History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 25

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

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Wesley Calvin Stick was born May 6, 1855, in Codorus township, York Co., Pa., and there passed his boyhood on his father's farm, attending the public schools and assisting with the work at home, the different duties per- taining to his father's interests giving him a varied experience, to which he added himself by teaching in the public schools of Codorus township, when he was but fifteen years old. His further literary training was received at the York County Academy, Washington Uni- versity, and the University of New York, he receiving his degree of M. D. in 1874, becom- ing a registered physician in Pennsylvania and Maryland. He took a post graduate course in medicine during the winter of 1876-77. Im- mediately after graduating in medicine Mr. Stick located at his father's home in Codorus township, and there he has since resided and practiced, having met with gratifying success in his chosen profession from the beginning. However, he planned to remove in April or May of the present year ( 1906), with his fam- ily to Hanover. York Co., Pa., where he will continue to practice. Dr. Stick is a member of the York County Medical Society (which he joined in 1877). the Pennsylvania State Medi- cal Society ( 1895) and the American Medical Association ( 1884). He also was a member of the Ninth International Medical Congress in 1887.

Dr. Stick's standing in the profession and two years.

his personal influence in the community are sufficient evidence of his value as a man. He fare, and particularly in the subject of public

On Jan. 27, 1881, Dr. Stick was married to Mary Agnes Wentz, who was born Oct. I, 1860, a daughter of Edward R. Wentz, of Manheim township, York county, whose an- cestors came from the Palatinate, Germany; her mother, whose maiden name was Margaret Couldron, was from New Oxford, Adams Co., Pa., and of English descent. Mr. Stick has one brother, Dr. A. C. Wentz, of Hanover, Pa., and three deceased sisters: Lamanda Elisabeth, Margaret and Amelia. From this union three children have been born: Henry Wentz Stick, Nov. 20, 1881 ; Edward Wentz Stick, Oct. 24, 1884; and Margaret Stick. April 25, 1886. Henry W. is a graduate of the Glenville Aca- demy, 1897, and he graduated at Franklin and Marshall College in June, 1901, receiving the A. B. degree; later he entered the Johns Hop- kins University. Edward W. graduated from the Glenville Academy in 1900, and the same 'year entered Franklin and Marshall College, in Lancaster, Pa., where he graduated in June. 1904, receiving the A. B. degree. In the fall of the same year he was elected principal of the high school of Yeagertown, Mifflin Co., Pa .. where he remained one year, entering the Med- ical Department of the Johns Hopkins Uni- versity in the fall of 1905. Margaret gradu- ated from the Glenville Academy, now Codo- rus township high school, in June. 1903, and is now specializing in music. She prepared herself (under private tutors) for the musical department of Peabody Institute, Baltimore, Md., where she has been studying for the last

ABRAM FLEMMING. of Franklin town- has taken an active interest in the general wel- ship. York countv. is descended from Scotch- Irish ancestry. He was born in Carroll town-

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ship, York county, July 21, 1836, son of has in it the promise of marked success. He is. Abram, Sr., and Susannah (Cochlin) Flem- ming, and grandson of Timothy Flemming.

Timothy Flemming came to this country from Ireland and settled in Perry county, Pa., where he engaged in agricultural pursuits un- til his death, the date of which is not known. He had these children: Timothy; John ; Frederick; Elizabeth (Beelman) ; Abram; Sarah (Gear) ; and Mary (Strine).

Abram Flemming, Sr., father of Abram, was born in Cumberland Co., Pa., where he ob- tained a common school education. When a young man he engaged in driving teams to Philadelphia and Baltimore, and after several years accumulated enough money to purchase a farm in Carroll township, which he operated until his death in 1873, he being then sixty- nine years old. His wife passed away in 1862, in her fifty-fifth year. They were the parents of five children, as follows: Mary Ann, John, Abram,, Samuel and Susan. Our subject's mother was a member of the United Brethren Church, and was a very devout Christian wo- man.

Abram Flemming, son of Abram, was edu- cated in the common schools in Carroll town- ship, and at Dillsburg, Prof. Heiges being his teacher for a time. When a young man he taught school for five terms, but he later turned his attention to farming, and is now the posses- sor of two fine farms in Franklin township, de- voting his time to general farming and stock- raising.

Mr. Flemming was married, in 1864. to Miss Catherine Diller, daughter of Samuel Dil- ler, and four children have been born to this union : Catherine, John, Irvin and Martha. Mr. Flemming is a member of the Church of God, in which he has been elder and superin- tendent of the Sunday-school, the house where he worships having been built principally by him. A Democrat politically he held the of- fice of school director for six years, was au- · ditor, and at one time supervisor. He is very highly esteemed, and has many friends. .

ELMER E. WENTZ. Receiving under the supervision of his father, one of the suc- cessful merchants of Hanover, a valuable and extensive training in mercantile pursuits. El- mer E. Wentz has in comparatively recent years commenced for himself a career among the prominent business men of that city that

a dealer in dry goods, carpets and notions, with a store that is centrally located, and with a stock of goods that is modern in every respect. He was born in Hanover, April 22, 1861, son of Valentine R. and Adeline (Orr) Wentz.

Valentine R. Wentz, who is still living, was born in Manheim township, June 30, 1834. His wife, Adeline Orr, was born in York county in 1840, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Waltman) Orr; she died in 1902. Three children were born to Valentine R. and Adeline Wentz: Allen H., a jeweler in Balti- more, Md .; Bertha E., wife of L. H. Hoff- acker, of Hanover ; and Elmer E.

Elmer E. Wentz was educated in the pub- lic schools of Hanover. His first employment, at the end of his school days, was in the office of the Hanover Herald, where he learned the printer's trade, continuing in that employment for three years. He then entered his father's store, and continued with him until 1899, in which year he started in business for himself, purchasing and establishing a new stock of dry goods, carpets and notions at the corner of the Square and Baltimore street, which is not only a central location, but had been known for many years as the site of a thriving busi- ness house. Mr. Wentz's stock of goods has been carefully selected, and since the inaug- uration of his venture he has enjoyed a most gratifying trade.

In 1885 Mr. Wentz married Miss Lillian K. Stine, of Hanover, daughter of John R. and Leah (Smyser) Stine. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wentz, namely : Leah A .; Irene; John V .: Lillian ; Bertha ' and William E. Mr. and Mrs. Wentz an members of St. Mathew's Lutheran Church. Among the fraternal orders, Mr. Wentz is a Mason, being affiliated with Patmos Lodge, No. 348. F. & A. M .; Good Samaritan Chap- ter, No. 79. R. A. M .. Gettysburg ; and Gettys- burg Commandery, No. 19, K. T.

SAMUEL B. HOKE, postmaster and merchant at Summit Station, Manheim town- ship, York Co., Pa., was born in Oxford town- ship, Adams Co., Pa., in 1839, son of David and Barbara Bechtel and grandson of George Hoke.

George Hoke was born in Jackson town- ship, York Co., Pa., where he carried on farm- ing all of his life. He died from an accident

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

while working among his stock. He married schools of Oxford township and remained with Catherine Stambaugh, and both are buried in his father, assisting in the management of the the old burying ground west of Spring Grove. Their children were : Solomon, who was a farmer in Cumberland county, along the Yel- low Breeches Creek, for some forty years, and then removed to West Virginia, where he died; David; Casper, who died leaving a widow and children: Mrs. William Menges (at Mc- Sherrystown, Adams Co.). Mrs. Reaver ( Menges Mills, York Co.), George and Emanuel ( Abbottstown, Adams Co.) : Sam- uel, who died at Frederick, Md .; George, who inherited the old farm in Jack- son township, and died there, his son George-the third of the name, now own- ing the farm; Magdalena, who married Andrew Hershey, and died at Spring Grove ; Rebecca, who married Jonas Rebbert (ivho died about twelve years ago), and now lives at the Penn Grove camp grounds in Heidelberg township; and Katie, widow of Edward Re- bert and residing in York.

David Hoke, son of George and father of Samuel B., was born Dec. 24. 1805, and he died Aug. 17, 1873. He married Barbara Bechtel, who was born May 24, 1807, and lived to be ninety-two years old, dying March 20, 1900. They had these children: Susan, born Jan. 5, 1832, died when sixteen years old ; Rebecca, born July 16, 1833. of Hanover ; Isaac, born April 26, 1835, died aged thirteen years ; David Jr., born Nov. 13, 1836, married (first) Louisa Carl, and (second) Annie Slagel, and resides at Hanover; Samuel B., born Jan. 28, 1839; George, born March 12, 1841, died aged seven years; Abraham, born Jan. 31, 1843, married Josephine King, now deceased, and lives retired in York street, Han- over; Barbara, born June 5, 1845, died aged seven years ; Michael, born Feb. 11, 1847} died aged five years; Solomon, born March 27. 1849, married Amelia King, has two chil- dren, Emma, wife of Howard Bair, of Han- over, and Ruhel, and is in the cigar box manu- facturing business with his son Ruhel and son- in-law. Howard Bair, at Hanover.

David Hoke went to Adams county in young manhood, and the greater part of his life was passed there carrying on large farm- ing interests. Later he retired to Hanover where the closing years of his life were spent and where he died aged seventy years.

Samuel B. Hoke was educated in the

farm, until he was twenty-six years of age, when he married and for the next seven years farmed on shares. In 1870 he came to Man- heim township, and bought the farm he now owns, a tract of 120 acres of well improved land, situated at Summit Station, bordering the Western Maryland railroad. Here he erected a substantial building which he stocked with general merchandise, and he has con- tinued successfully to carry on this enterprise until the present. In 1880 the postoffice of Hokes was established, and he was made the first postmaster, still holding the office. In addition to his other interests he handles grain, phosphates, and almost any commodity needed by the farmers, or their families, in this section. Since 1900 he has given up active farming, his other business requiring all his attention. He has built a fine residence at Summit Station, and is one of the popular and much esteemed citizens of this part of the township.

Mr. Hoke was united in marriage with Barbara Hershey, daughter of John and Nancy (Sprenkle) Hershey, an old family here. She died in 1885, and was buried at Hanover. They had these children: Franklin H., who married Ellen Luckenbaugh, and is farming in West Manheim township; Samuel H., who married Annie Grote, and lives at Glen Rock; Edward J., who married Mary Roades, and lives near Millersville, Lancaster county ; Georgiana, her father's devoted housekeeper, a most estimable lady ; Vertir K., who married S. P. Bange, and is assistant postmaster at Hokes, and is telegraph operator at Summit (B. & H. Div. of W. Md. R. R.), a position he has occupied since boyhood ; Albert, who married Maggie Albright, and is a steno- grapher at Tacoma, Wash. : and Martin J., of Baltimore. Politically Mr. Hoke is neutral, voting independently. He has served as school director for some years. He was a leading member of the Reformed Church at Hanover and now belongs at Lazarus, Md. Among the representative citizens of Manheim township, he occupies a prominent place.

BETZ. The written history of the Betz family begins with the year 1688, when John George Betz was born in Mannheim, Ger- many. Records of earlier dates were de-

PHOTO BY BL TTORFF

yours Truly Isquel He, Bez -

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stroyed during the troublous times of the per- the trying winter at Valley Forge. Owing to iod. Earlier generations of the family were en- the scarcity of provisions and clothing the soldiers would torage for supplies whenever opportunity offered. On one occasion Peter and a comrade visited the turkey yard of a noted Tory and appropriated a choice turkey for themselves. The Tory traced the perpe- trators, and came to the encampment to state his grievance to Washington in person. The General promised to look into the matter, and the accused were called to headquarters, where the Commander-in-chief dilated upon the enormity of the offense and wound up with the following admonition: "My children, you can steal turkeys if you feel that you need them, but please keep the fact away from me. for if I am made aware of it I will be forced to punish you." Peter used to say that he trembled with apprehension while in the presence of Washington, but after the latter had finished his lecture he quietly asked them to send him some of the turkey, when they felt relieved. They sent the General a choice portion, which, it was reported, the great man ate with relish. Since the offense was in being found out, they took good care, in future depredations on Tory supplies, that no fault should be found in this direction to get them into trouble.

gaged in the stone business, which was a large factor in the building trade from remote per- iods. Owing to financial reverses John George Betz, although advancing in years, set his face toward the New World to make a fresh start in life, more especially for the benefit of his family. His marriage had taken place com- paratively late in life. He was a man of strong resolution and self-reliance. Leaving the tra- ditions of the Fatherland behind him at the ex- pense of many pecuniary and social sacrifices, he descended the Rhine to Rotterdam, and set sail for America, landing at Philadelphia in 1746. He moved to what is now known as Schoeneck, but then called the wilderness of Northern Lancaster County, in Pennsylvania. This region was then in the township of Co- calico, which has since been subdivided into several smaller ones. This portion of Lan- caster county was embraced in the New Red Sandstone formation, which passes somewhat diagonally through the State, and its course all through its extent is marked by sandstone houses and barns. The first headstones erected in the earlier graveyards were of sandstone. Many of the earlier graves remained un- marked, owing to pressing necessities among the living. Through lapse of time the duty to the dead in many cases remained unfulfilled. After a period of well on to two hundred years, in many cases much sooner, the inscrip- tions on these stones have become almost wholly effaced. John George Betz and the male members of his family followed their hereditary calling, adapting themselves to the exigencies of a new country. Much of their handiwork in its various form and lines is pointed out to this day. The patriarch Betz had six stalwart sons, all of whom rendered him implicit obedience. They made many sacrifices, accounts of which have come down, and are in the hands of their descendants.

One of the sons, Peter Betz, who was born in 1749, enlisted as a drummer in the Revolu- tion. He accompanied Washington's army across the Delaware, and was in the attack upon Trenton, where he met with a narrow escape, his drum being shot to pieces. He re- enlisted after the expiration of his time, and was with the army at Brandywine and Ger- mantown, and was in the encampment during

John George Betz, the emigrant head of the house, died in 1793, reaching the great age of one hundred and five years. He and his family were members of the Muddy Creek Lutheran congregation, which was organized in 1730. His remains were interred in the large burying ground of the Congregation. His son Peter died in 1848, aged ninety-nine years. Another son and namesake, John George Betz, of the second generation in America, was born in 1750, and died in 1826, aged seventy-six years. He was buried at White Oak cemetery, about ten miles north- west of Muddy Creek church, where he re- moved during the Revolution. He and his wife Magdalena are buried in the center of this burying-ground, in which at least three thousand interments have been made. The White Oak Lutheran Reformed Church was erected in 1735, and was replaced by a second building in 1832. Franklin Chest tombs of sandstone were erected over their graves by their grandson, George Betz. son of Michael Betz. the latter being of the third generation. Until 1847 not a single marble headstone nor

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monument was to be seen in this cemetery. lon, where it terminated. Thence-some fifty The first marble stone was erected over the re- mains of the widow of Michael Betz in 1847, by her son, George Betz. The marble head- stones have now become so numerous that the sandstones are hardly noticeable. The re- maining brothers removed to distant regions, and the name with its peculiar orthography has become widespread.

Michael Betz, of the third generation, was a son of John George Betz (2) and was born in 1776 at White Oak, where he died in 1824, aged forty-seven years.

George Betz, son of Michael and a repre- sentative of the fourth generation in America, was born in 1812. He did a large business in the sandstone and marble industry, and was also proprietor of the well-known "Union Square Hotel" in Lancaster county from 1844 to 1848. This was before the era of railroads, especially before long lines were extended over the country. Stock was then brought from the West, chiefly from Ohio, in droves. Hotels dotted the highways, averaging one to every mile. From three to five droves stopped at a hotel nightly during the season, the farmers in the vicinity making a business of furnishing pasture to drovers. The hotel prices for en- tertainment, which were regulated by custom, were very moderate in those days.

In 1849 George Betz and his family re- moved to Ohio, locating in the Western Re- serve. The journey was made by canal, a dis- tance of thirty miles being covered in a day and a night. The start was made from Colum- bia, Pa., at sundown, and sometime during the next morning the travelers passed through Harrisburg, which was then a town of less than six thousand inhabitants. At Hollisdays- burg, which is now six miles from Altoona (which did not then exist, nor was the Penn- sylvania railroad built across the mountains). the boats were floated on trucks, and drawn by stationary engines up five inclined planes, as- cending, and lowered down five inclined planes, descending. This railroad across the Alle- ghanies was thirty-six miles in length, and terminated at Johnstown, where the journey by canal was resumed by the same boat. to Pittsburg. The boat was then towed down the Ohio river by steamboat to Beaver, where the canal was again taken, the journey being pursued by way of Canton, Akron and Massil-

miles further-the trip was continued by wagons. The whole trip required from May 2 to May 18, 1848, a period of sixteen days, the distance being 400 miles. The return trip was made ten years later by railroad in eigh- teen hours. Before the days of the canal many travelers made the journey on foot. "Movings," as they were termed, were made by wagon. In fact, during the forties and fif- ties the roads from May till September were lined from morning till night by what were later termed " prairie schooners." Thus the Great West was peopled in earlier days. Later the railroads went ahead of the settlers. In the thirties and forties Northern Ohio was a comparatively new country and was known as "the West." Even now our extreme Western States and Territories hardly present as many indications of newness as Northern Ohio did in those days. The country was heavily tim- bered, and had only been opened to settlement after the second war with Great Britain, some twenty or thirty years previously. In 1848 the traces of primitive settlement were still strongly in evidence. All buildings, such as they were, were constructed of oak timber. No sawmills existed. Iron was heavy, and not easily transported, and besides the means of the settlers did not permit it. Hardware. in- cluding nails, was used sparingly, and it was curious to observe how necessity became the mother of invention. The heavy growth of timber and great abundance of nuts caused game to be plentiful. The younger men be- came adepts in the uses of the axe and the rifle. Log-rollings and quiltings afforded an outlet to the social instincts of life. The country was largely peopled by New Englanders, and was often called "New Connecticut." In fact, it was often said that a streak of Yankeedom ran all the way from Connecticut to Nebraska in this latitude .. and after due consideration it would seem that there was a large element of truth in the assertion. The New Englanders made their impress upon the community. They founded and encouraged good schools, which were very effective. In those days all school visitors were "loaded up" with speeches, and no visit was complete unless the visitor was heard from. A stock assertion was that if the "scholars" were faithful and industrious they might some day become Presidents of the

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United States! It would seem the orators builded better than they knew, since the Re- serve furnished three Presidents, two out of the same regiment, the 23d Ohio, through Hayes and Mckinley, while Garfield com- manded the 42d Ohio. Probably more might have been supplied, but the truth remains there was not "enough to go around." The West- ern Reserve contained many men who later became conspicuous in public life, among whom may be named Senator William B. Alli- son, of Iowa; Mayor Strong, of New York City; Judge Peter S. Grosscup, of Chicago; the Studebaker Brothers, of South Bend, Ind .; George Kennan, the Siberian writer and trav- eler; Wilson Shannon, the earlier Territorial Governor of Kansas; John Brown, who later became noted on the plains of Kansas and in the mountains of Virginia; and many others.

The southern part of Ohio produced the cattle which supplied the eastern markets. The northern part supplied the sheep, the rais- ing and shearing of which, with droving to the East, became a noted business. It required from thirty-five to forty days and more, at times, to take a drove of sheep from there to eastern Pennsylvania. They traveled very slowly, on the average not more than eight to ten miles daily. To deliver a drove in the East in good condition required good judg- ment and care. Cattle traveled much faster, and were not so easily overdriven. Turkey droving required care and short days, since if driven too late in the day the turkeys would roost.

George Betz dealt largely in stock, es- pecially horses and sheep. The exercising of the former afforded great pleasure to his sons, while the droving of sheep to the East left vivid recollections. During one of their trips the father bought the brownstone quarry and farm at Goldsboro, York Co., Pa., of Mr. Symington, of Baltimore, and removed there with his family during 1857. He worked the business properly until the commencement of the Civil war, when everything in the building line had to yield to the preservation of the Union. He also had an interest in the Hum- melstown sandstone quarry in its early days. His practical knowledge of the stone business, as applied. to the arts, was large and varied, and his judgment seldom went amiss in rela- tion thereto. While still in Ohio, during the

decade of the fifties, the sons became interested in the Anti-slavery movement and the Under- ground Railroad. Reform ideas were con- stantly at work on the Reserve. They be- came readers of the Columbus Ohio State Journal, which teemed with the accounts and fomentation aroused by the Christiana tragedy, which occurred in Lancaster county, Pa. They also were introduced to Greeley's New York Tribune, Garrison's Liberator. and the Anti- Slavery Bugle, of Salem, Columbiana Co., Ohio. which sounded in no uncertain tones.

George Betz married Rebecca Hummer, daughter of Jacob and Rebecca (Freimeier) Hummer, and they became the parents of four sons and two daughters, who were all given good educational advantages. George Betz died in Mechanicsburg, Cumberland Co., Pa., in 1885, aged seventy-three years, and his wife passed away in Lewisberry, York Co., Pa., in 1871, aged sixty years.

Jacob Hummer was a son of John George Hummer, was born at New Holland, Lancaster Co., Pa., in 1758, and died at White Oak, Pa., in 1854, aged ninety-six years. His wife, Re- becca Freimeier, passed away in 1815, aged thirty-eight years. One of their daughters, Catherine Hummer, married a nephew of Dr. Benjamin Rush, of Philadelphia. The Frei- meiers were people of note, and lived at New Holland, Lancaster county, where they settled at the time of their emigration from Germany. Several members of the family had attained important positions in official life before re- moving from the Fatherland.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 25

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