History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 29

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

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CHARLES E. ZIGNER, a prominent citizen and public official of Newberry town- ship, who is post master at Etters and a justice of the peace, has been actively engaged in the livery business and the sale of fertilizers since 1887. Mr. Zigner was born in 1838, in Sax- cny, Germany. His parents died while he was quite young, and he was sent to America by the will of his guardian. Mr. Zigner located at Mechanicsburg, Cumberland county, where he learned the wheelwright's trade, and in 1858 he located in Shiremanstown, that coun- ty, but stayed there only a short time, remov- ing to Goldsboro, where he made horse rakes, being among the founders of that industry. In 1862 Mr. Zigner married Miss Mary Bur- ger, and returned to Shiremanstown, where he followed coach making until 1869. At this time he was burnt out, and after this loss. spent one year in Harrisburg, after which he went to Mt. Wolf, York county, remaining there three years. In 1872 Mr. Zigner re- turned to Goldsboro, where he followed his trade for fifteen years, and in 1887 he en- gaged in the fertilizer business, in conjunction

with a livery business, which he has continued up to the present time.

During President Harrison's administra- tion Mr. Zigner was appointed post master at Etters, and in March, 1903, was re-ap- pointed, and holds that office at the present time. Mr. Zigner was appointed a justice of the peace in May, 1903, and has made a very efficient official. Politically he is a stanch Re- publican, and has held the office of councilman. and has been a school director for a number of years. He has also held office in Cumberland county.

The children born to Charles E. Zigner and his wife were: (1) John B., who was ap- pointed assessor of Goldsboro in 1900, and again in 1904, and is now assistant postmaster, married Emma Riesser, and lives at Golds- boro; he is a county committeeman and is very active in politics. (2) Robert married Sarah Pfisterer, and lives at Cly, York county. (3) Harry B. is a clerk at Harrisburg. (4) Charles B. married Becky Blessing, and lives in Philadelphia. (5) Lydia M. married Prof. Harry Smith, and resides at York, York coun- ty. Mr. Zigner is a representative citizen of Newberry township, one of the solid, substan- tial, enterprising men whose good judgment and public spirit continually contribute to the advancement of the town.

DAVID S. WITMER, one of the promi- nent and successful farmers in Windsor town- ship, was born June 29, 1845, on the Witmer farm in what was then Spring Garden (now Springetsbury) township.

The Witmer family is from Swiss ances- try who settled in Lancaster county, Pa. David' Witmer, grandfather of David S., moved to York county when a young man and made his home near Stone Ridge, where he owned about ninety acres. He was a Mennonite preacher, and built the first church of that per- suasion in his section, still known as the Wit- mer meeting house. He continued his preach- ing all through that region until he was pros- trated by illness, passing away at his home in 1843, aged seventy years, eleven months, and eighteen days. His wife, Magdalena (Kauff- man), whom he married in Lancaster county, survived him until 1857. They were the par- ents of seven children, namely: John, who married Miss Lefevre, located first at Dills-

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BIOGRAPHICAL

burg, and then in Manchester township, and there died on the same day as his father, their funerals being held together; Catherine, Mrs. David Forry, died at her home in Hanover in 1869; Lycia, Mrs. David Sprenkle, lived and died on the old Sprenkle homestead near Nashville, York county ; Annie, Mrs. Samuel Roth, died at her home near Nashville; David, a Mennonite preacher, married Miss Nancy Kauffman and died at Bloomingdale, York county ; Elias is mentioned below ; Susan, Mrs. Christian Hursh, died in Windsor township.

Elias Witmer was born on the old home- stead Feb. 8, 1814, and was all his life a farm- er by occupation. He remained on the Witmer farm until 1858, and then bought the place where his son now lives, a tract of sixty-four acres on the road from Locust Grove to Stony Brook. This farm was originally owned by George Holtzinger, from whom it passed suc- cessively to Harry Strickler, Zachariah Kendig, and Mr. Witmer. The house was built of log and stone in the first place, but David S. Wit- mer has added another story of frame. The barn still in use was erected in 1843 by Harry Strickler. Elias Witmer was a lifelong Demo- crat, and served on the school board and as supervisor. He married in 1840 Miss Annie Strickler, daughter of Ulrich and Mary ( Shel- lenberger) Strickler, and granddaughter of John Strickler, who came to America from Switzerland. Both husband and wife died on the farm, he in 1873, aged fifty-nine years, eight months, and six days; she on Oct. 27, 1891, aged sixty-eight years, one month, and twelve days. Their children were as follows: Sarah died unmarried, Aug. 8, 1901, aged six- ty; David Strickler is our subject; John, a soldier in the regular army for three years, and a millwright and bridge builder by trade, mar- ried Miss Ellen Amshbaucher, and died in Lancaster, where he kept a hotel, Aug. 31, 1894, aged forty-six; Edward, deceased, pro- prietor of the "Spring Garden Hotel" in East York, married Miss Ellen Winemiller ; Ulrich died at the age of twenty-three; Henry died in boyhood; Mary is Mrs. Jacob Landis, of Springetsbury township : Clara is Mrs. William Markley, of Spring Grove, York county; Ag- nes died in childhood; Allen is a resident of York: Amanda, Mrs. Ellsworth Kauffman, died at Longstown, Aug. 8. 1888, aged twenty- three; Elias died in infancy: Joseph lives with his brother David.

David S. Witmer was thirteen years old when lus tather moved to the present home- stead. Previously he had gone to school from the age of five in the old Witmer schoolhouse, to John Throne, who taught there for a term of four months each year. From the age of thirteen Mr. Witmer' went to the Locust Grove school, finishing under D. P. Brown, who is now in Baltimore, still teaching. From the lo- cal schools he went to the York Normal, study- ing under S. B. Heiges and S. G. Boyd. At the age of twenty, after leaving the Normal, he began teaching, and his first position was in the Tyson school, in Windsor township, atter which he was successively engaged at the home schools for two terms, the Tyson for one, the Windsorville for one, the Tyson for one, and the Spring Garden township school for two. During his vacations he usually worked on his father's farm, and was at times a traveling salesman for the Stauffer Cracker Company, of York, spending, altogether, about a year and a half in that business. For three years he trav- eled for the Osborn Reaper Company. In 1883 Mr. Witmer took charge of the home farm, and ten years later, after his mother had died, he bought the place and has since then given his entire attention to it. He does gen- eral farming, attends market, and is in every way a progressive and wide-awake farmer.

The marriage of Mr. Witmer to Miss Eliz- abeth Bull occurred in York, and the cere- mony was performed by Rev. A. H. Lochman. the same clergyman who united Mr. Witmer's parents. Miss Bull was the daughter of Isaac Bull, and granddaughter of Thomas Bull, who came to this country from England. The fol- lowing children were born to this union: Al- bert Vincent, who married Miss Florence E. Kemard, and who is in a railroad freight of- fice in York : Edward H., of Wrightsville, who married Miss Katie V. Poff ; Eli W .. of Wind- sor township, married to Miss Ida J. Wan- baugh ; and Annie C., unmarried.

Mr. Witmer and his wife are members of the Mennonite Church. A lifelong Democrat, he has always been active in politics, and has filled several offices with unquestioned ability. From 1893 to 1895, inclusive, he was regis- ter of wills, and for nine years in succession served on the school board, the last time poll- ing the entire vote of his own party and three Republican votes in addition. In 1900 he was appointed census enumerator for Windsor

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

township, being the only Democratic appointee Edward M. Strickler, was born on his fath- to that position in York county. Mr. Witmer er's farm in Hellam township, Jan. 17, 1856, is a man of considerable influence, able and well trained, and is held in the highest esteem . in his community. and attended the public schools of the neigh- borhood until he was twenty years old. He also attended York Academy for a few terms, his vacations being spent in farm work. After EDWARD M. STRICKLER, dealer in agricultural implements, is a well-known citi- zen of Hellam township, where he, like his father before him, has passed his entire life. His grandfather, Benjamin Strickler, is men- tioned elsewhere. leaving school he taught for four years; his first school was in Lower Windsor township, the other three years he taught in Hellam town- ship. He married in 1881, and went to farm- ing in his native township, but after five years moved into Hellam, and was there engaged in the meat business for fifteen years. At the same time he served as justice of the peace, his first election to that office being in 1889, with two re-elections since. In 1901 he estab- lished himself in the agricultural implement business in Hellam, while he continues to carry on with success.

Benjamin Strickler, father of Edward M., was born in Hellam township, near Wrights- ville, in December, 1821. The farm on which he was born and where his boyhood was spent is now the property of Henry L. Stoner. He received what, in those days, was a good edu- cation in the subscription and public schools, and was brought up to farming, in which call- Mr. Strickler married, Sept. 29, 1881, Clara V. Stoner, daughter of Christian S. and Rebec- deceased, was a farmer and lime dealer in Hel- lam township, while the latter is now living in York. ing he was engaged throughout life. After his marriage he settled on the farm of his ca (Landis) Stoner, of whom the former, now father-in-law, a half mile north of the Pike, near Hellam. This farm he afterward bought. and there he died in 1893, after a long and useful life. He was widely known for his kind- Mr. and Mrs. Strickler have had the follow- ing children : ( 1) Ralph S., born Jan. 1, 1883, attended the public schools in Hellam township, and York Academy, and graduated from Pat- rick's Business College in York; he was book- keeper for the firm of McClelland & Gotwalt, and died May 14, 1905, aged twenty-two years. (2) Claude E., born Dec. 2, 1887, attended the public schools and graduated from Patrick's Business College at York in September, 1904. (3) Carrie V. died in infancy. (4) Walter B. was born June 24, 1892. The family are mem- bers of the German Reformed Church. Mr. Strickler has always voted the Republi- can ticket, has acted as election inspector, and has served six years on the township school board. liness and helpfulness to others, and lived an upright, honest and honored life. He was al- ways a Republican in political faith, and filled the office of school director and judge of elec- tions. In religious matters he followed Dun- kard teachings. He married Eleanora Bahn, daughter of David and Rachel (Witman) Bahn, who was born in 1831. and still lives on the home farm. David Balin was a well- known farmer of Hellam township, where he lived and died. He was an active citizen and held several township offices. He was a mem- ber of the German Reformed Church of Kreutz Creek, of which he was one of the founders. His daughter, Mrs. Strickler, is also a mem- ber of that church. The children of Benjamin and Eleanora ( Bahn) Strickler were as fol- lows: Byron B., a farmer of Hellam town- G. MILTON BAIR, investment securities, Hanover, has been active in the financial and in the political affairs of York county, and for ten years, as a Republican, he was elected a mem- ber of the city council from a Democratic ward. He has for a period of thirty-four years, or ever since he attained his majority, been a strong advocate of Republican princi- ples. For fifteen years he served on the County ship, who married Annie, daughter of Fred- erick Sultzbach, of that township: Edward M .. who is mentioned below; Albert W .. who died at the age of twenty-four, unmarried; Elmer D., who married Katy Myers, and lives on the home farm: Mary E .. who lives at home, un- married ; and Flora R., who is Mrs. Edward B. Stoner, of Hellam township.

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Executive Committee of his party, and for fifteen years as a ward committeeman. To his ripe experience as a financier and business man he adds a geniality, which has made for him a host of life-long friends. Mr. Bair is a native of Hanover. He was born in that borough Dec. 30, 1850, son of Edward and Delia ( Gitt) Bair.

Edward Bair was born Jan. 14, 1810, and was by trade a saddler, a vocation which he fol- lowed through life, surviving to the age of seventy-one years, his death occurring Sept. 14, 1882. His father, John Bair, was also a saddler by trade, and was twice married, first to a Miss Bittinger. Delia (Gitt) Bair, the mother of our subject, was born in Hanover in 1813. and was a sister of Josiah W. Gitt. She died in August, 1903. To Edward and Delia (Gitt) Bair were born five children, two of whom died in infancy. The survivors are : J. Emory Bair, cashier of the Gettysburg Na- tional Bank, one of the oldest national banking institutions in that city; G. Milton; and Alice O., wife of Jacob N. Slagle, for many years treasurer of the Hanover Savings Fund So- ciety.

G. Milton Bair was educated in the schools of Hanover, completing his education in the High School and Dickinson Business College, Carlisle, Pa. He began his business career as a merchant, continuing the same for twelve years, during which time, he was associated with G. W. Welsh. At the expiration of that period Mr. Bair engaged in his present busi- ness, consisting of real estate, insurance, stocks, bonds and investment securities. Be- sides the political career to which reference is made above, Mr. Bair was for three years a member of the school board, representing the Fourth ward of Hanover. He is a member of the Knights of the Mystic Chain; of the Royal Arcanum, which was organized in 1886; and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

Mr. Bair was married Nov. 26, 1869, to Miss Emma C., daughter of George W. and Maria (McSherry) Welsh. To Mr. and Mrs Bair two sons have been born, Edward W .. a successful insurance broker of Philadelphia ; and Ray W., a student at State College. Mr. and Mrs. Bair are members of St. Mathew's Lutheran Church.

HARRIS LENTZ, director of the County Poor of York county, Pa., is a native of

Springfield township, born there Oct. 4, 1835, son of Daniel Lentz.

The grandfather of our subject was a na- tive of Springfield township, where he fol- lowed farming, and had these children : John, Frederick, George, Joseph and Daniel. The last named was a farmer in Springfield town- ship. He and his brother, John, purchased the old homestead and there Daniel remained until his death, June 9, 1864, at the age of seventy- five years. His widow, Lydia Falkemer, died Sept. 29, 1893, aged ninety-two years, and both are buried at Bupp's Union Church in Springfield township. Their children were : Daniel, is deceased ; Harris; Leah, widow of Eli Ehrhart, lives in North Codorus township; John, who married Susan Leader, lives in York township, where he follows farming; Cath- erine, the widow of William Burns, is living in Paradise; Anna Mary, who died in 1874, was the wife of H. Glessner.

Harris Lentz attended the schools of Springfield township, and at the age of eigh- teen years engaged in the carpenter's trade, which he followed thirty-three years. He was for two years employed with the Northern Central Railroad, from Baltimore to Marys- ville, and from York to Wrightsville, for a time having charge of a gang of men. Mr. Lentz built some of the finest buildings now standing in York county, especially in Spring- field township, having employed from ten to sixteen skilled mechanics. He followed con- tracting until 1866, in which year he, in com- pany with Fred Scott, purchased the old Falkemer homestead of 234 acres. He also owned the old homestead of 100 acres. Mr. Lentz now resides on a small place of six acres.

Harris Lentz married Malinda Beck, daughter of Adam Beck, of North Codorus township, and they had these children : Noah, born Oct. 15, 1859, married Sarah Stiles, and lives in York; Sarah A., born May 23, 1861, married Frederick Tyson, a carpenter of York : Lydia A., born Oct. 13, 1862, died Aug. 13, 1866; Ameline, born Nov. 2, 1864, died Aug. 2, 1865: Cornelius, born July 3. 1867. married Ida Illus, and at present is township supervisor of Springfield township; Anna Mary, born Oct. 23. 1869, married John Meckley, of Springfield township: Maggie: born Feb. 22, 1872, married Augustus Doll.

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

of York; William H., born May 13, 1874, married Katie Stough, and is farming in Springfield township; Arabella, born Oct. 24, 1876, married William Roser, and also lives in that township; Harvey, born April 6, 1879, married Carrie Burns, of Springfield town- ship; Harry, born Feb. 20, 1881, married Ly- dia Krout, and they also live in Springfield township; Emanuel, born May 14, 1883, mar- ried Daisy Kerchner, of Shrewsbury town- ship, and is living at home; and Charles E. C., born May 26, 1886, is living with his brother, Harry.

Politically Mr. Lentz is a Democrat, and was elected director of the poor in 1902, a position he has held up to the present date. He is a member of Paradise Lutheran Church, in which he has held the office of elder for a number of years. He is considered one of Springfield township's representative men, and is highly esteemed in the township for his many sterling traits of character.

JOSEPH DISE. In a publication which purports to touch upon the history of the men and forces whose contribution to the develop- ment and material and civil prosperity of York county has been of distinctive scope and im- portance, it is imperative that definite mention be made of Joseph Dise, who is one of the most honored citizens and most prominent business men of the attractive and thriving little city of Glen Rock, where he has main- tained his home for many years. He is a na- tive of York county, and in both paternal and maternal lines comes of old and honored fam- ilies of this section of Pennsylvania. Aside from his particularly successful career as a business man and his precedence as a worthy and public-spirited citizen, to him also belongs the distinction of being a veteran of the Civil war, in which he rendered loyal service.

The Dise family was founded in York county in the early pioneer epoch, the first rep- resentatives of the name having located here in the latter years of the eighteenth century, as is manifest from the fact that Henry M. Dise, grandfather of our subject, came from the upper part of the State, or from along the Susquehanna river, and settled in Springfield township, York county, there passing the rest of his life. He was a blacksmith by trade and vocation, and also became the owner of val-

uable real estate, being one of the influential citizens of his township. His wife, whose. maiden name was Falkenstine, died there also. They were the parents of five children, all of whom except John F. and William are now de- ceased, namely : David, Henry, John F., Will- iam F. and Mandilla, the last named having become the wife of Ephraim Trout.

Henry Dise, father of our subject, was born in Springfield township, York county, Feb. 22, 1820, and there passed the greater portion of his life, having been a carpenter by trade and vocation. His death, the result of an accident, occurred May 13, 1853, when he was aged thirty-three years, two months and twenty-one days. He was a young man of sterling character, and was taken from the scene of life's endeavors in the very flower of his vigorous young manhood. He married Miss Eve Seitz, who was born May 29, 1823, and was reared in York county, daughter of Rev. John Seitz, who was for many years here prominent as a local preacher of the Evan- gelical Church, and who was a member of one of the prominent pioneer families of the county, as was also his wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Stabley. Rev. John and Elizabeth Steiz became the parents of seven- teen children, and many descendants still re- main in the county, the names of the children who attained maturity having been as follows: Daniel, Jacob, Benjamin, Samuel. John. George, Noah, Adam S., Joseph, Elizabeth (Mrs. Henry Meyers). Lena (Mrs. Joseph Sykes), Christina (Mrs. William Ludwig). Catherine (Mrs. Francis Grove), and Eve (mother of our subject). Mrs. Eve (Seitz) Dise survived her husband many years, and was summoned to the life eternal Nov. 4. 1882, aged fifty-nine years, five months and seven days. Henry Dise and wife became the par- ents of five children, as follows : Benjamin is a resident of Avis, Pa., and is a minister of the Lutheran Church; Uriah S. is engaged in manufacturing at Glen Rock, Pa .; Anna Mary is the wife of Lyman B. Moody, of Glen Rock : Leah E. is the wife of Jacob W. Herbst, of Seitzland ; and Joseph is mentioned below.

Joseph Dise was born in Springfield town- ship, York Co., Pa., Oct. 8, 1849, and was but four years of age at the time of his father's death. At the age of six he was placed in the home of his uncle, Adam S. Seitz, of Spring-

Joseph Disse

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BIOGRAPHICAL

field township, with whom he remained one year, after which he was reared to the age of fourteen years in the home of his paternal uncle, John F. Dise, a well-known farmer of Shrewsbury township. In the public schools of his native township he secured his early educational discipline, which he later as a young man supplemented by appreciative study in night school at Glen Rock. He continued to devote the major portion of his time to farm work during his youth, and was thus engaged at the time of the outbreak of the war of the Rebellion. In 1864, though not yet sixteen years of age, he manifested his patriotic ardor by tendering his services in defense of the Union, enlisted in Company H, 79th P. V. I., and was mustered in at Harrisburg. His com- mand was assigned to the Army of the Cum- berland, 3d Brigade, Ist Division, 14th Army Corps, and from September, 1864, until the latter part of the following December, he was detailed on special duty in the quartermaster's department in front of Petersburg. On making delivery of ammunition on the line of the Wel- don railroad, his tent mate was killed by the ex- plosion of a shell, he himself having a narrow escape. Mr. Dise participated in the battle of Bentonville and several spirited skirmishes, and at the time of the surrender of Gen. Johnston his regiment was encamped on Cape Fear river, North Carolina, from which point the command forthwith started for the Fed- eral capital, marching altogether a distance of 1,100 miles in the pursuit of Johnston and afterwards to the Federal capital, requiring about two months' time, and arriving in Wash- ington May 22, 1865. With Sherman's forces he participated in the historic Grand Review, on the 24th of that month, and on the 12th of the following July he was mustered out, near Fairfax Seminary, while he received his pay and honorable discharge on the 17th of the latter month, at Camp Cadwalader, in the city of Philadelphia. In Lancaster, the following day, the regiment was tendered an enthusiastic reception by the people of the city and sur- rounding country, the occasion being a notable one.

trade, becoming a skilled workman and gain- ing the status of a journeyman after serving two and one-half years. Thereafter he en- gaged in contracting and building, employing several men, and continued operations along this line about one year. In 1871 he entered into partnership with Edward Anderson, in the same field of enterprise, and shortly after- ward he erected a store at the corner of Main and Baltimore streets, in Glen Rock, and there established himself in the furniture busi- ness, in partnership with Mr. Anderson, this being the first furniture store in the town. The enterprise proved a very successful one, and Mr. Dise continued to be actively identified with the same until April, 1875, when he sold out and turned his attention to the retail lum- ber business, in connection with the manufact- uring of sash, doors, etc., in which undertak- ing he was associated with other residents of Glen Rock. He had charge of the factory in the capacity of manager until March 1, 1877, when he purchased a third interest in the busi- ness, which at that time was at a low ebb. He infused such energy and discrimination into the management of the concern that the busi- ness soon began to advance in scope and im- portance, and he has ever since continued to be identified with the same, which represents at the present time one of the leading industrial enterprises of Glen Rock, the general manage- ment being retained by Mr. Dise. Soon after becoming associated with this business he also took 11p the study of architecture, for which he manifested a distinct predilection and talent. becoming very proficient, and soon assuming the work of executing the drawings and plans for the major portion of the contracts entered into by the firm of which he was a member, the business having been originally conducted under the title of Hoshour, Dise & Co., while in March, 1894, it was incorporated as the Glen Manufacturing Co. Mr. Dise was made treas- urer and general manager of the company, of which he is one of the largest stockholders, and this dual office he still retains. The company has a fine modern plant and gives employment to a corps of about seventy men the year round. Work of the best grade is turned out and the concern has a high reputation on this score as well as on that of reliability and fair dealing, tract. It is a recognized fact that the upbuild-

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 29

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