henry and its founder. The property where he resided is still in a good state of preservation. Joseph Sarah (Snodgrass) Weiser.

Blackford, great-grandfather of John L. Mc- Creary, died in 1834, aged eighty-four. His wife was a Miss Garretson, who was born and reared in Washington township. The grand- father, Aaron Blackford, who reached the advanced age of ninety, married a Miss Miller, of Perry county, who also lived to an ex- tremely old age, passing away in 1885. They had five children: (1) Miller, who was all his life in the mercantile business, was for two terms a member of the Legislature, and a di- rector of the Dillsburg Bank. He died in 1895, aged sixty-five years. (2) Catherine Jane, married a Mr. Bushey. (3) John lives in Iowa. (4) Alfred died at the age of eight- teen. (5) Harriet became Mrs. McCreary.

John L. McCreary was born in Washing- ton township in 1854, was educated there, and afterward remained at home working on the farm until he was twenty-eight years old. One year he spent working on, the Welty farm near Dillsburg, but at the end of that time perma- nently abandoned agriculture and entered upon a grocery and general merchandise busi- ness at Dillsburg. Since 1891 he has been carrying on a bakery, and began with a small establishment which he bought from John Arnold. Mr. McCreary has steadily built up the business until it has reached large propor- tions, and has a capacity of fifty-five barrels of flour a week, while the output of bread alone is 18,000 loaves. In handling the deliv- ery trade, which covers an area of twelve miles, a force of sixteen men is employed, with four large wagons and twenty horses. Mr. McCreary shows himself possessed of qualities marking the successful business man, is ranked as a good citizen and stands well in the esteem of the community.

In 1883 occurred the marriage of Mr. McCreary to Miss Rebecca Wireman, daugh- ter of John Wireman, of York county. Their only child, Samuel, is at present a boy in school. In religion Mr. and Mrs. McCreary are members of the Lutheran and United Brethren churches, respectively. He is a Democrat in political belief.

JOHN E. WEISER, proprietor of the "Bellview Farm," in Chanceford township, York county, was born on the farm which he now occupies, and upon which he has always

The paternal grandfather spent all of his. life in York, where he died, when his son. Henry was a boy. Henry Weiser received a. common school education, and when eighteen years of age went West, working all over the western States. For a time he was a boatman on the Mississippi river, and on his return home became captain and owner of canal boats on the Tide Water Canal, and followed this. occupation for a number of years. He then bought the home farm and spent the rest of his life in farming, dying in 1886, at the age of sixty-three years. Although a member of no religious organization, Mr. Weiser attended St. Luke's Lutheran Church. In politics he was a prominent member of the Democratic party, being school director for several terms, and auditor. He was connected with the Wrightsville Bank. Mr. Weiser married Miss. Sarah Snodgrass, a resident of Lower Chance- ford township and the following children were born to them: Cassandra, Mrs. Henry Snelt- zer, of Brogueville; Mary, married to Hiram Crone, of Wrightsville; Josephine, Mrs. George Sanger, of Chanceford town- ship; Elmira, Mrs. Jacob Tome, of York: Henrietta, who married Isaac Sample, of Chanceford township; Isabella, Mrs. James Scott, of Chanceford township; Ida, Mrs. Thomas Grove, of Dallastown; William, who- married Maria Kohler, and died in March, 1902; and John E.

John E. Weiser attended the public schools. from the age of six to nineteen years. His. father died and he was compelled to stay at home to work the farm, which he bought in 1898. Mr. Weiser has been very prominent in politics, being a delegate of the Democratic party to the county convention at the age of twenty-two years, and since then has served in that capacity three times. He has been county committeeman twice, and has always taken the deepest interest in the success of his party, since his first presidential vote, which was cast for Grover Cleveland.

At the age of sixteen years Mr. Weiser took up music and became very proficient in playing the organ. Since the age of eighteen years he has been teaching music, and at the age of twenty joined the Rockville Band, which organization was later named the Ex- celsior Band, in which Mr. Weiser played the

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

first cornet, B flat. In the Bethel M. E. dence and business headquarters in the village Church Mr. Weiser plays the organ, and is steward and a Sunday-school teacher. of Rye. He is a scion of one of the old fam- ilies of this section of the State, whither the original representative of the name came from Germany.

On Oct. 26, 1895, Mr. Weiser married Miss Annie Reichard, born in Chanceford township, daughter of John and Mary ( Mor- rison) Reichard, and two children have been born to this union, Ethel and Wilbur. Mr. Weiser has been very successful in his agri- cultural ventures, and he is highly respected by all who know him.

GEORGE E. ENDERS, manager of the Commonwealth Beneficial Association, is de- scended from a family who were among the early settlers of Pennsylvania, and was born May II, 1872, in Franklintown, York county.

Three Enders brothers crossed the Atlan- tic together, one of whom stayed in the East, another went West and the third went South, the last named being the one from whom our subject is descended.

George M. Enders, the grandfather of George E., was for many years an undertaker in York county, but in his latter years became a grocer.

H. M. Enders, son of George M., who has been a traveling salesman for Jacob Stair, of York, for the past twenty-two years, married Lydia Ann Hershey, daughter of Michael Hershey, a York county farmer, and there were five children born to this union: Olie M., wife of Harry E. Shane, a cigar maker of York; John C., a carriage trimmer of York; Charles E., employed by the York Manufact- uring Company; C. Grove, connected with the freight department of the Northern Central Railroad Company ; and George E.

George E. Enders was educated in the public schools of York. His first occupation was as a clerk, and he was so engaged for four- teen years, after which he spent two years in the employ of the Northern Central Railroad, and the following three years were devoted to the grocery business.

In 1901 Mr. Enders became manager of the Commonwealth Beneficial Association, es- tablishing an office in Room 8, in the Mercan- tile and Law building, on East Market street. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and also belongs to the Modern Woodmen.

PETER H. GROVE, who is engaged in the manufacturing of cigars and in handling leaf tobacco of local production, has his resi-

Peter Henry Grove was born in Spring. field township, March 29, 1869, son of John Henry and grandson of Henry Grove.

John Grove, his great-grandfather, may have been born in Pennsylvania, the available and authentic data not being such as to de- termine whether this John or his father repre- sented the first generation of the family in America. Certain it is, however, that Jolin Grove was early settled in Hopewell township, York county, where he became a prominent and influential farmer, living to a venerable age. He was the father of a large family of children, as follows: John, Jr., born March 15, 1795, died April 21, 1871 ; Elizabeth, born Jan. 31, 1796, married John Sechrist, and died Jan. 13, 1861; Justina, born Oct. 29, 1797, married Rev. James. Ewing, and died at Johnstown, Pa .; Jacob, born April 12, 1799, died Feb. 20, 1882 ; Henry, born Feb. 23, 1801, died Nov. 16, 1885; Susan, born Nov. 28, 1802, married Jacob Bixler, and died in Jones county, Ia., Feb. 4, 1888 ; Catharine, born Aug. 15, 1804, married Jeremiah Hess, and died, in York, Pa., Dec. 19, 1880; Samuel born Jan. 22 1806, died in York county, Feb. 25, 1891; Charles, born Oct. 14, 1808, died Aug. 19, 1897, in York county; Michael, born March 25, 1810, died at Bannock City, Montana, Dec. 20, 1895; Frederick, born March 30, 1812, died in Jones county, Ia., Nov. 25, 1882; Lydia, born Aug. 10, 1814, married James Lutz, and died, at Castle Fin, Pa., Jan. 20, 1892; and Francis, born Sept. 22, 1817, died at Leadville, Colo., March 18, 1891. All of these children were born in York county, and it will be noted that nearly all lived to the age of more than three score years and ten. Many repre- sentatives of the family still remain in York county, as the pages of this work will indicate in a direct and incidental way.

Henry Grove, grandfather of our subject, was born on the ancestral homestead, in Hope- well township, Feb. 23, 1801, and there was reared to maturity. As a young man he learned the milling trade, which he followed for a few years, after which he was engaged in farming during the greater portion of the re- mainder of his active career. He became blind about four years prior to his death, at

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the age of nearly eighty-five years. His wife was a daughter of John Sheaffer, of Hope- well township, where she was born, being like- wise a member of one of the old and well known families of the county. She, too, lived to a venerable age. Their children were as fol- lows: John Henry, father of our subject; Jacob, born Sept. 4, 1833, died in York town- ship; Elizabeth, born Jan. 31, 1835, died in youth; Alexander F., born July 12, 1836, re- sides in Stewartstown, this county; Catherine, born Jan. 31, 1838, resides in Stewartstown; Lydia, born July 14, 1839, resides in Hopewell township; James, born April 4, 1841, died in Philadelphia; Benjamin, born Feb. 12, 1843, died in the West; Cornelius, born April 16, 1845, lives at Dallastown, York county; Mar- garetta, born April 7, 1847, is a resident of Pittsburg, Pa .; Joseph, born July 14, 1849, is a resident of York; Eli Free, born Feb. 13, 1852, resides in York.

John Henry Grove was born in Hopewell township, this county, April 16, 1832, and re- ceived a common-school education in the county schools, while in his youth he learned the car- penter's trade, which he followed as a voca- tion for a number of years. He was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Williams, who was likewise born and reared in this county, being a daughter of Peter Williams. After his mar- riage Mr. Grove engaged in farming in Spring- field township, and there continued to be identi- fied with that vocation until his death at the age of forty years, his mortal remains being laid to rest in the cemetery in that township. His widow still survives, and now makes her home with our subject, who is next to the youngest of the children, the others being Amanda, deceased, who married a Howard; Mary, deceased wife of John Hindel; Sarah, who married a Mr. Kutz, deceased ; Henrietta, deceased wife of Joseph Loucks; Eliza, who died unmarried; Katie, who married (first) a Strickler, and (second) an Ernst, and they now resides in York county; and John, resid- ing on the old homestead farm in Springfield township.

mother being such that he was early thrown to a great extent upon his own resources, so that it may be consistently said that he deserves the honored American title of self-made man. After having been variously employed in York township, he returned to Springfield township, where he engaged in farming and also in the cigar and leaf-tobacco business, prospering in his efforts, which were indefatigable and well directed. He became the owner of a valuable farmi of one hundred acres, and the head- quarters of his cigar and tobacco business were maintained at Loganville, where he was es- tablished for thirteen years. At the expiration of this period, in the spring of the year 1904, he disposed of his farm and removed his other business enterprise to Rye, York township, where he has since continued to do an ex- tensive business in the manufacture of cigars and dealing in leaf tobacco, having a well equipped factory, in which employment is given to a corps of from thirty-five to fifty skilled workmen. While in Loganville Mr. Grove also manufactured cigar boxes, but this phase of his enterprise he found it expedient to abandon upon his removal to Rye, in order that he might give his undivided attention to his large and constantly expanding cigar business. In the midst of the exactions of business Mr. Grove has ever found time to keep in touch with the questions and issues of the day, while he has ever been found ready to do his part in aiding all worthy enterprises and causes tending to conserve local progress and pros- perity, though never a seeker of office. His political proclivities are indicated in the stanch support which he accords to the principles and policies of the Republican party.

Mr. Grove married Miss Ella Myers, who was born in Hopewell township, daughter of Emanuel and Sevilla (Livingston) Myers. She was called to the life eternal June 8, 1902, and interment was made in the cemetery of the East Codorus Church, of the German Baptist denomination, in Springfield township, she having been a zealous and consistent member of that church. She is survived by two chil- are attending the public schools in Rye.

Peter Henry Grove passed his early boy- dren, Media S. and Allen M., both of whom

hood days in, his native township, his father having died when he was but three years of age, and when he was nine years old he came HOWARD N. SMITH, contractor in Windsor township, was born Oct. 13, 1875. at Freysville, on the old homestead farm, son of to York township, where he continued to at- tend the public schools as opportunity of- fered, the financial status of his widowed David Smith. He attended the public schools

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of his township from six years of age until he was eighteen, his first instructor being John Dunlap, and his last teacher, Prof. J. A. Stine. He worked on his father's farm, and then learned the carpenter's trade with Horace Welty, of Red Lion, with whom he remained about ten years. In 1902 Mr. Smith engaged in contracting and building on his own account, in which line he has since continued quite suc- cessfully. Mr. Smith is a self-made man, and owes his success to his energy and strict at- tention to business. His methods are up-to- date, honorable and upright, and his contracts are promptly completed.

Mr. Smith is unmarried. He was reared in the faith of the United Brethren Church, but favors no particular religious denomina- tion. In politics he is a Democrat, but has never sought official recognition. His fraternal associations connect him with the Knights of Pythias and the I. O. O. F., in both of which he is a popular and valued member. He is well known and universally esteemed in the com- munity.

JOHN MYERS, of Jackson township, York county, was born Nov. 21, 1876, son of Michael and Maria (Kehr) Myers, and a grandson of George Myers. George Myers was a prominent and successful man of Jack- son township, and followed agricultural pur- suits all of his life. He married Elizabeth Hoke, and they were the parents of nine chil- dren.

Michael Myers was born in Jackson town- ship and received his education in the common and subscription schools of his time. When a young man he engaged in farming, and also interested himself in the production of iron ore, for which York county is noted. In this line he was very successful, and acquired a handsome competency before his death, which occurred in January, 1899, when he was aged about fifty-six years. He was a member of the Reformed Church. He most ably served the people as supervisor and school director, being elected on the Democratic ticket. He was a stockholder in the Farmers' Fire Insur- ance Company. To Michael Myers and his wife the following children were born: Mar- tin; Ellen, who married Abraham Ream, and has four children, Anna, Melvin, Nora and John; Elizabeth; George; Jonas; John; Michael; and one that died in infancy.

John Myers remained at home until he was twenty-four years of age, and received his education in the common schools. In 1899 he married Clara A. Brown, and in April, 1904, purchased the fine thirty-acre farm, known as the "Old Picking Farm," situated between York pike and Berlin road, and upon which he now resides. To Mr. and Mrs. Myers two children have been born, Russell and Stella. Mr. Myers is identified with the Reformed Church, and Mrs. Myers is a Lutheran. In politics he is a Democrat. He is held in high regard in Jackson township.

GEORGE M. SNYDER, foreman of the blacksmithing department of the Martin Car- riage Works, York, Pa., was born Dec. II, 1858, in Codorus township, York county, son of John and Mary ( Hoffnagle) Snyder.

John Snyder was born in Hessen-Darm- stadt, Germany, where he learned the stone and brick mason's trade. He came to America, landing at Baltimore in 1856, where, however, he did not remain long, starting for Codorus township, York Co., Pa., where he had friends. Mr. Snyder often told of his trip to Codorus township and would relate how, night com- ing on before he found his friends, he and his wife and daughter slept under a cherry tree, being but three-fourths of a mile from the peo- ple he had gone to seek. After locating in Codorus township Mr. Snyder followed stone. mason work. He died there in his early man- hood, aged twenty-eight years. His wife,. Mary Hoffnagle, who had come to America with him, married (second) Julius Kraber, who also died in Codorus township, Mrs. Kraber still surviving, and residing at Glen- ville, Codorus township, at the ripe old age

of seventy-three years. Children as follows were born to Mrs. Kraber's first marriage : Elizabeth, the wife of John Smith, of Glen- ville, Codorus township; and George M., the subject of this work. To Mrs. Kraber and her second husband were born: Albert, a farmer; Henry, a stone and brick mason by trade; Catherine, the wife of George Rudisill, living near Hanover, York county ; Emma, the wife of Henry Shultheis, living in Baltimore, Md., where he follows tailoring; Deliah, the wife of Daniel Mummert, a farmer near West- minster, Md .; Jennetta, the wife of Clinton Stiffle, living at Glenville, Codorus township; Cora, the wife of Edward Yost, living in Man-

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heim township, York county; and two other at Glenville, in Codorus township, York coun- children, deceased.

George M. Snyder attended the schools in Manheim township and Jefferson borough un- til he reached the age of fifteen years. Hav- ing been sent out at the age of eight years to make his own way in the world, he worked among the farmers until nineteen years of age, and then went to learn the blacksmith's trade with Samuel Hoffman, at Jefferson borough, where he served his time. He then went to Powder Falls, Md., where he remained eight months, at the end of which time he returned to Jefferson boroughi and took charge of the large shops of George W. Newman, with whom he remained nine years. In 1890 he came to York, and for three years had full charge of the Martin Spring Wagon Works, but the business grew to such an extent that he now finds his time and attention required exclusively by the blacksmith department, of which he has charge, being foreman of forty mechanics, and a valuable man to his em- ployers.

In 1882 Mr. Snyder was married to Emma Jane Auchey, daughter of John and Eva (Rudisill) Auchey, and to this union have been born the following named children: William Edward, a graduate of the York high school, class of 1899, is now located in Detroit, where he is engaged in the making of carriage bodies; Annie May is at home; John Urban is attend- ing school; Frederick Walter is attending the York high school: Georgie Eva is attending school. The family reside at No. 721 West Philadelphia street, York. In politics Mr. Snyder is a Democrat, and while in Jefferson borough served as councilman two terms and as chief burgess one year. He is a member of the Heidelberg Reformed Church.

John Auchey, the father of Mrs. Snyder, was born July 5, 1802, and his death occurred Feb. 12, 1868. He followed farming much of his life, having purchased a farm in Codorus township, York county, which consisted of 200 acres, but was living retired at the time of his death. He was interred in the family burying- ground on the farm near Jefferson borough, York county. The farm, which is finely situ- ated and well cultivated, is now operated by Samuel Auchey, son of John, who purchased it from his father's estate.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 175

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