History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 24

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 24

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).

On June 19, 1901, Dr. Mann was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ann Fulton, of Muddy Creek Forks. They have had three sons, Enos Harold and Horace Fulton, born Sept. 10, 1902, and Bernard Fulton, born March 31, 1905. Horace Fulton died March 22, 1903. Mrs. Mann was the youngest daughter of James and Mary Ann (Webb) Fulton. She was born at Winterstown, York county, where she lived until the death of her father, Aug. 30, 1872. She then moved with her mother, who in 1876 became the wife of Judge Valen- tine Trout, to Muddy Creek Forks. Mary Ann (Fulton) Mann's great-grandfather was David Fulton, and he married a Miss Griffith : they were both of Ireland. Their son David was born in 1791 and died in 1859. His wife was Miss Margaret Patterson, native of Scotland, born April 22, 1791, died June 9, 1871. To them were born seven children. Jolin, David, Andrew, James, Mary, Sarah and Mar- tha. James Fulton (Mrs. Mann's father) was twice married, his first wife being Miss Meads, .. his second Marv Ann Webb. who he married Aug. 7. 1855.

Mrs. Mann's maternal great-great-grand- parents, Richard and Elizabeth Webb. were Quakers of English descent, who settled at

129

BIOGRAPHICAL

Fawn Grove, York Co., Pa. Four sons and one courses being supplemented by a training in daughter were born to them, the sons being James, Joseph, Jesse and Richard.

James Webb was born Dec. 8, 1778, and died May 16, 1865. On April 15, 1800, he married Mary Ann Miller, who was born Oct. 9, 1779, and died Feb. 7, 1837. Their chil- dren were: Elizabeth, Jesse, Catharine, Jo- seph, James, John, Lydia Ann, Mary Ann and Henry Webb.

Henry Webb was born Aug. 20, 1803, and died Jan. 16, 1868. He married Mary Ann Yost, of New Market, Md., who was born Oct. 18, 1806, and died Feb. 21, 1865. Their chil- dren were: Euphemia, Sarah, Mary Ann, So- phrona Helen, Arabella, Josephene, Henry Y. and Cornelius.

On Aug. 7, 1855, Mary Ann Webb became the wife of James Fulton. Their children were : Euphemia Helen, William T., Cornelius McC., John and Ida (both of whom died in infancy), and Mary Ann, who became Mrs. Mann.

EDWARD HELB. This well-known bus- iness man and manufacturer, who is also com- ing into notice as an inventor, is a son of the late Frederick Helb, so long and favorably known as a tanner and farmer of Railroad borough, York county, and a brother of Theo- dore R. Helb, one of the leading brewers of Pennsylvania.

Edward Helb was born in the borough named April 29, 1854, his parents being Fred- erick and Rebecca (Henry) Helb. His father, a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, emigrated to the United States when he was nineteen years of age, finding employment in Baltimore at his trade of tanner. Afterward he removed to Railroad borough, then Shrewsbury town- ship, where he met and married Rebecca Henry, daughter of George Henry, an honest farmer and miller of that locality. Of this union were born ten children, of whom Ed- ward was the fourth. At Railroad borough the elder Mr. Helb was both tanner and farm- er, being proprietor of a considerable manu- factory, and was actively engaged in these oc- cupations up to the date of his death, in April, 1905. at the age of eighty years and one month.

Edward Helb received his early education in the district schools of his native place and the Shrewsbury Academy, these foundation

F. Knapp's Institute, at Baltimore, from which he graduated in June, 1871. Later he was em- ployed in his father's tannery, being thus en- gaged in the spring of 1886, when he took charge of the store and postoffice at Railroad borough. With all his other interests, he has continuously held that position, but expects to retire at the conclusion of twenty years of service, in the fall of 1906.

For a number of years Mr. Helb has been engaged in the manufacture of creamery but- ter, being the proprietor of two milk separator stations-one at Newmarket, Md., and the other at Rhuls, Md. He also manufactures the America Combine Level and Grade Finder, which he patented in the United States July 12, 1904, and in Canada, in December, of that year. The invention is pronounced most in- genious and useful, and promises to be so gen- erally introduced among mechanics that he will give his entire attention to its manufac- ture. Mr. Helb has been largely interested in the F. Helb & Son furniture factory, having been its manager, but upon the death of Fred- erick Helb, the father and senior member of the firm, he bought the plant at public sale, and resold it to the Sieling Furniture Com- pany, the latter now operating the establish- ment. He is one of the executors of his fath- er's estate, amounting to several hundred thousand dollars, the position demanding care- ful supervision and much executive ability. For the past ten years he has also served as secretary of the board of directors of the Shrewsbury Savings Institution.

In many respects Mr. Helb has evinced his practical public spirit. His work in connec- tion with the water works of Railroad borough is an illustration in point. In the fall of 1905 he installed a system at his own expense, which reached about $6,000. A dozen fire plugs were placed in different portions of the borough, and water was carried not only to his tenants' houses, but to all other residences. The origin of the supply consists of a large reservoir of spring water, connected by a six- inch main with another large body of water, the fall to the square at the station being at least 130 feet. The fall furnishes sufficient force to send a stream over the highest build- ings on the water line, giving ample protection to all the dwellings and factories of the town,

130

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

and being the means of a material reduction township and died at Davidsburg, and they are of fire insurance rates. Besides being the both buried at Strayer's Church in Dover town- ship. The children born to this worthy couple were : Samuel M .; Elizabeth, living at Davids- burg; Catherine, married to Daniel Jacobs, de- ceased, and living in Davidsburg.

founder of the Railroad borough water works Mr. Helb has demonstrated his ability as a public official, being now in his fifth term of service as justice of the peace. He has also laid out and opened up a new street in the borough at his own expense-there being a scarcity of good building lots-and he will erect a number of good brick and frame houses for tenants.

Mr. Helb is unusually happy in his do- mestic relations, his wife, to whom he was mar- ried July 8, 1879, being known in maidenhood as Jennie I. Rishel, daughter of Squire Daniel and Sarah Rishel, respected residents of Troutville, Clearfield county, Pa. They are both active members of the Lutheran Church at Shrewsbury and Railroad. Mr. Helb him- self has been prominently connected, in var-

ious official capacities, with both the local or- schools at Davidsburg, which he attended until ganization and the broader affairs of the about nineteen years of age. In 1880 he Synod. For a number of years he lias started to learn the harness making trade, and in 1882 started in business in the place of his nativity. Mr. Gross has been actively engaged there ever since, and makes only the finest goods, shipping his products to the West. He employs from three to six hands, and is him- self a very skilled mechanic. served as deacon, lately as an elder, and he has been superintendent of the Sunday- schools at Shrewsbury and Railroad. He has been a member of the Home Mission Board of the General Synod of the Lutheran Church in the United States for the past eight years (six years as treasurer), and has been elected a number of times as delegate to the West Pennsylvania Synod, and by them at dif- ferent times elected as a delegate to the Gen- eral Synod. For several terms he has been a director of the Loysville Orphans Home, Perry county, Pa., and for twelve years past president of the York County Lutheran Sun- day-school conventions.

Fraternally Mr. Helb is connected with Mt. Vernon Lodge, No. 143, of Shrewsbury, and Mt. Vernon Encampment, No. 14, of York, I. O. O. F .; also with Friendly Lodge, No. 287, K. of P., of Glen Rock.

JOHN H. GROSS, extensively engaged in the harness making business at Davidsburg, was born there July 25, 1861, son of Samuel M. and Matilda (Leib) Gross.

Samuel M. Gross was born in 1833, at Dav- idsburg, attended the township schools, receiv- ing a good education, and then learned the blacksmith's trade with his father, with whom he worked for a time. He later went into busi- ness with his father, and they were together until his father's death, after which he con- tinued in that line by himself. Mr. Gross mar- ried Matilda Leib, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Leib, of Dover township, and she died in Dover township. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gross were interred at Strayer's Church.

John H. Gross was the only child of his parents. He received a good education in the

In 1884 Mr. Gross married Mary Altland, daughter of George and Elizabeth (Overly) Altland, of Paradise township. After their marriage they located in the present home in Davidsburg. The children born to this union were : Daisy E., Samuel, Harvey, George, Melvin, John, Margaret and Wilmer, all re- siding at home. Politically Mr. Gross is a Democrat, and in 1902 was elected prothono- tary of York county, which office he has filled very satisfactorily ever since. Fraternally he is affiliated with the P. O. S. of A. of Davids- burg, in which he is very popular.

Mr. Gross is a business man of high rank, public spirited and up-to-date, and is looked upon by his friends and neighbors as an able and honest citizen.

MATTHEW GROVE, in his lifetime one John Gross, grandfather of John H., was of the substantial and representative farmers of born in Dover township, where he learned the York county, resided on liis well-cultivated blacksmith's trade, following it until his death, estate of 100 acres in Chanceford township. which occurred in his eighty-seventh year. He Mr. Grove was born Sept. 24, 1821, on the old married Polly Myers, who was born in Dover home farm in Hopewell township, son of

I31

BIOGRAPHICAL

Thomas and Mary ( Williamson) Grove, and lic schools, his educational advantages, how- grandson of Jacob Grove.

Jacob Grove was born in York county, whither his father had emigrated from Ger- many with a brother in young manhood. He married a lady of English descent, and took up 300 acres of land, on which he built a log house. He was a faithful member of the U. P. Church, having belonged formerly to the Seceders. Jacob Grove died about 1828, in his eightieth year, the father of the following children : Francis died in Fawn township; James and William both died in the West ; John ; Matthew is mentioned elsewhere; Martin died in the West; Peggy married John Stewart, and died in Chanceford township; Betsy, married F. Graham, and died in. Fawn township; Thomas ; and Jennie, who died in York county, married George Anderson.

Thomas Grove was born on the homestead in Chanceford township, in 1785, and grew up on the farm, helping his father to clear it up from the wilderness. He married Mary Wil- liamson, and they removed to Hopewell town- ship, where he bought land, and resided for several years. He then returned to Chanceford township, and took up his father's home farm, caring for the latter in his declining years. After his father's death, Thomas Grove bought the farm, and resided upon it until his death in 1852. Religiously he was a member of the Guinston U. P. Church. In his political sym- pathies he was an old-line Whig. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Grove were as follows: Jacob; Peggy, who married Robert Brooks, died with our subject; James, who married Ellen Allison, died in Hopewell town- ship; William, father of James W., a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere; Matthew; Eliza Jane died young; Mary married A. P. Thompson, of Dallastown; and Martin, who .died on his grandfather's home farm, married Sarah Lutz, who survives.

Matthew Grove remained on the home in Hopewell township, and when a small boy his father bought 300 acres of land, part of which our subject lived on at the time of his death. This land is part of what Jacob Grove took up, and part of the old house which he built still stands, being used for a wash house, and the land upon which it stands being the prop- erty of William Runkle. Matthew Grove went to the subscription schools, and later to the pub-

ever, being limited to a day now and then. His days were filled with much hardship, the reaping being done in harvest time with a sickle, by the men, while the women stayed at home and made the children's clothes from homespun. Mr. Grove's mother had died in Hopewell township, and he was cared for by his step-mother. He took up his present prop- erty in 1850, now owning 100 acres of land and carrying on general farming. In 1852 Mr. Grove was married to Miss Margaret E. Stewart, whom he brought to his new home, and here he resided until his death Feb. 17, 1905. Mrs. Grove died Dec. 9, 1867. To. Mr. and Mrs. Grove were born the following chil- dren : J. Thomas, of Chanceford township, married Aggie J. Wilson; Agnes Margaret ; Annie M. is the wife of W. A. Liggit, of York; William McBurney married Mary E. Maugh- lin ; and Charles H. married Miss Mae Wise. and will move to Collinsville, the old home having been sold to Mr. John Craley.

Mr. Grove had always been a devout mem- ber of the Guinston U. P. Church, joining when a young man, and had taught in the Sun- day-school for many years. In politics he had been a Republican all his life, and he cast his last presidential vote for President Roosevelt. He was one of the substantial men, as well as one of the most highly respected citizens of Chanceford township.

WILLIAM H. BRODBECK, county treasurer of York county, was born in Shrews- bury township, April 6, 1851, son of George S. Brodbeck.

John Brodbeck, Sr., the great-grandfather of William H. was a farmer and blacksmith of Manheim township, where he died.

John Brodbeck, son of John, Sr., also fol- lowed blacksmithing and farming. He mar- ried a Miss Shanck, by whom he had children : Jeremiah; George S .; Nimrod; John; Mrs. Buckingham, of Ohio; and Mrs. Shue.

George S. Brodbeck, son of John, and fath- er of William H., was engaged in the mercan- tile business, and carried a full line of general store goods, also handling lumber and coal, at. Seitzland, York county. From 1868 until 1892, he was in business in Jefferson borough, passing away in the latter year. George S. Brodbeck married Christiana Cramer, who died

132

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

in 1895, and was buried, as was her husband, at Jetterson borough. They had these chil- dren: Jabez, who married Anna Burke, and died at Council Bluffs, Iowa ; J. C., postmaster at Jefferson borough; William H .; Dr. J. R., of Jefferson borough, who married Sarah Brinkman; Hester A., wife of John S. Rohr- baugh, the railroad agent at Shrewsbury; El- len J., wife of Fred Brumhouse, an attorney of Philadelphia ; Laura B., wife of J. T. Thoman, a horse dealer at Jefferson borough; and Mol- lie, wife of Calvin Hinkle, a clerk in Leroy, New York.

William H. Brodbeck attended the public schools of Seitzland, and three months at Glen Rock, in 1868-69. He began teaching in Jefferson borough in 1871 as an assistant, and continued until 1893, all but four terms of which were taught in the same borough. He is now secretary of the Codorus & Manheim M. P. Insurance Co., of which he was at first agent. In 1876 he was elected a justice of the peace. a position he still holds. Mr. Brodbeck is a Democrat, and was elected Nov. 7, 1905, to the office of treasurer of York county. He served as clerk to the council for fifteen years. He is a director of the Codorus Canning Com- pany, of Jefferson borough.

Mr. Brodbeck married (first) Susan My- ers, by whom he had two children: George D., in the horse dealing business at Jefferson ; and Cora M. After the death of his first wife Mr. Brodbeck married Emma Bupp, daughter of John F. Bupp, of Springfield township, York county, mentioned elsewhere. To this marriage were born two children, Ellen A. and Morris F. Mr. Brodbeck is a member of the Reformed Church, in which he is now serving as elder. Mr. Brodbeck's fine home was erect- ed by him in 1893, and is one of the town's beautiful residences. Since 1876 he has been a member of Mount Zion Lodge. No. 908, I. O. O. F., and he has been secretary of the lodge since its organization, and he also belongs to Hanover Encampment, Hanover, and to York Lodge of Heptasophs (I. O. H.) No. 124. He is very public spirited, and is a liberal supporter of every movement which promises to be of benefit to the community in which he has so long been a resident.

REV. ALEXANDER S. AIKEN. To have ministered to the spiritual needs of one congregation for as long a period as thirty-

one years certainly indicates a large measure of personal influence and ability as a pastor, and an equal amount of satisfaction in a con- gregation. Such is the state of affairs found 111 the Lower Chanceford United Presbyter- ian Church, where the Rev. Alexander S. Aiken has so long been the honored and be- loved minister.

The Aiken ancestors came to America from the North of Ireland after the close of the war of the Revolution. Alexander Aiken, grandfather of the Rev. Alexander S., was a son of William Aiken, and with three brothers -James, John and William-and one sister- Sarah-came to America with their mother. They settled for a time in Cecil county, Md., thence moved to Harford county, in the same State, and later came to Pennsylvania, settling first in Westmoreland county, and afterward locating in Beaver county, where they were early pioneers. They purchased land close to- gether, all following farming, and they were prominently identified with the agricultural interests of that time. Alexander Aiken was a soldier in the war of 1812. and it is thought that one of his brothers was also a participant in that struggle. Alexander Aiken married Miss Mary Henry, a native of that section, of Scotch-Irish descent, whose brother was a member of Congress for a time.

William F. Aiken, son of Alexander and father of Alexander S., was born in that part of Beaver county which is now Lawrence county. He followed farming all of his life and died in that section aged seventy-five years. . He married Margaret Van Emon, of Scotch-Irish descent, who died when our sub- ject was still very small.

Alexander S. Aiken was born on a farm near Princeton. Lawrence county, Feb. 3, 1846, and grew to manhood in that neigh- borhood. He was educated primarily in. the public schools, and began teaching at the age of seventeen years. continu- ing this vocation four or five years. He then entered the Westminster College at New Wilmington, Pa., graduating in the class. of 1870. He spent the summer months in teaching select schools at different points and in the fall of 1870 he prepared to enter the ministry, enrolling himself as a student in the theological seminary at Allegheny City, grad- uating in the class of 1873. The Rev. Mr. Aiken was a classmate of the Rev. Samuel G.

A.d. Aiken

I33

BIOGRAPHICAL

Fitzgerald, of Philadelphia. Mr. Aiken's George, June 14, 1789; Elisabeth, Sept. 24, first appointment was to his present charge, 1791; Anna Maria, March 20, 1794; Jacob, where he remained three months, spending the Sept. 7, 1796; Margaretta, Nov. 5, 1797; next six months in Iowa, and he answered a call to return to the parish where he is found today. There is, perhaps, no other clergyman who is held in higher esteem or in closer per- sonal affection than is Mr. Aiken by the peo- ple of Lower Chanceford township.

Mr. Aiken enlisted in February, 1865, for one year, at New Brighton, from Lawrence county, as a private of Company I, 16th Pa. Vol. Cav., and was promoted to sergeant at Lynchburg. He was under fire just before the evacuation' of Petersburg, being at this time with the dismounted men, but was later mounted. He was honorably discharged at Richmond, in August, 1865. In political mat- ters Mr. Aiken was reared a Republican, but for a number of years, he has been a Prohi- bitionist. He is now serving his third term as school director in Lower Chanceford town- ship, and since 1891 has been a member of the board of directors of Westminster College -his alma mater. He was married in Hunt- ingdon county, April' 5, 1882, to Miss Mary J. Porter, daughter of George and Sarah Porter.

WESLEY CALVIN STICK, M. D., for over thirty years a successful medical prac- titioner in Codorus township, is a member of a family which has been settled in that part of York county since the time of the Revolution.

John Casper Stick (who spelled his name Stück in Germany ), the Doctor's grandfather, was born Oct. 4, 1752, in Reichen Saxen, Hesse-Cassel, Germany, son of John and Anna Martha Stück. His godfather was Casper Stück, whose wife was Anna Margaretta. John Casper Stick was one of the Hessian mercenaries brought to this country in 1775, but he deserted the army in Baltimore, secret- ing himself in a huckster's wagon, which was bound for Manheim township, York Co., Pa., about forty miles north of Baltimore, and six miles south of Hanover, Pa. He made a per- manent settlement there, and prospered, be- coming the owner of about three hundred acres of land two miles east of Sherman's church. On Sept. 17, 1776, he married Margaretta Schallin, and they had a family of eleven chil- dren, born as follows: Johanas, June 7. 1788;

Catharine, Sept. 19, 1799; a son whose name is not given, 1801; Anna Madalena, Feb. 5, 1803; John Casper, Jan. 4, 1805; Henry, June 28, 1808. The father of this family died about 1814, the mother shortly afterward; they are buried in Sherman's Church cemetery. Of the children Johanas and John Casper settled in Randolph county, Ind., where their descend- ants are now living. Jacob lived in Carroll and Baltimore counties, Md .; he had two daughters, Susan (Mrs. Richards) and Mary (Mrs. Brown). Anna Maria married Henry Cramer, of Codorus township, York Co .. Pa., and had one daughter, Priscilla, who never married. Margaretta married a Stansbury, and passed most of her life in Baltimore; her children were William, Jacob, Lottie, Rebecca, and Joanna. Another of the daughters mar- ried a Mr. Gruber, who lived in Maryland, and one married a Mr. Fuhrman, who resided in Wooster, Ohio.

Henry Stick, the youngest of his parents' family, was a weaver by trade and located in Codorus township about 1826. He was the founder of Stick's Tavern, an old landmark for many years in York county, and had many interests, conducting a farm, hotel, general store and butchering business, and looking after the post office. On Oct. 25, 1836, he married Mary Ann Thoman, who long survived him, Mr. Stick dying May 12, 1882, and Mrs. Stick March 31, 1903. They are buried in the Stone Church cemetery in Codorus township. They had children as follows: Henrietta, born July 17, 1837, died unmarried; Oliver, born Oct. 23, 1839, died in childhood; Miranda was born March 6, 1841; Anna Maria, born Aug. 22, 1842, married Israel K. Ziegler, lives in York, and is the mother of three children, John Clay- ton, Edwin and Jennie (wife of Jacob K. Klinefelter ) ; Emmaline, born Feb. 8. 1846, died in childhood; Henry Silas, born Jan. 28, 1848. married Rebecca Koller. Feb. 25. 1869, and lives at the old homestead ( their surviving children are Lewis, M. D., assistant physician at the Worcester Asylum; Charles Franklin, a merchant at Lineboro. Carroll Co., Md .; Rev. Jacob Monroe, business manager of the Reformed Church at Sendai. Japan ; John, a student in dentistry; Anna, wife of Dr. Lewis

I34

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Wetzel, of Baltimore, Md .; Miranda and Jen- education. He was virtually the originator of nie, at home) ; William Chester, born Oct. 26, the Glenville Academy, in Codorus township, 1850, married Lamanda Rohrbaugh, and re- and has been president of its board of directors throughout the existence of that school, which he founded in 1892, and has been very active in its success and management. He has been the life and center of the school all this time, collecting the money necessary for its support,, obtaining teachers, etc., and has developed the academy into one of the first schools of its ciass in the State. Dr. Stick has been a director of the First National Bank of New Freedom since its organization. He is a member of the Re- formed Church, and is a Democrat in politics. sides at Hampstead, Md. (they have one son, John W. C. Stick, who is now professor of Latin in the preparatory department of Swarthmore College) ; Edwin Chapes, born July 15, 1853, died in childhood; Wesley Cal- vin was born May 6, 1855; Kynes Ambrose, born July 26, 1857, died in childhood; Joanna Alice, born Sept. 30, 1859, married Dr. Jacob L. Barthold, has one child, Miriam, and resides in Perham, Ottertail Co., Minn. Of this fam- ily Henrietta, Oliver, Emmaline, Edwin Chapes and Kynes Ambrose (all of whom died in childhood but Henrietta) are buried in the Stone Church cemetery.

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 24

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