History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 21

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

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(3) CHARLES F. FISCHER, born Aug. 3. 1783, was in the copper-smithing business, which was quite an extensive trade in York in those days. He died Aug. 26, 1842. His wife was Hellenah Dorothy Spangler, who was born June 24, 1789, and died May 15, 1842. They had three children, but all their descendants are

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

dead except their grandson, Charles F. De- with large business interests in different places, muth, of Des Moines, Iowa.

There are now no descendants of John Fischer, clockmaker, living in York, Pa., bear- ing the surname of Fischer, but his great-grand- daughters, the Misses Kurtz, Mrs. Lochman and Mrs. Kell, above named, are residents here. -..

SPENCER DOYLE WAREHEIM is a native of Glen Rock, Pa., and was born Oct. 6, 1877. His paternal grandparents, George Wareheim and Abie (Armacost) Wareheim, lived on a farm in Carroll county, Md., where his father, Edward A. Wareheim, was born. His great-grandfather, Edward Armacost, was a veteran of the War of 1812, being engaged in the defense of Baltimore. His fath- er, after graduating at the New York Hom- eopathic Medical College and Hospital, re- moved to Glen Rock, Pa., where he practiced his profession until his death, on July 13, 1898.

His maternal grandparents, Jonathan Faust and Elizabeth (Deveney) Faust, were resi- dents of Pennsylvania, having first lived in Shrewsbury township, York county, and later at Glen Rock.

To the marriage of Edward A. and Achsah (Faust) Wareheim five children were born; two of these, Carroll and Abie, died in infancy ; those living are: Spencer D., the subject of this sketch; Guernsey G., a graduate from the Dental Department of the University of Mary- land, and now a practitioner of dentistry in Bal- timore City; and Grover Faust, a student at Franklin and Marshall College, at Lancaster, Pa., class of 1906.

Spencer Doyle Wareheim received his pre- liminary education in the public schools of Glen Rock and the York Collegiate Institute at York, Pa., later attending Franklin and Mar- shall College, at Lancaster, Pa. He graduated from the latter institution as one of the ten honor men, in the class of 1899. He then at- tended the Harvard Law School, and later read with Joseph R. Strawbridge, at York. Pa. He was admitted to practice on Jan. 18, 1904.

In politics our subject is a Democrat. Of fraternal orders he affiliates with the Masons. His religious persuasion is Lutheran.

DAVID S. COOK, of Wrightsville, York county, is a well-to-do iron manufacturer

and he is a prominent man in social, fraternal and church circles.

James Cook, father of David S., was born in Chester county, Pa., Sept. 24, 1811. He had few opportunities, and began his life like hundreds of other poor boys. He learned the blacksmith's trade in Wilmington, Del., where Messrs. Harlan and Hollingsworth, of the af- terward noted firm of Harlan & Hollingsworth, of Wilmington, were apprentices with him. Mr. Cook married, in Chester county, Martha Stackhouse, of an old family of Morristown, N. J., where her girlhood was spent. Mrs. Cook's father was David Stackhouse, a farmer, who spent his later life in Chester county, Pa. He lived and died a Quaker, and is buried in the New Garden cemetery in Chester county, belonging to one of the largest Quaker congre- gations in Pennsylvania.

In 1856 James Cook moved his family to Wrightsville, where he bought the Baker in- terests in the firm of Baker, Hillis & Co., lime burners. Later Mr. Cook bought still larger interests in the concern, which did business for many years under the firm name of Cook & Hillis. In those days the only means of trans- portation for merchandise of any sort was by canal boat. Mr. Cook continued to be actively engaged in business until 1873, and his death occurred in 1876, when he was sixty-four years of age. His wife lived to be ninety-two years old, and her twin sister, Mary, who made a home with her, lived to the age of ninety-three. Mr. and Mrs. Cook were brought up in the Quaker faith, and adhered to it through life. Mr. Cook was an old time Whig, and later a Democrat ; he served as school director for sev- eral years. He was one of the organizers of the Wrightsville Bank, of which he was a di- rector many years. His children were: Mary, who died at the age of nine ; and David S., of this sketch.

David S. Cook was born in Chester county, near Wilmington, Del., in October, 1838, and when he was eighteen his parents moved to Wrightsville. He attended school in Chester county and Millers- ville, and was graduated from the Mil- lersville Normal School with the class of 1860. His preceptor was Prof. J. P. Wick- ersham, a cousin of his father's, who for many years was state superintendent of schools. On

A.J. Cost

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BIOGRAPHICAL

leaving school Mr. Cook entered the employ of his father in Wrightsville, but soon branched out for himself as a coal merchant. He handled Wyoming Valley coal, which was all trans- ported by canal boat. Later he bought out his father's partner, Jesse Hillis, of Havre de the territory contiguous to York, and their Grace, Md., and after his father's death con- work has also received recognition in other States. Both gentlemen are natives of Ger- many, but were reared in York, where their parents settled in 1867. Their father, Charles Dempwolf, was a millwright by occupation. He married Miss Wilhelmina Beaker, of Germany, and they came from Germany to America 111 1867, settling in York, where the father died in 1882, at the age of sixty-seven ; the mother's death occurred some time before. tinued to carry on the business alone for some time. He then formed a partnership with the Kerr brothers and Mr. Weitzel, which con- tinued a number of years. The Wrightsville Iron Company, William McConkey, president, and David S. Cook, secretary and general man- ager, was organized in 1866. Mr. Cook sup- erintended the building of the plant, and re- mained in the business until 1872. He then went to Botetourt county, Va., and built smelting furnace; this he soon sold, and built another, and the town of Glen Wilton, Va., named in honor of Mr. Cook's son of that name, has grown up around the industry thus established, and in which Mr. Cook is still actively interested. The Glen Wilton plant was incorporated in 1900, under the laws of New Jersey, Mr. Cook being president, and his son, Wilton, secretary and treasurer. Mr. Cook has large interests also in the Susque- hanna Casting Co., which he and his nephew, Ralph Wilton, established in the fall of 1899.

Mr. Cook married (first) in Wrightsville, Caroline, daughter of Henry Wilton, and they had two children: Mary, who died when four years old ; and Wilton. Wilton Cook was born in Wrightsville in 1868, attended the public schools, and Prof. Meig's school at Pottstown, Pa., became clerk in his father's employ, and then a partner. He married Ora Heppenstall, and their one living child is Marion.

Mr. Cook married (second) Margaret Mc- Conkey, of Wrightsville, daughter of William and sister of Senator E. K. McConkey, of York (a sketch of whom appears elsewhere). No children have been born to this union. Mr. Cook has been for ten years president of the Wrightsville Bank, of which he is an original stockholder ; he and his father were among the organizers of this bank, and both were direc- tors. Mr. Cook is connected with Riverside Lodge, No. 503, F. & A. M., Wrightsville ; the Chapter and the Commandery, Columbia. He joined the chapter in 1872, and the command- ery the following year. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and is chairman of the board of trustees.

REINHARDT DEMPWOLF. A firm well and favorably known throughout eastern Pennsylvania and Maryland is that of Demp- wolt Brothers, architects, of York. Many monuments to their genius exist throughout

Reinhardt Dempwolf was born in Germany in 1861. His education was received in the York County Academy and the York Colle- giate Institute. Later he went to Philadelphia, where he studied sculpture for three years, and after returning to York, where he spent a year or so, Mr. Dempwolf decided to complete his education in Europe. So in Paris, the mecca of American students of art, he took up the study of architecture, remaining in that city four years. After finishing his work there he returned to York, where he became an assist- ant to his brother, a well-known architect, in whose business he is now established.

In 1896 Mr. Dempwolf was united in mar- riage with Miss Nellie Scharzberger, the elder daughter of a well-known retired farmer, Ed- ward Scharzberger, of York county.

Reinhardt Dempwolf is a gentleman of pleasant and engaging personality and is a member of society much thought of in York. He is very popular among the young people and has taken a decided interest in their welfare during the years past. In his position as vice- president of the Y. M. C. A. for the last ten years he has wielded a powerful influence for good among the young men, and as a teacher in the Sunday-school of Christ Lutheran Church he has also done much to foster and strengthen the high moral tone of the com- munity. He takes but little interest in politics. but supports the Democratic party with his vote and is pleased to aid in its success.

. JONATHAN JESSOP. There are few men in York better or more favorably known than Jonathan Jessop. A descendant of one of

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

her oldest and most honorable families, a vet- eran of the Civil war, postmaster of the city for eighteen years immediately following that great event, and for the past twenty years one of the leading insurance men of the city, he combines points which make him a character almost inseparable from the city itself.

Mr. Jessop is not able to give names when speaking of the earlier members of the family, but he has knowledge of their having been in America from the earliest Colonial times, and having resided just prior to the Revolutionary war in the vicinity of Guilford Court House, N. C. Here his great-grandfather owned a farm, on which was fought the battle known in history as the battle of Guilford Court House, which event was witnessed by his grandfather, Jonathan, then a lad in his teens. Soon after this battle it appears that Jonathan left home and came to York county, Pa., where he was apprenticed to a famous clockmaker by the name of Samuel Kirk, some of whose "grand- father's clocks" are yet to be found in the coun- try. Jonathan Jessop became famous as a clockmaker, also, and passed the remainder of his days in the county engaged in that occupa- tion. He lived to the extreme old age of ninety years, dying in 1856.

Edward Jessop, son of Jonathan, was a prosperous farmer of the county, and also had extensive business interests in Baltimore, Md., being interested in a hardware store there, and making weekly visits to that point. He mar- ried Mary H. Newbold, daughter of Samuel Newbold, a farmer of Philadelphia county. To this marriage ten children were born, one of whom, William, died at the age of twenty-one years, and Frank (married), died in 1878. Those living are as follows: Elizabeth, wife of A. B. Farquhar, the widely known manu- facturer of York; Charles, who has charge of an ice plant at Birmingham, Ala .; Jonathan, subject of this sketch; Samuel, retired ; Han- nah, wife of Isaac Gover, of Boston, Mass .; Caroline, widow of Samuel I. Adams, formerly of the firm of Myers, Adams & Co. of York: Alfred, superintendent of the plow department of the ' Columbus (Ga.) Iron Company ; and Jeanette, wife of Judson Kuney, of Hornbrook. Cal., division superintendent of the railroad running from San Francisco to Portland, Ore- gon. .

May 12, 1842, but was reared in York county. He was given a good education, completing courses at the York Academy, after which he went to Baltimore and for a time was em- ployed in his father's store. Returning to York county he worked on the home farm until he entered the army. This was in 1863, just as he had reached his majority. He joined the 187th P. V. 1., as second Lieutenant of Com- pany B., and was serving in this position be- 1ore Petersburg when the loss of a leg, on June 18, 1864, necessitated his discharge from the army. Having thus sealed his loyalty to the flag by the giving of his life's blood, Mr. Jes- sop returned home, and, after recuperating his strength, took up the burden of life as an en1- ployee in tlıe Pennsylvania . Agricultural Works. However, he was not long connected with this company, as in 1865 he received from President Johnson the appointment of post- master of York. For eighteen years he per- formed the duties of this office faithfully and well. In 1884 Mr. Jessop, on leaving the post- office, engaged in the real estate and insurance business, having purchased that business from Kirk White.

Mr. Jessop was married in October, 1870, to Anna M. Lochman, daughter of the late Rev. A. H. Lochman, D. D., who for fifty years was pastor of Christ Lutheran Church of York. To this union were born five children : John L., with the Carnegie Steel Company, at Homestead, Pa .; Mary Emily and Susan H., both at home; Edward, with the Pennsylvania Railway Company, in Altoona, Pa. ; and George A., with the S. Morgan Smith's Sons Company waterwheel manufacturers. Fraternally Mr. Jessop affiliates with the Heptasophis and the Royal Arcanum. His religious views are those embodied in the Quaker faith. He is, of course, a dyed-in-the-wool Republican, and as such was elected to the common council of York from the Second ward, serving one term. The life which he has lived in York has been filled with earnest devotion to duty, his charity. his kindliness of heart and his sympathetic helpful- ness having become proverbial.

CHARLES F. KEECH. Realty is the basis of all security, and the basis of security in real estate transactions is found in the knowl- edge and probity of those through whom they

Jonathan Jessop was born in Baltimore, are conducted. Holding, by reason of pru-

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BIOGRAPHICAL

dence, integrity and signal ability, a position of prominence among the real estate dealers and conveyancers of York county, Mr. Keech may be considered one of the representative busi- ness men of the city of York. He is a native of York county, a member of one of its old and honored families, and a popular alderman.

Charles F. Keech was born on the home farm, in York township, York Co., Pa., Jan. 27, 1848, and is a son of John S. and Mary (Weitkamp) Keech, the former of whom was born in Chester county, this State, March 25, 1824, while the latter was a native of York county, her birthyear being 1831. Her fa- ther, Henry Weitkamp, was one of the sterling pioneers of the county. The father of Charles F. Keech came to York county in his youth and eventually bccame one of the substantial farmers and influential citizens of York town- ship, where he served for fifty years as justice of the peace. In politics he was a stalwart Democrat, while both he and his wife were members of the Moravian Church. Her death occurred in 1900. Of the nine children born to them all are living.

handling of real estate of all kinds, having at all times many desirable investments represent- ed on his books. He also makes a specialty of conveyancing, the collection of rentals, etc. In politics Mr. Keech is an uncompromising ad- vocate of Democracy and has taken a zealous interest and an influential part in the further- ance of its cause. In 1884 he was chosen to the office of justice of the peace, since which year he has been continuously elected to that posi- tion. He has been selected four times to rep- resent the 8th ward as alderman, securing a

large and gratifying majority on each occasion, his last term expiring in May, 1906.

On May 10, 1868, was solemnized the mar- riage of Mr. heecn to Miss Amelia E. Immel, who was born and reared in York county, daughter of John and Mary Immel, residents of Spring Garden township, where Mr. Immel is a substantial and influential farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Keech have seven children, namely : John I., farming on the old homestead at Spry, York township; Robert R., with Morgan E. Gipe; Morgan S., with the Rapid Transit Com- pany in Philadelphia; Leonard H., with Mc- Clellan & Gotwalt; Nevin H., who served in the Spanish-American war, at Porto Rico, and now a stone-cutter in York; Ralph Ward, with McLean Bros., and Mary Edith, at home.

WILLIAM SHEARER WANNER is prominently engaged in the leaf tobacco trade in York, Pa. He was born in Ohio, Nov., 5, 1856, and is a brother of Nevin M. Wanner, Esq., whose sketch will be found elsewhere in this volume.

Charles F. Keech was reared on the home farm, and after completing the curriculum of the township schools entered the York County Academy, at the county seat, where he contin- ued his studies for two years, after which he was for one year a student in the Cottage Hill Nor- mal School, where he duly prepared himself for successful pedagogic work. After leaving the Normal he taught in the public schools and followed this vocation for ten successive terms, five of which were passed in the schools of his native county. He made an excellent record in the educational field and continued to teach until 1884. In the year named he established his present business in the city of York, where dealing, as he does, almost exclusively in West- he has built up a flourishing enterprise in the ern tobaccos.

William S. Wanner received his education in the public schools of York, to which city his people had removed. His first occupation was clerking for P. A. & S. Small, and his next position was that of mailing clerk in the postoffice, under James B. Small. After filling that office with great ef- ficiency for four years he engaged in the leaf tobacco trade. This was in August, 1903, and the business has since grown to fine propor- tions. Mr. Wanner has his sample room and office in the Small building, on East Market street, and his store room, with a capacity of three hundred cases, is on Mason alley. He is also interested in a packing house in Ohio,

Mr. Wanner was married Nov. 20, 1884, to Carrie Stair, daughter of Philip Stair, de- ceased, who was a well-known lumber mer- chant of York. Three children were born to this union: Ethel, a graduate of the York high school ; Myra, at the York high school, class of 1907; and William S., Jr., also at school. Mr. Wanner, who is a most genial gen- tleman, is connected fraternally with the Ar- tisans and the Royal Arcanum. His religious affiliations are with the Episcopal Church. In politics he is a Democrat.

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

CHARLES S. WHITE, a well-known and efficient detective in Pennsylvania, is a son oi T. Kirk White, who was born in Maryland.

Mr. White's father located in York, where he became state agent of the Phoenix Assur- ance Company, of London, for the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. He established the firm of White & Jessop, insurance agents. Mr. White died Jan. 2, 1901, aged over seventy-six years, and his partner, Jonathan Jessop, continued the business, particular reference to whom will be found elsewhere. Charles S. White's mother was Susan Jane Smith, of Strasburg, Lancaster county, who died in 1896, aged seventy-two years. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. T. Kirk White were : Mary A., who was the wife of Thomas F. Owen, of York, and is deceased; to serve in the most important locations.

Walter B., an insurance agent; George C., a traveling man, of Baltimore, Md .; Harry C., of Harrisburg, a detective; and Charles S., of York, Pennsylvania.

Charles Smith White was born April 12, 1862, in York, was educated in the Collegiate Institute and the York County Academy, and after leaving school learned upholstering, pur- suing that business for ten years. His next venture was in the theatrical business, and after five years on the stage as a song and dance man, and Irish comedian, Mr. White became a commercial traveler for four years. In April, 1898, he established his detective agency, which is now known all over the country.

The ability of Mr. White as an officer was fully recognized when, after a service of five years, he ·was licensed by the court to do de- tective work, and was at once made chief of the detective service of York city. It was De- tective White who arrested A. J. Glasgow, the sanctimonious horse thief of Millersville, Lan- caster county, the New York World having thought the arrest of so much importance as to illustrate an extended article on the subject, with pictures of Glasgow, the church he was attending at the time of his arrest, and Detec- tive White, who made the arrest. Mr. White has been specially successful in the detection of horse thieves, and Capt. Linden, the Pinkertons and other thief takers regard him as one of the best horse thief detectives in the business. He has brought more prisoners from other States than all the other officers of the city and county of York combined, having brought important

criminals from New York, Virginia, West Vir- ginia, Maryland, District of Columbia, New Jersey and Delaware; he brought seven pris- oners from Maryland in one month. One of his most notable exploits was the arrest of five safe blowers in a bunch. Mr. White is in exchange with the detective bureaus in the country, and is as conscientious and reliable as he is shrewd and speedy in his work. He was one of the detectives selected to serve at the in- auguration of President Roosevelt, and while acting in this capacity had the pleasure of form- ing the acquaintance of prominent detectives from all the larger cities of the United States, who were detailed to act in a similar manner, and in the distribution of officers at this time Mr. White was always among those detailed

Mr. White was married Oct. 1, 1884, to Ella M. Keech, daughter of William L. Keech, a justice of the peace of York, and uncle of the well-known alderman Keech. One child was born of this union, Pauline Marian, a gradu- ate of the Woman's College, Maryland.

JOHN K. ZIEGLER, a retired farmer of North Codorus township, was born in that township, Oct. 9, 1834, son of John E. and Bar- bara (Koller) Ziegler. His grandfather, John Ziegler, born Dec. 18, 1767, was married Nov. 23, 1790, to Katherine Epley, and died July 9, 1845. John Ziegler was the donator of the land upon which the well-known Ziegler church-one of the old landmarks of the county-stands, in North Codorus township, and with his son John E. helped to build that edifice. He now rests at the entrance of the church.

John E. Ziegler was born April 14, 1806, in North Codorus township, and his wife was born in Shrewsbury township Jan. 20, 1804. He was very prominent in farming and busi- ness circles, and in his death, Nov. 19, 1875, the community lost a good citizen. His wife survived until March 20, 1883, and both were interred at Ziegler's church. They had chil- dren as follows: Sarah A., born July 24, 1825, married Henry Bott; Julianne M., was born Sept. II, 1829; Matilda Jane, born Oct. 8, 1832, married Dr. H. K. Weiser, of York, and they are both deceased; John K., is our subject ; Israel K., born Oct. 22, 1840, married Ann Maria Stick, and resides in York.

John R.Kügler

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BIOGRAPHICAL

John K. Ziegler received a common school education, and assisted his father in farming. He now owns considerable property-the old homestead of 223 acres; an adjoining farm of 123 acres, where he now lives in a home which his father erected for him; a seventy-nine acre tract in Codorus township; and seventeen acres of woodland.

John K. Ziegler married Elizabeth Shaf- fer, daughter of Jesse and Elizabeth Shaffer, of Codorus township, and they had children as follows: Emma Jane, who is now the wife of William Stauffer, of Spring Grove; John C., who married a Miss Hoke, and resides in North Codorus township; William, deceased ; Paul, unmarried, residing at home; and Allen W., who married Almenta Kessler, and is oper- ating the home farm.

Mr. Ziegler is one of the oldest directors of the York National Bank, having been ap- pointed a director April 3, 1884. For the past several years he has lived retired from active pursuits. In his religious belief he is a Luth- eran.

CHARLES BRADY PENNYPACKER, the popular principal of York high school, is descended from a Dutch family that settled in Pennsylvania in 1688. Through his own family. and that of his wife, Mr. Pennypacker is re- lated to half the families in Lancaster county, a connection reaching up into the thousands.

The American ancestor of the Pennypackers was Heinrich Pannebecker, who left his home in Holland, and settled in what is now Mont- gomery county, Pa. Grandfather James Pen- nypacker was born in Chester county, and from there went to Lancaster county, where he taught school. He married Philena Yentzer, of Conestoga Center.

John Pennypacker, father of Charles Brady, is a leaf tobacco dealer of Mountville, Lancaster county, who married Martha Getz Brady, daughter of Charles Brady. a miller of Manor township. in that county. Four children were born to this union, one of whom. Philena. died in infancy. The others are: John. at home; Ella, wife of Joseph Hoover. a confectioner of Mountville ; and Charles Brady.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 21

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