History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 34

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

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On June 26, 1892, Mr. Hugentugler was

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

joined in matrimony to Miss Laura Dander, of Lancaster, Pa., a daughter of a partner in the well-known Hollinger tannery of Lancaster, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Hugentugler have one child, Charles R., a student at school.

The career of Mr. Hugentugler in York has been entirely creditable and is an evidence of the fact that earnest and conscientious en- deavor counts in this work-a-day world. In politics Mr. Hugentugler is a stanch Republi- can; an active worker for his party, he was for nine years secretary of the Republican county committee. Socially he is a member of the York Club, the Heptasophs, the Elks, the Royal Arcanum, and the Jr. O. U. A. M. In religion he is a worthy member of the Union Lutheran Church. His obliging disposition and painstaking efforts to please the public have won him a very large place in the hearts of the people, and gained him their hearty ap- proval.

WALKER A. DROMGOLD, of the former firm of Hench & Dromgold, and now vice-president and general manager of the Hench & Dromgold Company, manufacturers of agricultural implements and machinery, is a son of John and Bandina (Hench) Drom- gold. He was born near Ickesburg, Perry Co., Pa., March 4, 1850, being of Scotch- Irish ancestry.

Thomas Dromgold, grandfather of Walker A., was born in County Louth, near Dublin, Ireland, where his father was a merchant, mill owner and farmer. The former came to the United States in young manhood, emigrating from Warren Point, in the North of Ireland, about the IIth day of May, 1801, and arriving at Newcastle, Del., July 22d of the same year. He traveled from there, mostly on foot, to the Chesapeake Bay, continuing his journey from the mouth of the Susquehanna river, follow- ing the river until he reached Millerstown, Pa. Removing from Millerstown to Donally's Mills, in the same county, Mr. Dromgold, the pioneer of that name in this country, pur- chased a farm near Ickesburg, Perry Co., Pa., and married Elizabeth Donally, of Donally's Mills. Four children were born of this union, three sons and one daughter. He resided on this farm until the time of his death, his widow subsequently remaining there, where she was tenderly cared for by the father of

Walker A. Dromgold. In the Common Pleas court in Bloomfield, Perry county, Jan. 5, 1830, Thomas Dromgold, then fifty-five years old, became a naturalized citizen of the United States. He died in Perry county, of which he had been one of the early settlers, March 8, 1841; and his wife, Elizabeth (Donally ) Dromgold, died Sept. 28, 1860, in her seventy- fourth year.

John Dromgold, one of the three sons of Thomas Dromgold (the other two having been Edward and Manassas, and the daughter having been Susanna, who married Jacob Miller ). was born on the old homestead farm near Ickesburg, March 20, 1811, and died on his farm near Ickesburg Jan. 13, 1887. On Aug. 18, 1834, he married Bandina Hench, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Yohn) Hench, who had two sons and three daugh- ters, our subject's mother having been the eldest. Samuel Hench, the maternal grandfather of W. A. Dromgold, who was of German descent, had three brothers and five sisters: John, Jacob, Peter, Elizabeth, Susan, Catharine, Mary and Lena. Samuel Hench's farm adjoined that of the elder Drom- gold. Bandina (Hench) Dromgold was born Jan. 17, 1815, and died Dec. 1, 1876. During the first five years of their married life Mr. and Mrs. Dromgold lived on a farm near Dever's Run, then removed to Turbett township, near Port Royal, Juniata county, a few years later removing to Spruce Hill township and finally returning to their native county, where they spent the remainder of their lives. He became the owner of his father's great farm of 600 acres, 300 of which he improved, erecting a number of tenement houses. employing many laborers, and being justly regarded as a very prominent man. Honored with various of- fices in his township, he was active in political and business affairs. He was a Democrat politically, and a devout member of the L11- theran Church. Five sons and four daughters were born to him: Eliza J., deceased, who married Solomon Bower, deceased, late of Blain, Pa .: J. Ellen, wife of Nicholas Ickes, of Nebraska; Maggie A., deceased, who was the wife of George Kochenderfer; Sarah P., de- ceased, wife of Philip Kell, of Ickesburg, Pa .; Samuel M., of Blain, Perry county: William S., living on the old homestead; Dr. Thomas M., a practicing physician at Seneca, Ill. ;

Walker @ Drgold!

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Walker A., our subject; and Dr. Stewart T., people, and which was originally organized a practicing physician of Elmore, Ohio.

ploying 225 people and sending their goods to all parts of the world, but he is also a mem- ber of the firm of Hench, Dromgold & Shull, that until twenty-one years old. Then he con- manufacturers of lumber, having purchased, ducted a farm for three years on his own ac- count, and next removed to Patterson, Juniata Co., Pa., continuing agricultural and other pursuits on the estate of Hon. James North, a very prominent citizen of that section

His next move was to Turbett township, same county, where he continued to reside until 1877. when he disposed of his interests and associated himself with S. Nevin Hench, of Ickesburg, in the manufacture and sale of agri- cultural implements, near Port Royal. At the end of two years Mr. Dromgold removed to Perry county, to take charge of his father's farm, remaining there three years, and, in addition to managing his father's farm, selling and manufacturing agricultural implements during that period. In 1882 MF. Dromgold left Perry county and located in York, where the business he then established has grown to great proportions. In the formation of the National Harrow Company of New York Mr. Dromgold was elected a director in the in- terests of Hench & Dromgold, .serving and continuing as such to the present time. A few years later, on the formation of the Standard Harrow Company, of Jersey City, N. J., cap- italized at $2,000,000, Mr. Dromgold was elected a director, as a recognition of his large practical knowledge and sterling business abilities.

On Sept. 23, 1871, Mr. Dromgold was married to Martha E. Shull, daughter of William Shull, of Ickesburg, Perry Co., Pa., and five children were born of this union : Lelia Alice, Corinne, Thomas Edward, Bradie Lawrence and William Shull. Corinne and William Shull died in infancy. Mrs. Drom- gold died Nov. 24, 1881. On Feb. 19, 1891, Mr. Dromgold again married, his present wife being Ella F. Wilt, of York, and six children have been born to this union : Florence Aileen, Davis Elkins, Kathryn Isabelle, Stewart A., Justina Marie Davenport, and Margaret.

Mr. Dromgold is president of the Hench- Dromgold - Hartman - Rice - Ickes Reunion, which was attended by over one thousand

as the Hench-Dromgold Reunion. Not only

Walker A. Dromgold was reared on the does Mr. Dromgold take an active part in the farm upon which he was born and was edu- affairs of the Hench & Dromgold works, em- cated in the public schools at Spring Grove and Mt. Pleasant. After leaving school he went to farming with his father, remaining at

and now owning about twenty thousand acres of timber land at Mill Creek, W. Va., where they have a large sawmill plant in operation, having about fifteen miles of railroad for hauling logs, bark and pulp-wood. They also have a large wholesale and retail dry goods, grocery and furniture store at that point, giv- ing constant employment to from 150 to 200 men. He is also, a member of the firm of Hench, Dromgold & Co., Coffee Exchange Building, New York City, doing a large ex- port business.

Mr. Dromgold finds time, in addition, for much social enjoyment as well. His favorite recreation is in visiting his farms, of which he owns four, and the two largest of the four are noted for the splendid crops produced, for Mr. Dromgold is as successful at farming as he is .at manufacturing.

The Hench & Dromgold Company, as it now exists, was incorporated in 1902, with a capital of $350,000, and Mr .. Dromgold was made vice-president and general manager. He is a Mason of the thirty-second degree, belong- ing to the Reading Shrine and Harrisburg Consistory. In politics Mr. Dromgold is a stanch Republican, and was, for four years, a member of the select council from the Eleventh ward. Here, as in all other matters intrusted to him, he gave intelligent and earnest thought, doing much for the city's good. In fact Mr. Dromgold does all things thoroughly and well, whether it be manufacturing, farming, or whatever else he may undertake.

The genealogy of Bandina (Hench) Dromgold is as follows :

(I) Johannis Hange (John Hench) emi- grated from Germany more than two centuries ago. Through the Palatinate, along the Rhine, the border provinces had been repeatedly rav- aged by cruel and merciless war. Their cities, towns and villages were burned, their property confiscated or destroyed, their crops and vine- yards trodden down, and their churches and schools ruined. Finding no rest, peace nor

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

security in their own land, many thousands of their wants were supplied. Many of the sol- them fled down the Rhine, finding refuge in diers were shoeless, and used the skins from the bullocks, strapping them in the form to use them as shoes, to protect their feet, which were sore and bleeding. Holland, and other thousands in England for a time. In England many found a sympathetic friend in William Penn, and he invited many of them to come to America. Queen Anne of England also invited them, and even bore the expenses of transportation for many of them to come to the Colonies.

Among those Germans who came to America to select their homes was Johannis Hange (John Hench), a blacksmith by trade, from Wurtemberg, who landed at Philadelphia on the ship "Lydia," Sept. 20, 1743. After a time he returned to Wurtemberg and was married. He returned to America, landing at Philadelphia, Sept. 2, 1.749, on the ship "Chesterfield." He settled in Vincent town- ship, Chester Co., Pa., removed to Pikeland township in 1753, and purchased land. His name appears on the list of Chester county taxables from 1756 to 1778.

To John Hench and his wife were born eight children, five sons and three daughters. The sons were Peter, Henry, John, Jacob and George; the daughters, Maria Elizabeth, Christina and Betsy or Elizabeth. Two of the sons, Peter ( a fifer and drummer ) and Henry, enlisted on a war vessel, in the war of the Revolution, in 1774. They were afterward captured and died of neglect and starvation on a prison ship at New York, and were buried under a mound in Trinity churchyard, New York. Their names are found. in the Penn- sylvania Archives.

The third son, John, enlisted in 1777 and was made second lieutenant, 4th Battalion, Pennsylvania Continental Line, under Major Peter Hartman, a kinsman. Not only in the field but at home they rendered valuable serv- ices to the cause of freedom, by furnishing cat- tle to the army and rendering services and care and food to the sick and wounded soldiers in the hospital at Yellow Springs, which was not far from their home. After the battle of Brandywine a portion of Gen. Wayne's di- vision retreated across the valley hill and en- camped in the evening in the meadows on John Hench's farm. Mr. Hench, told the soldiers they were welcome to take whatever they wanted. As soon as they pitched their tents and lighted their camp fires from the fences, forty head of fat cattle were driven into the yard, and the slaughtering continued until all

John Hench's will was dated June 28, 1801. Before his death he removed to Mifflin county, now Juniata county, in Milford township, with his sons and daughter, Mrs. Zachary Rice. He was buried at Academia, Pennsylvania.

(II) John Hench married Margaret Rice, daughter of Zach. Rice. Children of (II) John Hench : Sons-Peter, Jacob, John, Samuel and Conrad, who was killed when young; daughters-Elizabeth married John Bryner; Jane Christina married Joseph Bryner ; Susanna married Daniel Motzer; Sallie mar- ried Jacob Strauch; Rebecca married John Ritter; Judith married Jacob Evinger; Catha- rine married George Rausch; Pauline re- mained unmarried.

Children of Jacob Hench ( I) (son of emi- grant John Hench) and his wife, Susanna Rice: Sons-John, Zachariah, Major Peter ; daughters-Abigail, Mary and Nancy.

Children of George Hench (I), son of emigrant John Hench : Son-John; daughter -Maria.

Children of Peter Hench (2), brother of grandfather Samuel Hench : Sons-Parkin- son H. and Samuel H .; daughters-Jane and Margaret.

Children of Jacob Hench (2), brother of grandfather Samuel: Sons-George Hench and John Hench; daughters-Elizabeth Mary, Susanna and Rebecca.

Children of John Hench (3), brother of grandfather Samuel : Sons-John, Jacob, Conrad and Samuel; daughters-Elizabeth and Margaret.

Children of Samuel Hench, grandfather of Walker A. Dromgold: Sons-Jeremiah Hench, George Washington Hench; daugh- ters-Bandina married John Dromgold; Sarah Ann married John B. Ritter; Margaret mar- ried Joseph Kell.

HOWARD P. GOODLING, manager of the office of the A. B. Farquhar plant in York, is one of the rising young men of that city. He was born Dec. 6, 1872, at Loganville, in Springfield township, York county, son of Rev. Charles H. and Eliza ( Miller) Goodling.

Rev. Charles H. Gocdling was also born

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at Loganville, in 1850, and spent his early life there. He educated himself for the min- istry and was ordained in 1881, now filling a charge at West Berwick, Pa. He married Elizabeth Miller, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Fishel) Miller.

Howard P. Goodling spent his school days in Williamsport, Baltimore and York, attended two years at Central Pennsylvania College, and three months at the Rochester Business Uni- versity, Rochester, N. Y. He then taught school for one year in Union county, and in 1895 entered the employ of the A. B. Farquhar Com- pany as clerk in the office, where by hard and conscientious work he has advanced himself to his present position, having charge of the office and the advertising and sales business. In 1893 Mr. Goodling was united in marriage with Maggie Spangler, daughter of John and Jane (Schoch) Spangler, of Union county, and to this union have been born two children, Donald E. and Margaret E. He and his fam- ily reside at No. 47 North Queen street, York. In his political affiliations Mr. Goodling is a Republican.

CHARLES FREDERICK SCHNABLE, one of York's prominent retired citizens, was born in Prussia, Germany, Feb. 9, 1822, son of Charles Lewis and Wilhelmina ( Kromer) Schnable, the former of whom was a stone mason by trade, a vocation he followed in his native country, where he died at the age of seventy-one years. Mrs. Schnable died when sixty-five years of age.

Charles Frederick Schnable is the only child of his parents yet living, and he received his education in his native country. He came to America in June, 1839, landing in Philadel- phia, where he remained, however, but one day. He made his way to York by way of Lancaster and Columbia, in a wagon, there be- ing no railway service at that time, and on ar- riving in York he found employment as clerk in a hardware store for Mr. Rosenmiller, with whom he remained eighteen years. Mr. Schnable then went to Tyler's hardware store, being employed at that place twenty-seven years, as manager, and at the end of that time he retired from active life. Mr. Schnable spent twelve years in the city of Chicago, but now makes his home with his daughter, Mrs. J. D. Harnish, of No. 625 East Market street, York. Mr. Schnable is the owner of a fine home in

Irving Park, one of the fine residence suburbs of the city of Chicago, Il1., and he also owns the building occupied by the Bixler Candy Company, of York, situated at No. 207-209 West Market street.

In 1849 Mr. Schnable and Sophia Holt- stine were united in marriage. Mrs. Schnable was born Oct. 2, 1828, in Germany, daughter of Adam Holtstine, and she died in 1895, be- ing buried at Prospect Hill cemetery. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Schnable were as follows: John Henry, who died March 17, 1874; Edwin, who died June 30, 1854: Mary, who died Oct. 10, 1870; Annie, wife of J. D. Harnish, of East Market street, where our sub- ject resides; Charles L., who married Eva Shirey, and is in the job printing business in Chicago, Ill .; William, who married Pearl Dudgeon, and is a partner with his brother, Charles L., in the printing business; George M., who died Sept. 14, 1888; and Harry, de- ceased. All of the deceased children were in- terred in the family burying lot in Prospect Hill cemetery.

In politics Mr. Schnable is a Democrat, but takes no interest in political matters, and for the last twelve years has not even attended the elections. He is a faithful member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church of York, in the work of which he has been active, and has served as a member of the church council. Mr. Schna- ble's eighty-four years show that time has touched him lightly, leaving him in the enjoy- ment of physical vigor and mental strength. Through his years of successful business ex- perience he has retained the confidence and es- teem of his fellow citizens which he gained in his earlier years.

HENRY CARLS was for some years en- gaged in agricultural pursuits, but has lived retired for some time. He was born May 2, 1829, in Hanover, Germany, son of Frederick W. and Annie E. (Myers) Carls. The father was a day laborer in Germany, emigrating in 1854 to America, where he followed farming until his death, in his eighty-sixth year, at the home of his son in Michigan. His wife had died aged fifty-two years, leaving these chil- dren : Charles F., who is now living at the advanced age of eighty years, at Columbia, Pa .; Francis H., residing in South America; Henry; Herman H., who died in 1905, in Michigan; Margaretta, who lives in Indiana;

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Henrietta, who resides in Cincinnati; and Annie Catherine, who passed away in York, aged twenty-two years.

Henry Carls received a common-school education and learned the tanner's trade in Germany. On June 25, 1856, Mr. Carls landed at Baltimore, whence he removed to York, where his father and brother (Herman H.) were located. Mr. Carls' first employment was with a mason, no work at his own trade being obtainable. On Oct. 5, 1856, he engaged with Kurtz & Baugher at his trade and was em- ployed by that firm when he enlisted, on Aug. 21, 1864, in Co. H, 200th Pa. Vol. Inf. He was an active participant at Fort Stead- inan. Petersburg, and in a number of other en- gagements, and was discharged at Alexandria, Va. After the war he returned to York, where he worked at his trade for a few years with Mr. Smyser, the tanner. He then purchased a farm in Hopewell township, but as his wife did not care for country life he returned to York after a three months' experience as an agriculturist. He was employed by Mr. Baugher until 1895, since which time he has been living in retire- ment at his home, No. 348 North Philadelphia street.

In 1856 Mr. Carls married Anna Mary Catherine Brinkmyer, who was born in Ger- many, daughter of Henry Brinkmyer. She died July 22, 1904, and was buried at Prospect Hill cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Carls had these children : Louisa Catherine, the wife of Caspar H. Oberdick, a carpet weaver of York; Amelia, the wife of Henry F. Fisher, foreman of the A. B. Farquhar foundry in York, where they reside; and Annie, Charles, Frederick, Henry and Samuel, all deceased. In politics Mr. Carls is a Republican. Ile is an active member of the First U. B. Church, in which he has been class-leader and Sunday-school treasurer for twenty-six years.

HENRY WASBERS, president of H. Wasbers' York City Laundry Company, is one of the most familiar figures in the business, po- litical and social life of York. It is safe to say that there is no name with which the people of York are more famiilar than that of Henry Wasbers. As a laundryman he is widely known, his wagons being constantly "on the go" through the streets of York, and his signs visible on almost every street in the city.

The building which Mr. Wasbers occupies for laundry, residence and apartment flats is one of the finest on East King street. The orig- inal building, which was 24XII0 feet in dimen- sions, was erected by Mr. Wasbers in 1895, and more recently, in 1903, an addition was built, which made the dimensions 48XIIO. This building, which is of buff brick and terra cotta, is four stories in height, the first and sec- ond floors being devoted to laundry purposes. Besides having his residence there, Mr. Was- bers rents four flats of six rooms each, each flat having an individual bath. He has twenty out-of-town offices to his laundry, and the busi- ness has doubled in the last seven years, the output of work now amounting to $1,000 per week. Mr. Wasbers was the pioneer in his line, establishing and for a long time conduct- ing alone the business that in April, 1905, be- came the H. Wasbers York City Laundry Company, with a capital stock of $100,000. The officers are: H. Wasbers, president and treasurer ; Jacob Wasbers, vice-president ; and H. C. Ulmer, secretary.

The laundry is not the only business in which Mr. Wasbers is interested, he being the president of the Rockdale Powder Company. He is manager of the York County Agricult- ural Society, treasurer of the Merchants' Elec- tric Light, Heat & Power Company, and finan- cially interested in many other directions. He is also president of the York City Gun Club, and president of the York County Game Pro- tective Association, having been one of the or- ganizers of the latter club. Fraternally he be- longs to the B. P. O. E. and the Lafayette Club.

In politics Mr. Wasbers is a Democrat, and he was elected to the select council from the First ward for a four-years term, this election having taken place in February, 1904. He is one of the most intelligent and progressive members of the Highway committee, and is ever ready to contribute of his time, influence and means to the material growth of the city of York. It is not a matter of wonder, therefore, that lie was urged by his Democratic friends, as well as by many Republican friends, to ac- cept the nomination for mayor of York in the spring of 1905.

HENRY F. FISHER, foreman in the foundry of the A. B. Farquhar Co., of York, Pa., and a public spirited and representative citizen, was born June 12, 1857, in Manne-

Henry Masters

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BIOGRAPHICAL

güfen, Hafort, Westfalen, Prussia, son of William J. Fisher.

The grandfather of our subject was a farmer of Prussia, Germany, who had a fam- ily of twelve children: William; Henry; Louisa; Mary; Elizabeth; Maria; Elizabeth (2) ; Frederick, who came to America at the age of thirty-two years, and was never heard of again by his family; Catherine; Ida; Frances ; and William J. Of the above family Frederick, Catherine and Ida were triplets.

William J. Fisher was born in Prussia May 8, 1824, and there followed farming. He en- listed in the war of the Rebellion as a private, 1847 to 1851. On Oct. 1, 1857, he landed in Baltimore with his family, remaining there one night, after which he located in York, where he found employment in a stone quarry, re- maining for forty-five years, for thirty- seven years of which he was with H. Y. Kott- camp. He married Mary Stottmyer, born April 25. 1828, in Germany, daughter of An- thony Stottmyer. They are both still living and in good health, making their home at No. 14I North Penn street, York. For twenty- eight years Mr. Fisher has been a class leader in the First United Brethren Church. His chil- dren were : Mary Ann, who married George A. Shettley, died in 1891, and is buried at Pros- pect Hill cemetery: William J., who died in Germany at the age of one year: Henry F .; J. William, who died in York in 1885, and is buried at Prospect Hill cemetery ; and Louisa Jane, wife of John Myers, of York.

Henry F. Fisher attended the district schools of the township until eleven years of age, when he found his first employment in York at stripping tobacco, and he also worked at the old brick yard. In 1869 he engaged with Mr. Baugher at the molding trade, and re- mained there until 1880, when he went to the A. B. Farquhar Company. In 1896-7-8-9 he was janitor of the Garfield school, but after that returned to the Farquhar Co., taking charge of the foundry July 1, 1900. He is a very skilled mechanic, and has eighty-five men working under his order. Mr. Fisher makes his residence at No. 39 North Penn street, York.

In 1879 Mr. Fisher and Miss Amelia Jane Carls were united in marriage. She was born Aug. 21, 1859, daughter of Henry and Anna Mary (Brinkmyer) Carls. The following chil-

dren have been born to this marriage : Charles H., born April 25, 1880, attended the Col- legiate Institute of York for three years, grad- uated from the Lebanon Valley College in 1904, and is now attending the Union Theo- logical Seminary at New York City, studying for the ministry; Nettie K., born Sept. 16, 1881, a graduate of the York High School, is teaching in the Garfield school; Lottie M., born July 6, 1884, is a graduate (1905) in music, from the Lebanon Valley College; William J., born Feb. 7, 1886, is a draughtsman at the A. B. Farquhar Co .; Rosa J., born Sept. 8, 1887. is at home; Clarence E., born May 8, 1892, is at school; and Ralph F. was born Nov. 3, 1901. Politically Mr. Fisher is a Republican, and is now serving on the city school board from the Fifth ward. In 1887 he was a mem- ber of the common council.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 34

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