History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 35

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

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H. KISTER FREE, of the firm of H. Free & Co., dealers in wines and liquors at York and also county commissioner, is one of the leading young business men of that city. He was born Aug. 9, 1869, at York, and comes of one of the old York county families.

Adam Free, the grandfather, was a farmer and distiller in Manchester township, York county, where he died aged fifty-eight years, and lies buried in the Prospect Hill cemetery. He married Mary Ann Hake, daughter of Jacob Hake and she died aged sixty-two years, and was laid to rest by the side of her husband. Their children were: Eli H. Free married (first) Mary Kraft, who died in 1865, and (second) Catherine Cassel, and they reside in Newberry township near Falls Station : Jacob, deceased, married Adeline Fink : Andrew mar- ried Eliza Stare, and lives near Emigsville. Pa .: Henry married Leah Rutter, and died in York; Augustus is mentioned below ; Louise, widow of Alexander W. Shetter, resides at No. 119 Beaver street, York; Mary is the wife of John Schall of York; Amanda is the wife of H. Gipe of York; John W., deceased, married Katie Ingelfritz; and Catherine Jane is the widow of John Loucks of York.

Augustus Free, father of our subject, with his brother Henry. established the business which is now operated by H. Kister Free. He died in York in 1898. He married Jennie Kister of Etters, Pa., who survives.

H. Kister Free was educated in the public

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schools of York, and at York Academy, and began business life as clerk for his father and uncle Henry in the very store of which he is now one of the proprietors. Here he continued to clerk for ten years. In February, 1900, he and his brother Ralph A. bought the business and have conducted it very successfully ever since, having a very large trade in this and sur- rounding counties. The location continues the same as formerly, No. 44 North George street.

Mr. Free is one of the city's active Re- publican politicians, having been elected to the council first to fill out the unexpired term of Peter Keller, in 1895, and subsequently was elected to the office for three terms from the Second ward. Under the administration of Mayor Gibson he was elected county commis- sioner in January, 1901, and still most ef- ficiently fills the duties of the office. He has great influence with all elements, and is looked upon as one of the rising young business men and politicians.

Mr. Free married Annie M. Stallman, daughter of William H. Stallman, of York,and they have two children, Raymond K. and Will- iam A., both at school. Mr. Free has a wide circle of friends both in and out of the various fraternal organizations, he having membership in a number of these, being president of the Rex Hook and Ladder Co. of York; of Codorus Council, No. 115, Jr. O. U. A. M., of York: Odd Fellows Lodge No. 853; Heptasophs No. 12, and has passed all the chairs in York Lodge No. 213, B. P. O. E., of which he is one of the past Exalted Rulers.

DR. WILSON W. BOLTON, of York, Pa., proprietor of the establishment of Albany Dentists, is a native of the State of Kansas, born in Marysville, that State, Sept. 28, 1872, son of Rev. C. S. Bolton.

Jacob H. Bolton, grandfather of the Doctor, was born in Harrisburg, Pa. In early man- hood he went to Ohio, and there died, as did also his wife, Rachael ( Ross) Bolton, who had been born in Lancaster, Pa. A brother of Jacob H. Bolton founded the well known Bol- ton Hotel, in Harrisburg, which still bears that name.

1900, and since that year has lived in Cameron, Mo., with his wife. The Rev. Mr. Bolton mar- ried Lydia A. Shelly, and they had six chil- dren: Dr. J. C., a dentist of Lancaster, Pa .; J. H., a merchant of Cameron, Mo .; Minnie ; Alice ; Luella ; and Dr. Wilson W.

Dr. Wilson W. Bolton spent his early school days in his native place, and graduated from the high school at Cameron, Mo. He then entered the Kansas City Dental College, from which he graduated in 1892, and in 1893 he came to Pennsylvania and located at Lan- caster, where he remained three years, engaged in the practice of his profession. After this he attended a Pennsylvania dental college, and when he had graduated he settled in York, opening an office in 1899 at No. 24 West Mar- ket street, where he has since been engaged. He has one of the best equipped offices in the city and has built up a large practice.

The Doctor was united in marriage in 1899 to Miss Adele Eichler. daughter of H. P. Eich- ler, a manufacturer of Lancaster, Pa., and two children have been born to this union: Helen Adele and Richard Wilson. The Doctor is a member of the Elks and is past regent of the Royal Arcanum. He is a member of the Bap- tist Church, while Mrs. Bolton is a Moravian.

JACOB E. WEAVER. The law is an ex- acting employer, and yet a sure and liberal pay- master. Served faithfully, the profession yields its devotees good financial returns and what is immeasurably better a mental quicken- ing which makes it increasingly more profitable in both lines. The gentleman whose honored name heads this review is one of the youngest attorneys, in point of service, of the York County Bar, though he is by no means a stranger in legal circles, having been for some ten years prior to his admission in January, 1904, a stenographer to Joseph R. Straw- bridge, one of the leading attorneys of York county.

A native of the county, Mr. Weaver comes of one of its oldest families, his grandfather, Daniel Weaver, having emigrated from Ger- many and settled in this section in an early day. A farmer, by nature, he became possessed of considerable land, of the cultivation and care of which no one has a better knowledge than the German. Samuel Weaver, the father of

Rev. C. S. Bolton, father of Dr. Bolton, was educated at Oberlin, Ohio, for the min- istry, and followed that calling in the Baptist faith for a number of years. He retired in our subject, was a merchant of York. He was

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born in 1820, and died July 17, 1883, at the age of sixty-three. The mother, whose maiden name was Anna Mary Zeigler, was a daughter of Rev. Jacob Zeigler, a minister of the Re- formed Church, and a sister of ex-Congress- man Zeigler, a prominent member of the York County Bar. To the marriage of Samuel and Anna Mary (Zeigler) Weaver were born four children : Jacob E .; Samuel G., in the service of the Pullman Car Company; Daniel A., employed by the York Manufacturing Com- pany.

WILLIAM H. AND GEORGE A. United States Mail carrier ; and William H., SWORDS are the well-known Swords Broth-

Jacob E. Weaver was born in York, Sept. 24, 1868. His earlier education was received in the public schools of his native place, but later he attended the Walworth Stenographic Institute, in New York, where he graduated. For some time after graduation he worked in New York City, afterward returning to York, where he became stenographer in the law office of Gise, Ziegler & Strawbridge. For ten years he gave his best efforts to this work, and in return received the experience and knowledge of law and business generally, acquired only in the office of such men as Mr. Gise, Mr. Ziegler and Mr. Strawbridge. His evenings were spent in reading law, and after passing a most creditable examination he was on Jan. 18, 1904, admitted to the practice of law in his home county. He is at present notary public for the York County National Bank, and to the J. H. Baer & Sons Bank, and the Western National Bank.

On Jan. 30, 1893. Mr. Weaver was united in marriage to Miss Catherine I. Lauer, daugh- ter of Edmund E. Lauer, a former resident of York, now deceased. Four children were born to this union : Charles E. ; Katherine M. ; Jacob L .; and George, deceased.

As intimated in the opening paragraph of this review, Mr. Weaver found in his new field of endeavor many friends. In addition to hav- ing been associated with one of the leading at- torneys he had served as court detective dur- ing Mr. Strawbridge's incumbency in the office of district attorney, an experience which gave him a fine insight into the workings of the courts. Success seems assured for one so well equipped for the practice of the law. Along social lines Mr. Weaver is prominent in Odd Fellowship, having in 1904 been district deputy grand master of the Subordinate Lodge of

York county, and is at present a Representative to the Grand Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Pennsyl- vania. He is also a worthy member of the Masonic Order and a member of the Vigilant Steam & Chemical Fire Engine Company No. I of York, Pa. In political action he favors the Democratic party, and in religious faith is a consistent member of the Reformed Church.

ers, prominent photographers of York. The present firm, established in 1889, is a recog- nized factor in the business life of the town, the brothers doing an excellent business in all the standard lines of their work, to which they have recently added a line which makes even greater demands on the artistic capabilities --- oil portraiture. Their success in this departure is the best evidence of their ability.

William Swords, grandfather of the broth- ers, lived and died in Lancaster county, Pa. His son, David Swords, came to York county some thirty years ago from Maytown, Lancas- ter county. He married Adaline Drebenstadt, also of Lancaster county, and they had six chil- dren, of whom three are living. Of the others, Cassandra died in early childhood; Anna, who married Benjamin Leber, died in 1885; and Flora, who married William Rudy, died in 1888. The survivors are: Frances, wife of Fred Recker, formerly of York and now of Philadelphia ; and William H. and George A., the photographers.

William H. Swords was born in Maytown, Lancaster county, Jan. 30, 1865, and received his education in the public schools of his native place. He learned the art of photography in Columbia, Lancaster county, and when ready to go into business settled in York, where he has lived much of his life. He was for a time junior partner in the firm of Pentz & Swords, and in 1889 his brother George A. became his partner.

Mr. Swords married ( first) Adalaide Doff- ler, who died, leaving him a daughter, Ger- trude, now Mrs. William Miller, of York. The second wife of Mr. Swords was Jennie Fassett, daughter of James Fassett. of York. No chil- dren were born to this union.

George A. Swords was born in Maytown. Jan. 31, 1860, and attended school in that place and in York. For several years he was asso-

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ciated with a Mr. Jefferies, and then bought out lives at his home No. 465 West King street, the interest of Mr. Pentz, his brother's partner, York. and the firm of Swords Brothers was estab- lished.

Mr. Swords married, in 1885, Jennie Wampler, daughter of Lewis B. Wampler, de- ceased, of York. One child has been born of this marriage, Earl W., a student.

C. F. WIEST, one of York's successful business men, is a native of that city, where he has spent his entire life. He was born June 21, 1853, son of Michael and Sarah ( Berk- heimer ) Weist.

MICHAEL WIEST was born in 1821, at what is now Nashville, York county, and there he learned the blacksmith's trade. Coming to York, he followed his trade until 1855, when he engaged in the machine business at the rear of his residence, No. 234 West Market street. Having made a success of this enterprise, in 1892 he turned the business over to his sons, Clayton F. and Jacob L. Michael Wiest mar- ried Sarah Berkheimer, daughter of Henry Berkheimer, who died in 1900, being buried at Prospect Hill cemetery. In politics Mr. Wiest is a Republican. He is a charter member of the Heidelberg Church, in which he is a deacon, elder and trustee. The children born to him- self and wife are as follows: William H., who resides at No. 232 West Market street, York, married Miss Mary Fisher, and is clerking at the Bon Ton store; Clayton F .; Jacob L., who married Emma K. Greiman, is in business with his brother, our subject.

Clayton F. Wiest attended school until fif- teen years of age, when he learned the machin- ist's trade with Baugher & Brother of York, with whom he remained until 1875. He was then employed by A. B. Farquhar until 1878, and is now engaged in a very successful ma- chine business. Most of the work is job work, and the firm has a match-box machine (their own invention) on the market which is known all over the United States.

Mr. Wiest was married, in 1875, to Miss Annie Shetrone, who died in May, 1903, and is buried at Prospect Hill cemetery. Their union was blessed with children as follows : John M., deceased; Sarah M. ; Walter C., de- ceased ; Ethel M., deceased; one that died in infancy unnamed; and A. Louise, deceased. Politically Mr. Wiest is a Republican. He

JACOB L. WIEST, who, with his brother Clayton F. Wiest, is conducting a large and successful machine business in York, Pa., is one of the successful business men of that city. He was born in York, April 16, 1856, son of Michael and Sarah (Berkheimer ) Wiest.

Jacob L. Wiest attended the common schools of York, and afterward the York Coun- ty Academy, finishing his education at the age of sixteen years. His first employment was in a cigar box factory, but he later learned the machinist's trade, in which business he has . made a success. In 1892 he and his brother took control of their father's business, which the latter had retired from, and have been very successful, the product of their shop being known all over the United States.

In 1874 Mr. Wiest was united in marriage with Miss Emma K. Greiman, and they are living at No. 422 South George street, York. They have these children : Edwin Michael, de- ceased ; Fannie E., Maude E. and Jacob Fred- erick. Politically Mr. Wiest is a Republican.

JULIA T. HILL CRAWFORD, M. D. The lady whose name opens this sketch is one whose advancement in her profession has given her a prominent place in the medical fraternity not only of York, but all over the State of Pennsylvania. She has a remarkably interest- ing family history, its records reaching far back to the early settlers of New England and the days of the great revolutionary struggle which separated the Colonies from the Mother Country. History has few more distinguished names in the records of that day than Elder Brewster and Jonathan Edwards, the Conants and De Beirces, Puritan and Huguenot com- mingling.

Marquis De Beirce, one of these ancestors, suffered on the guillotine, a victim on the eve of St. Bartholomew, but his brother escaped and later reached American shores, laying aside his title of nobility. Hezekiah Beirce, his descend- ant, was, with at least a dozen other ancestors, a member of the Patriot army, and a seasoned military man, having served also in the French and Indian war. He had property interests in four counties.

Another ancestor, Dr. Ebenezer Marvin,

Michael Wiest

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went to the assistance of Ethan Allen and and was graduated at Hahnemann Medical Benedict Arnold at Ticonderoga and served College at Chicago, in 1884, and from the Wo- until after the capture of Gen. Burgoyne. His skill and courage in caring for the terribly wounded soldiers was only on an equality with the fortitude of his wife, who, while preparing lint in the cellar, gave birth to a son.

Naturally Dr. Crawford values her mem- bership in the Society of Colonial Dames of New York, the Beirce, Conant, Marvin and Townsend families each having given her that privilege by service to the Crown.

The Townsends descended from Sir Roger Townsend, of Rainham Hall, Norwich, Eng- land, the present seat of the Marquis of Town- send. While in England in 1902 Dr. Craw- ford visited this historic spot, also the British Museum, and in Westminster Abbey saw the monument erected by the Viscountess Town- send to the memory of her son, Lieut. Col. Roger Townsend, who fell in the battle of Ticonderoga. The coat of arms of the Town- sends has three shells on the shield, and the Latin inscription is Haec generi incrementa fides. The great-grandfather Townsend was a graduate of Princeton and a prominent man in the State of Vermont, being the first Secretary of State. He owned several grants of land in Canada.

Dr. Crawford was born at Dayton, Ohio, Dec. 2, 1860, daughter of Micajah Townsend Hill and Flora Eldred (Beirce) Hill, the former of Highgate, Vt., and the latter a daughter of Horatio Nelson and Chloe Bridge- man (Conant) Beirce. The mother of Dr. Crawford died when she was about twelve years of age; a brother, Alfred Marvin, died also at the age of twelve; a sister, Helen, wife of Walter Grant Taylor, died Feb. 26, 1896. The surviving members of the family are: Mary Beirce, Agnes Gale, and Dr. Crawford, of York. Both sisters are prominently identi- fied with the Y. W. C. A. work, Agnes being the general secretary for India, Ceylon, and Burmah, and Mary, for Madras. Dr. Craw- ford has a half-brother, Alfred Reed Hill, graduated at Yale, in 1902, in the theological class of Cambridge, in 1905, and ordained a priest on June Ist, of that year, and he is now curate to Dean Slaterly at the Cathedral, Faribault, Minnesota.

Dr. Crawford was educated at Oberlin Col- lege, later entered upon the study of medicine

man's Medical College at Baltimore, in 1886. She then took an extended tour through Eu- rope, visiting the hospitals of London, Edin- burgh and Paris, bearing letters of introduc- tion to eminent physicians and surgeons in those cities. She entered upon the practice of her profession at Chambersburg, Pa., and asso- ciated with the late Dr. Katherine Crawford, built up a lucrative practice, continuing for seventeen years.

On April 30, 1892, Dr. Crawford married Frederick Markley Crawford, who lived until coming to York on the old Crawford estate that has been held by the family from the time of the Penns. The Crawfords were with the original colony that settled Franklin county, Mr. Crawford having the original deed convey- ing Penn's Manor, consisting of 600 acres, to the Crawfords. In digging up the soil of the old Manor garden it is not an infrequent occur- rence to find a George III.silver piece there. A number of the Crawfords served with dis- tinction in the Revolutionary War.

Dr. Crawford belongs to the Daughters of the Revolution, the Colonial Dames, the May- flower Society and the New England Society. In religious observance she is an Episcopalian. Socially she is a charming, cultured woman, and professionally she is skilled and successful.

ROBERT E. GEPHART, who held the responsible position of agent for the Adams Express Company, handling the large amount of business here transacted with the company with marked discrimination and ability, and enjoying unqualified popularity with the local public, is a member of a family whose name has been identified with American annals since the Colonial era, the early progenitors having lo- cated in Maryland and West Virginia, whither they came from Germany.

John Gephart, grandfather of our subject, was an extensive dealer in cattle and main- tained his home in Cumberland, Md., where his death occurred.

John H. Gephart, father of Robert E., re- sides in the city of York, and is route agent for the Adams Express Company, with whose service he has been identified for a number of years past. The maiden name of his wife was Sallie O. Walters, and she was born in West

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Virginia, a daughter of George Walters. Of this union our subject is the only child.

Robert E. Gephart was born in the city of Cumberland. Md., on the 7th of Dec., 1872, and his boyhood days were passed in Lancas- ter, Pa., where he secured his early education in the public schools, having attended the high school and also the Yeates Institute, in that city, and having been graduated in Weidler's Business College, at Lancaster, Pa., as a mem- ber of the class of 1889. His first practical business experience was in connection with a clerkship in the wholesale coffee house of Paul Gerhart, of Lancaster, and in 1889 he came to York, as assistant in the local office of the Adams Express Company. He was later pro- moted to a clerkship in the office of the superin- tendent, and still later was made depot agent for the company, while in 1899 he became clerk in the city office, and on Dec. 9, 1901, he received gratifying official endorsement in be- ing promoted to the position of agent of the company for the city of York, an appointment which was justly conferred, as the incumbent has amply proved. Alert, genial, systematic and reliable, he handled the local service with marked ability and is held in high regard by all who know him in either a business or social way. In March, 1906, he resigned his office as agent of Adams Express Company to accept an unsought position as secretary and treasurer of the Manufacturers' Associations of York, with offices at No. 15 West Market street. In his political proclivities Mr. Gephart is a stalwart Republican, and both he and his wife hold membership in St. Paul's Lutheran Church, while he is affiliated with the local council of the Royal Arcanum, of which he has been treasurer from the time of its organization, in 1903.

On Nov. 29, 1894, Mr. Gephart led to the hymeneal altar Miss Georgie Frey, daughter of the late George S. Frey, a well known and honored business man of York, where he was a contracting painter, and of this union has been born one son, John Richard.

WILLIAM H. BOLL. While it is as the teller of the City Bank of York that William H. Boll is best known, he is also one of the strong financial and real estate men of the city.

Mr. Boll was born in York, Jan. 5. 1875,

son of Henry and Mary A. (Kalıler) Boll, and spent his boyhood days in the city schools, also assisting his father in his shoe business. After his preliminary education in the public schools, Mr. Boll took a course at Sadlers, Bryant & Stratton's Business College at Balti- more, and at the age of fifteen years entered the employ of the City Bank of York, as a messen- ger, from which position he was promoted to general ledger bookkeeper, a position attained when he was sixteen years of age. In 1900 he was promoted to the position of teller, and he has served in this capacity ever since. For a young man, Mr. Boll has made rapid strides in the direction of success, and all indications point to a bright and prosperous future for him.

In 1900 Mr. Boll erected a handsome resi- dence at No. 152 Beaver street, where he made his home until April, 1904, when he erected a row of three flats, and made his home at No. 307 South Cherry street. These properties are a credit, not only to the young man him- self, but to the city of York. In these transactions Mr. Boll was associated with his father-in-law. He has given considerable at- tention to his real estate transactions, when a boy investing his first money saved, $200, in a piece of property, and since that time has been more or less engaged in this line.

Mr. Boll is a member of the B. P. O. Elks, York Lodge No. 213, a member of the Knights of Columbus, and a member of the Knights of St. Paul, of which he has served as secretary. He and his wife are members of St. Mary's Catholic Church.

On Oct. 25, 1900, Mr. Boll married Miss Magdalene M. Steckler, daughter of Anthony Steckler, a retired milk dealer of York.

CHARLES E. SMITH, cashier of the Farmers and Merchants National Bank of Red Lion, has won his way through superior natural qualifications and high attainments. Calm, clear judgment, the training of his mental endowments along congenial lines. and. withal, correct principles of living, have gained in a few years what may fail to be won in a lifetime of less systematic effort.

The Smith family came originally from Scotland. Jacob Smith, the first of whom there is record in this country, was probably born in Chester county, whence he removed to York county. Farming and hamemaking consumed

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his active years. He married Catharine Hos- tetter, and became the father of four children : William, Christopher, Jacob and Mary ( who married George Gable).

William Smith, son of Jacob, was born in Chester county in 1812. His early life was spent in his native county, and after accom- panying his father to York county he became engaged in the various occupations of farm- ing, hame-making and weaving, chiefly in Windsor township. He married Rebecca Lebenight, and they had nine children, namely : Eliza ; Mary A .; David, father of Charles E .; Katherine, unmarried; William, who married Louise Haines, daughter of Charles Haines; Zacharias, who married Mary Meckes; Ma- linda, the wife of Isaac Slenker, of Windsor- ville, and who died at the age of thirty years; Moses, who married Mary Goodling; and Amanda, wife of David Jacobs, of Windsor- ville. William Smith, the father, lived to the advanced age of eighty-eight years, when he passed away greatly respected by all who knew him.

David Smith, son of William, was born in Windsor township, Dec. 13, 1842. He re- ceived the benefit of a common school educa- tion, and was early trained to farm work, con- tinuing at that occupation until he was seven- teen years of age, when he was apprenticed to learn the shoemaker's trade. After master- ing that vocation he located on a farm in Wind- sor township, but now makes his home in Red Lion, retired from active work. In February, 1867, he was united in marriage with Miss Rebecca Neff, daughter of Levi and Mary (Flinchbaugh) Neff, farming people of York County. This union was blessed with the fol- lowing children: (1) Mary Jane, born Aug. 18, 1868, married Harvey Ziegler, a cigar manufacturer of Red Lion, and they have had eight children : Effie (deceased), Arthur, Lily (deceased). Pauline, Pansy, Martha, Reba and Susan. . (2) Benjamin F., born Sept. 12, 1870, died at the age of twenty-three. (3) Charles E. is mentioned in full below. (4) Howard N. was born Oct. 13, 1875. (5) David C., born April 16, 1881, is living in New Jersey, where he is employed as a bookkeeper and steno- grapher. The wife and mother entered into rest March 30, 1885.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 35

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