History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 22

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

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On Nov. 16, 1860. Charles Brady Penny- packer was born in Manor township. Lancaster county, and as a bov attended the public schools. He then entered Franklin and Marshall Col-

lege, and graduated with the class of 1897, immediately after that coming to York as as- sistant teacher in the high school. In the spring of 1902 he was principal of the high school, and continues to fill that position with success. Five hundred pupils are enrolled in the school, and there are fourteen assistant teachers, of whom five are ladies. This is a small community in itself, and requires no little executive ability in the governing head to make it run smoothly and effectively. Mr. Penny- packer had four years' experience in teaching before coming to York, having taught in West Hempfield township, Lancaster county, in the intervals of his studies, before graduating.

Mr. Pennypacker married Elvira Doner Stehman, daughter of Jonas Garber Stehman, a retired farmer of Mountville, and one daugh- ter, Mary Anita, has been born to this union. The family connection is of enormous propor- tions, including the Doners, the Stehimans, and the Herrs of Lancaster county. In politics Mr. Pennypacker is a Republican. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Malta and Modern Woodmen. He is an earnest member of the First United Breth- ren Church, where ho is superintendent of the Sunday-school, and ex-officio member of the board of control.

VINCENT R. WEAVER is. a native of York, where his grandfather was among the pioneer settlers. The German Fatherland was the ancestral home of the Weaver family, where they were a race of sturdy farmers. Francis William Weaver, grandfather of Vin- cent R., came to York (then a borough) from Germany, and became the owner of the land now known as "the reservoir district." This property is now all within the city limits, but in the day of Grandfather Weaver it was a farm in a sparsely settled region. The ma- ternal grandparents of Mr. Weaver were also of German birth, and settled in York county on their arrival in this country.

Anthony Weaver, father of Vincent R., died Oct. 28, 1905, aged seventy-nine. He was a carpenter and joiner, and was employed in the car shops of the Pennsylvania Railway Co., until the removal of the shops from York. He married Christiana Riehl. Of the eight children born to them, two died in infancy. The living are as follows: Mary C., wife of

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

C. F. Gibson, a carpenter and contractor of of Thompson Donachy, a boat builder of Lew- Philadelphia ; Clara C., wife of C. D. Smith, isburg, Pa., in 1903, at the age of seventy. The living children are Emma, wife of Eli B. Plum- mer, of Altoona ; Charles A., a farmer in Union county ; and John Thomas. of McSherrystown, Adams county, where he owns farm lands and quarries ; F. W. employed in the postal service in Baltimore, Md .; Lizzie R., wife of C. F. Smith of York, conductor on the Pennsylvania railroad; A. Amelia, unmar- ried; and Vincent R.

Vincent R. Weaver was born Feb. 5, 1867, in York, and received his education in the pub- lic schools of that place. As a young man he en- tered the Variety Iron Works as an apprentice to the molder's trade, and after mastering it he remained with the establishment for twenty years. During that time he was elected to the office of county assessor in the Fourth ward for four terms of three years each. At the end of ten years, before the expiration of his fourth term, he resigned the office of county assessor to accept that of clerk of the courts of York county. He was elected to the latter position in November, 1902, for a term of three years, and assumed his duties the first Monday in Jan- uary, 1903.

Mr. Weaver married Cora M. Bond, daugh- ter of John A. Bond, of Williamsport. In pol- itics Mr. Weaver is a stanch Democrat. He is a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, be- ing also well known among the fraternal or- ders, as he is a member of the Knights of St. Paul, the Knights of Columbus, the Eagles and the Foresters of America.

JOHN THOMAS McFALL is the senior member of the firm of McFall & Son, of York, hatters and dealers in men's furnishing goods -a business established by Mr. McFall in the autumn of 1869. The McFall family is of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and in days past the name was spelled MacFall. Many of the fam- ily are still living in Edinburgh, Scotland, whence the emigrant ancestor came to America before the War of the Revolution.

On Aug. 25, 1842, John Thomas McFall was born in Union county, Pa., and educated in the Lewisburg public schools. After finish- ing this elementary education he was employed for ten years as a house painter, and then, in October, 1869, established his outfitting store at No. 122 West Market street in York. This business he still carries on with great success moving into his present quarters in 1877, and receiving his son into partnership in 1892.

On June 26, 1866, Mr. McFall married Mary E. Johns, daughter of Jonas Johns, a wagon builder of Gettysburg, Pa. Mrs. Mc- Fall died in July, 1899, aged fifty-nine years. Three children were born to this union, one of whom, Mina, died in 1881, at the age of nine years. Edith M. (Mrs. E. C. Tillman), a twin sister of Mina, is a resident of Philadel- phia, Pa. Wayne G. McFall, in business with his father, was born in York, March 21, 1870, and is a graduate of the York High School and York County Academy. Before going into partnership with his father, in 1892, he had been employed as stenographer by P. A. & S. Small.

Mr. McFall has a military, as well as a mer- cantile record, having enlisted twice in the Union army during the Civil war. He first joined the company of Capt. William R. Thatcher, enlisting from Chester, Delaware county, about the time of the battle of Antie- tam, as an emergency man. He afterward en- listed in Company A, 37th P. V. I., under Capt. William Frick, serving as second cor- poral.

Mr. McFall is past master in the Masonic Order, past high priest of the Chapter, and past commander of the Commandery, Knights Tem- plar ; and a member of Zembo Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Mystic Shrine, Harris- burg. He also belongs to the Royal Arcanum and the Fraternal Mystic Circle, while his so- cial connection is with Lafayette Club, York. In religious faith he is a Lutheran. Politically he affiliates with the Democratic party.

Thomas McFall, father of John Thomas, was for many years a farmer, but in later life engaged in the burning and shipping of lime. He died in 1847, at the early age of thirty-four. His wife was Eliza Mensch, daughter of Nich- olas Mensch, a German Lutheran clergyman, of Lewisburg, Pa., where he died in 1854. aged seventy-four years. Of the five children born to Thomas McFall and his wife. James died in WILLIAM HENRY MILLER, of the 1894, in his sixtieth year; and Mary A., wife shoe firm of W. H. & H. M. Miller of York,

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comes of a family long settled in that region. school teachers in the county, and his father, E. He and his partner, who is also a member of an J. Miller, established the prosperous shoe house now owned and carried on by these younger men. old York county family, although of the same name, are not even remotely related.

Samuel Miller, the grandfather of William Henry, was born and reared in Conewago township, York county, and died in Manches- ter township, same county.

Lewis R. Miller, son of Samuel and father of William Henry, was also a native of Cone- wago township. He married Maria Bull, daughter of Dr. Ross Bull, a physician of wide reputation. Mr. Miller died in 1866, and a six- year-old son, John Ross, died the same year. The surviving children of the family are Anna E., widow of H. C. Ziegler, of York City, Pa .; and William Henry.

The birth of William Henry Miller occur- red Sept. 18, 1857, in Conewago township, and he was educated in the public schools of York. He began his business career as clerk in the store of Rosenmiller Brothers, where he re- mained from 1871 to 1877. He then entered the employ of E. J. Miller, father of his present partner, a shoe dealer, whose business was es- tablished in 1866. He was a clerk in this store until 1888, and then he and H. M. Miller bought each a third interest in the business. Af- ter two years of this triple partnership, the sen- ior member of the firm, E. J. Miller, retired, and the firm became W. H. & H. M. Miller, as it remains today. The establishment is lo- cated in West Market street, and does a thriv- ing trade.

On June 30, 1881, William Henry Miller married Sarah J. Yost, daughter of Abraham and Mary Yost, of Manchester township, where Mr. Yost was a prominent farmer. The children of this marriage are Clara E., a gradu- ate of the York high school, class of 1901, and a member of the class of 1905 in the Ladies. Seminary, at Norton, Mass .; and George L., in the class of 1907. University of Pennsylvania. In politics Mr. Miller is a Republican, but he reserves the right to vote independently. He is a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, where he was a deacon for four years, and where for twenty years he has been a teacher in the Sunday-school. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum and of the Artisans.

H. M. MILLER, partner of William Henry Miller, comes of an old York county family. His grandfather was one of the early surveyors and

Mr. Miller was born Dec. 21, 1861, in Strinestown, York county, and attended the public schools, and the Eastman Business Col- lege in Poughkeepsie. He was a clerk in his father's store for four years before he became a partner in the business. Like his partner, he is an independent Republican in politics. Fra- ternally he is connected with the Eagles. He is a member of the Beaver Street Methodist Church.

JOSEPH R. MARTIN, M. D., formerly one of the eminent medical men of York coun- ty, and a prominent citizen of Stewartstown, now living retired in Christiana, Lancaster county, was born Sept. 14, 1838, in Lancaster county, Pa., son of James and Eliza ( Morri- son) Martin, both of whom were natives of the same county.

Samuel Martin. Dr. Martin's paternal grandfather, was a farmer in Lancaster county for many years. He was born in the north of Ireland and was of Scotch-Irish parentage. His children were as follows: James; Samuel; Sarah, wife of William Mackey; and John, who died young. Dr. Martin's maternal grand- father was Samuel Morrison, who was born in Scotland. After emigrating to America and settling in Lancaster county, Pa., he fol- lowed milling and farming. Both grandfathers were men of sterling character in their com- munity, and strong adherents of the Presby- terian faith. The children of Samuel Mor- rison were: John; Robert: Gabriel; Samuel ; Rev. Alexander ; and Anna Eliza, who became the mother of Dr. Joseph R. Martin.

James Martin, father of our subject, was a farmer and miller in Colerain township, Lan- caster county. He was much more, a man of settled principles, with the courage to live up to his convictions. A strong Whig all his life. he died in the year of the formation of the Re- publican party, with which he would undoubt- edly been identified as he held advanced views on the slavery question. He was a great ad- mirer, as he was also a personal friend, of that noble statesman, Hon. Thaddeus Stevens, and was so firm in his views that he was one of a half dozen men of his locality to build the Free Presbyterian Church, located in Colerain town-

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

ship, near Andrew's Bridge, and to employ a daughter of Rev. Samuel H. Smith, a Pres- minister who had the daring that was then nec- byterian minister in York county. A family of essary to promulgate Abolition sentiments. A eleven children was born to this union, namely : Janet, wife of J. Mitchel Jordan; Annie L., wife of W. L. Fredeking; Harriet B., wife of Rev. Paul S. Lainbach, a clergyman of the First Reformed Church, Easton, Pa .: D. C., a practicing physician; Jo-Newell; John R., a practicing physician at Christiana: Robert C., a machinist; Kenneth H., who died at the man of noble character and broad-minded phil- anthropy, the influences of his life extended far beyond the years of his earthly career. James Martin married Eliza Morrison, and they had these children : John, M. D., Josiah, D. D. S., Silas, Martha, Sarah, Isabella, Samuel (died at twelve), Harriet (died at twenty-one), Al- exander, Harriet, Joseph R., M. D., Annie, age of thirteen years; and three children that Martha, and Sarah, of whom Alexander and died in infancy. Joseph R. are still living.

Dr. Joseph R. Martin completed the com- mon school course in Colerain township, af- terward spending three years at the Christiana Boarding School, and then entered upon the study of medicine, under the direction of his brother. Dr. John Martin. By him he was pre- pared for entrance to Jefferson Medical Col- lege, at Philadelphia, where he enjoyed three courses of study and a special course under the eminent surgeon. Dr. D. Hayes Agnew, of Philadelphia, completing his studies in 1862. After a short practice at Marticville, Lancaster county, he was accepted as assistant surgeon in the United States army, and in the same year was sent to Harrisburg to be medical ex- aminer of both the volunteer and drafted men. Two months later he accompanied Dr. Abra- ham Harshburger in the 124th P. V. I., and worked seven months with this regiment as surgeon. He then returned to his home, re- maining until 1863, when he again entered the service as surgeon, and was assigned to the Officers' Hospital, at Alexandria, Va. He con- tinued there until late in 1864, when he re- signed and returned to Lancaster county to take up his private practice.

Dr. Martin located first at Atglen, Chester county, where he practiced four years, coming to York county in 1860. He settled at Stew- artstown where he continued in the active prac- tice of his profession until 1905, when he re- tired and with his wife moved to Christiana, Lancaster county, where also dwell his sons, Dr. John R., Jo-Newell and Robert. Dr. Mar- tin is widely known all through this section of the State. His medical knowledge and sur- gical skill have brought health and happiness to hundreds, while the esteem and confidence he has inspired in this way is only second to that aroused by his personal characteristics.

In 1866 Dr. Martin married Abbie Smith,

Of the above family, Dr. D. C. Martin, who has taken his father's practice in Stewarts- town, read medicine with the latter and grad- uated in 1903 at the Philadelphia Medico- Chirurgical College. His professional success points to a bright future. The experience of the father combined with the modern, scien- tific training of the son made a firm of great strength. Both physicians belong to the lead- ing medical societies of county and State, and keep fully abreast of the times in their profes- sion.

Our esteemed subject has a number of val- uable business connections in the county, and is one of the directors of the Stewartstown First National Bank and a director of the Stewartstown Furniture Company. Fratern- ally he is a Mason, belonging to that body for a long period. He is one of the leading mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church at Stewarts- town, having united with the same some forty years ago. He has always been active in church work when professional duties permitted, and for twenty years has been an elder in this body. Dr. Martin has also been a member of the Stewartstown board of health for a num- ber of years.

In his own person and as a representative of his late father, Dr. Martin exemplifies all that is meant by good citizen. This citizen- ship has not taken the form of seeking for pub- lic office. although never shirking public duty, but has been shown in a deep interest in public- spirited movements, a just appreciation of what development and progress means for a community, and the faithful upholding of those principles which have seemed to him to be right. In the beginning of his career he put aside personal preference and loyally offered his services to his country, and through a long and useful life he has shown the same devotion to duty. This slight tribute is but due to one

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of York county's justly honored and repre- sentative men.

SOLOMON BOYER has been a resident of the borough of Dover, in York county, since 1886, and has long lived retired from active work, but though past eighty he is as energetic as a man twenty years his junior, and is in full possession of all his faculties.

Mr. Boyer is a native of York county, hav- ing been born Oct. 28, 1819, in Manchester township. He is of German descent and Rev- olutionary ancestry. His grandfather, Fred- erick Boyer, was born June 20, 1756, in Leip- sic, Saxony, Germany, came `to America when eighteen years old, and took part in the Rev- olutionary war. It is thought that his name was originally Byers, the present spelling hav- ing been adopted after he went to the war. In 1818 he was pensioned for life in recognition of his services. Frederick Boyer married a Miss Shull, who was born June 2, 1765, and also came from a good German family. She died in April, 1845, aged seventy-nine years, ten months, one day, and his death occurred Dec. 4, 1840, at the age of eighty-four years, five months, fourteen days. Both died in New- berry township, York county, near Ball Hill, where they had settled, and they are buried there. Their children were as follows: Peter became the father of Solomon; John died in Carlisle, Cumberland Co., Pa .; Joseph died at the old home at Ball Hill; Jay also died there ; Jacob and Charles died in Ohio; Augus- tus died in the West; two daughters died in York county.

Churchyard. Israel married Savilla Bower- sox, and died in 1904; his widow lives at Weigelstown, in Dover township. John mar- ried Annie Lauer, who died in York county, and he subsequently married Mary Deisinger ; both are deceased, and are buried in Strayer's Church yard.

Solomon Boyer was reared in his native township, and began his education there in the pay schools of the neighborhood, later attend- ing at Abbottstown, in Adams county, and lastly at Dover borough, where he took a course in surveying, although he never follow- ed that calling. Under his father he learned the trade of millwright, which he followed for about five years, and he also worked with his father at farming, the latter calling being really his life work. After his marriage he located on the old homestead, remaining there for over twenty years, or until 1869, in which year he bought a small farm of thirty acres in Dover township, to which he removed. There he had his home until 1886, when he built the place in the borough of Dover where he has since resided. Mr. Boyer was successful as a farm- er, and is now enjoying the competence ac- quired in years of hard labor. Though he gave proper attention to his own affairs he was deep- ly interested in the affairs of the community and was active in promoting good govern- ment, in his younger days taking a lively in- terest in public matters as well as in business pursuits, and he has always been regarded as a man of excellent judgment and intelligence. He served as director of the poor, school di- rector three years, tax collector, assessor, township auditor and clerk, and was faithful in the discharge of every duty. Though often solicited to take office since his removal to the borough, he has declined all public honors. His political support has always been given to the Democratic party.

Peter Boyer was born in 1789 in York county, and there learned the trade of mill- wright with his uncle, following that calling and farming throughout his active years. He lived retired for about twenty years before his death, which occurred in 1881, when he was ninetv-two years old. He married Sarah In 1843 Mr. Boyer married Louisa Len- hart, who was born Dec. 17. 1820, daughter of Henry and Christiana ( Stouch) Lenhart, of Dover township, the former born March II, 1793, the latter in November, 1792. Henry Lenhart was a soldier in the war of 1812. He died in 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Bover had chil- dren as follows: Edwin, who married Annie Y. Essler, died in Dover township, and is buried at Strayer's Church. Aaron, a pros- Hidelbaugh, daughter of George Hidelbaugh, of York county, and she died in Dover town- ship at the age of seventy-five years. They are buried in Straver's Churchyard, in Dover township. Five children were born to this worthy couple, namely : Elizabeth married John Meckley, and is now living in Dover township with her daughters. Solomon is mentioned below. Sarah married Michael Zeigler. died in Dover township, and is buried in Strayer's perous farmer of Dover township, married

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Susan Smith. Amanda L., born in 1853, is demise he owned some of the best land in that the widow of Jacob R. Zinn, who was in the township. His aim was to improve the con- milling business at Oxford Mills, Iowa, where she still resides ; they had eight children, Harry A., George S. (deceased), Katie C., Nettie E., Frank E., Charles A., Jacob William (de- ceased) and Marion.

In 1886 Mr. and Mrs. Boyer made a visit to their daughter, Mrs. Zinn, in Iowa. Mrs. Boyer passed away Oct. 29, 1889, at the age of sixty-eight years, ten months, and is buried at Strayer's Church. She was a member of the Reformed Church, and Mr. Boyer is a Lutheran in religious faith.

E. WINCHESTER KEYSER, cashier of the First National Bank of Delta, York coun- ty, was born Oct. 27, 1867, son of Harry and Isabel (Ross) Keyser, the former a native of Philadelphia, and the latter of Lower Chance- ford township, York county.

The great-grandfather of E. W. Keyser was Peter Keyser, a noted German Baptist preacher, who ministered to a large congrega- tion of that religion for a number of years in Germantown, Pa. He married Catherine Clemments, who was also a native of Phila- delphia.

E. W. Keyser, grandfather of our subject, was also born in Philadelphia, where his early educational training was secured. Early in life he engaged in the lumber business, and was one of Philadelphia's leading merchants in that line for many years. He amassed a handsome competency, including valuable holdings in real estate, and was well-known in the financial world, being president of the National Bank of Northern Liberties, of Phil- adelphia, for many years. When a young man he married Maria Fox, also born in Philadel- phia, a descendant of one of the good old Ger- man families of that name. The children born to this union were: George F., deceased, who lived in Philadelphia; Mrs. Catherine Wallace; Francis; Mrs. Sarah Savage; Harry; and Ben- jamin W., of Washington, D. C.

Harry Keyser, the father of our subject, was educated in the schools of Philadelphia, and when yet a young man came to York county, and purchased a tract of land in Lower Chanceford township, near Airville. He at once set out to improve his land, and added to it from time to time until at the time of his

ditions of the county, and he was broad-minded and public-spirited. Mr. Keyser was one of the prime factors in the establishment of the Peach Bottom Railroad, being greatly instru- mental in the building of that road, of which he was one of the stockholders. He was one of the board of directors from 1884 until 1889, when the road was sold to Baltimore capital- ists. Mr. Keyser was a director of the First National Bank of Delta from its organization until his death in 1896.

Harry Keyser was married in 1863 to Isa- bel Ross, daughter of Hugh Ross, of Lowci Chanceford township, York county. [An ex- tended review of the Ross family will be found elsewhere.] To this union were born: R. Glenn, who became the wife of Rev. Craig B. Cross, a Presbyterian minister of Carlisle, Pa .; E. Winchester; and Katharine, the wife of C. Collins Smith, a merchant of Airville, Pa. Mr. Keyser was a stanch Republican. In his religious affiliations he was a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Keyser died in 1903, aged sixty-eight years.

E. Winchester Keyser attended the com- mon schools of Lower Chanceford township and the York Collegiate Institute, after which he returned home, and assisted his father with the labors of the farm until 1888, when he ac- cepted a position with the Peninsula Lumber Company, of Wilmington, Del., remaining with this company until 1890. In that year he returned to Lower Chanceford township, and managed the home farm until 1902, when he accepted his present position with the First National Bank of Delta. Besides being cashier, Mr. Keyser is a director of this institution, having held this office since 1896.

In 1903 Mr. Keyser married Miss Eliza C. Fulton, daughter of James C. and Sarah (Mitchell) Fulton, of Lower Chanceford township. Mr. Keyser, like his honored fath- cr, is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and is ruling elder of that religious body. Po- litically a stanch Republican, he is not, how- ever, an office seeker. preferring to devote his entire time and attention to his numerous busi- ness interests. He has always taken a public- spirited interest in the town, however, and sup- ports every movement which his judgment has led him to regard as beneficial. He is univer-

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 22

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