History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 37

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

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thereon and continued farming until 1856 have one daughter, Katie, and son George when he moved to Hanover and lived retired Young. Robert E., a resident of Omaha, ex- tensively engaged in the fruit commission busi- ness, is married to Nellie Morris, and they have one son William. Cora B., who is married to Dr. Horace M. Alleman, a prominent physi- cian, of Hanover, Pa., has one son, Winne- more. Grace M. married Harry C. Naill, an active young business man, manager of the Naill Chair factory, and they have four chil- dren, Richard Young, Catherine Elizabeth, William and Mary. Anna Catharine married Frank H. Jenkins, a druggist and member of the firm of Emlet & Jenkins, and they have one son, Mitchell. Edward B. lives in Philadel- phia; he is connected with his brother-in-law, Mr. Klinefelter, in the laundry business, at present managing the Philadelphia plant. Car- rie A., Helen E. and Henry William live at home. for the balance of his life. For years he was a director in the Gettysburg National Bank and in the Hanover Saving Fund Society. When he retired from the directorate of the Hanover Saving Fund Society his son Henry A. was elected in his stead. Jacob and Maria Young had seven children: (1) Alexander, born March 27, 1824, married Rebecca Felty, June 20, 1848, and had four children; Rose Elizabeth, who married Levi Eckert, and they have one son, Paul; George W., who married Ella Weikert, and they have one daughter, Ada; Rebecca Jane, and Jacob H. Alexander died Nov. 16, 1873. (2) Anna Eliza, born Dec. 12, 1825, never married. (3) Edward Eichelberger Young, who was born Nov. 28, 1827, married Elizabeth Alexander, on April 18, 1854, and they had one son, Hugh, who is married and has children. (4) Maria Louisa, born Sept. 22, 1829, married Henry L .. REUBEN A. PAULES holds the position of secretary and treasurer of the York Wagon Gear Company. He was born Dec. 12, 1848, in Lower Windsor township, at a place now called Yorkana, son of Jacob and Julia ( Kel- ler) Paules. Sprenkle, May 19, 1853, and they had two children, Hamilton Young Sprenkle, who mar- ried Anna George, and has four children, Ar- thur, Walter, Emma and Louise, and Mary J. Sprenkle, who married John Luther Long, a lawyer, and writer of several Japanese story John Michael Paules, the great-great- grandfather of Reuben A., was born in Ger- many in 1699, and his wife, Catherine, in 1705. They were married in 1723, and their first daughter, Christina, born in 1725, was received as a member of the Reformed Church in 1739; Appalona was born in 1731; Magdalena, in 1734; Maria, in 1736; Lawrence, born in 1743, settled in the State of Virginia, but all trace of his descendants is lost; Henry located in the eastern part of Pennsylvania ; John Adam is- mentioned below. books. (5) Henry A. Young was born May 26, 1832, and died March 27, 1899. On Dec. 17, 1857, he married Catharine Reiff, and they had no children. She died April 13, 1889. After this he married Mrs. Elizabeth Mickley, a widow, and sister of his first wife. She still lives. (6) Cornelius Young was born May 9, 1835, and Oct. 25, 1870, was married to Nancy Bechtel. They have one daughter, Al- verta, who is single. (7) William Jacob Young, the youngest child, was born June 14, 1838, and he married Louisa Catharine Eich- John Adam Paules was born in Germany in 1740 and came to this country with his parents in 1742, settling in Lower Windsor township, at a place now called Margaretta Furnace, where his son, Adam, was born. elberger. Immediately after their marriage he commenced farming on his father's farm near Hanover. After several years he moved to Hanover and engaged in the horse and liv- ery business, in which he continued until 1872, Adam Paules was a farmer and justice of the peace; in 1859 became a York county com- missioner, serving as such until 1862, and then lived retired until his death, in 1867. He was buried at Canadochley church. He married Elizabeth Hartzler, born in Lower Windsor township, who died in 1858 and was buried at the same place as her husband. when he engaged in the grain and feed busi- ness, which he is still continuing very success- fully. They have ten children: Ida M. mar- ried John Henry Brough. Sarah B. married George A. Klinefelter, a native of Hanover, now resides in Baltimore, and is engaged very extensively in the laundry business in Balti- more, Washington and Philadelphia; they Jacob Paules, the father of Reuben A.

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Paules, was born in May, 1823, in Lower of Samuel Grove. Mr. Trimmer followed Windsor township, and there received a com- mon school education. After leaving school he learned the tanner's trade, and later farmed his father's property. His death occurred in 1849, and he was buried at Canadochley church, Lower Windsor township. His wife was born May 6, 1827, in Lower Windsor township, the daughter of Peter and Salome (Will) Keller.

Reuben A. Paules received a common-school education in Lower Windsor township, where he remained until he was twenty years of age. He then attended the York County Academy for one term, after which he taught school for one year in Lower Windsor and North Codorus townships. Mr. Paules then served a two years' apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade under his uncle, Peter W. Keller. Later he removed to Freeport, Ill., where he remained but a short period, returning home to start a general store near Margaretta Furnace. This he operated for sixteen years also engaging in the manufacture of cigars. In 1895 Mr. Paules located in York, and purchased the in- terest of Peter W. Keller in the York Wagon Gear Company, with which firm he now holds the position of secretary and treasurer.

In 1873 Mr. Paules married Eliza J. Gil- bert, daughter of Joseph and Leah Gilbert, of Lower Windsor township, the former a farmer of that township. To this union have been born the following children : Jacob Mark; Annie M .; Robert N .; Carrie M .; Charles C .; and Rufus, who died in infancy.

Mr. Paules is a member of Heidelberg Re- formed Church of York, with which Mrs. Paules is also connected and which represents the family faith for many generations. Mr. Paules himself has been an elder and teacher in the Sunday-school for many years. He has in his possession the family Bible of his ances- tors, which was brought to this country in 1742, and which bears the date of 1670. The Bible is in perfect condition and is prized very highly.

CLEMENT G. TRIMMER was born Oct. 17, 1846, in Paradise township, York county, son of Jonas and Sarah (Grove) Trimmer, and grandson of Barnet Trimmer.

Jonas Trimmer was born in Paradise town- ship, where he married Sarah Grove, daughter

farming in his native township until the age of fifty-six, afterward living a retired life, until his death at the age of sixty-eight years. His wife died at the age of thirty-seven years, and they were both buried in Paradise township. The children born to this couple were as fol- lows: Maria, who died in infancy; Clement G .; George W., deceased; Joseph M., who died at the age of fourteen years; Alice, wife of Isaac Mummert, living in Paradise township; and Sarah Ellen, who died in infancy.

Clement G. Trimmer attended the town- ship schools until the age of thirteen years, and assisted his father at farming until twenty-one years of age, when he went to clerking at Big Mount with John E. Zinn, with whom he re- mained two years. He then returned to farm- ing in Paradise township for five years, after which he spent three years in West Manchester township at farming. He then located in York, and engaged in the mercantile business, which he followed four years. In 1892 he embarked in the manufacturing business, making overalls and shirts, and built a fine up-to-date factory, two stories high, 22x60 feet, in which he em- ploys twenty hands. Mr. Trimmer sells his goods in York and Baltimore, where he always finds a ready market, his trade having in- creased greatly since its inception.

In 1869 Mr. Trimmer was united in mar- riage with Emma Elizabeth Zinn, daughter of Jacob R. and Elizabeth (Emig) Zinn, and these children have been born to this union: William H., residing at home; Sarah Eliza- beth, wife of George K. Pfaltzgraff, of York: Flora May, who was the wife of Charles R. Holinger, and died in 1902; Jonas R., an electrician, a member of the firm of John E. Graybill & Co., of York; Martha Emma, at home; Alice Katie, who died in infancy; and Clarence E., at home. Politically Mr. Trim- mer is a Republican. He is a member of the German Baptist Church, in which he has al- ways taken an active interest.

During the Rebel invasion during the Civil war Mr. Trimmer, with eighteen of his neigh- bors, left home with forty-five horses, for Lan- caster county, but they could not cross the Sus- quehanna River, so turned into the River mountains, remaining one week. Thinking the danger over they started for home, but when within five miles from their destination they

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were captured by Stuart's Cavalry, with all their horses, taken along fifteen miles farther and set at liberty, being obliged, however, to leave the horses.

COL. WILLIAM H. H. WELSH has the most remarkable record, as soldier and prisoner of war, of any man in York county. He belongs to an old York family, his grand- father, John, having owned an extensive tan- nery in York; and his father, Jacob Welsh, who died at the age of seventy-three years, having been a well known tobacconist. Mr. Welsh's mother was Eliza Schall, and she was the mother of children as follows: John R., who died at the age of thirty-eight years; Elizabeth, wife of Artemus Wilhelm, of Shrewsbury, York county; Margaret, wife of John Mitzel, of York; Annie, wife of William Kauffman, of York; Vinton R., a tobacconist, of York; Martha, wife of Henry Steininger,of York; Jacob, a clerk of York; C. Spangler, of York; Franklin B., a member of the city police force of York; Samuel and Penrose, cigar- makers of York; Oscar, a druggist of Newark, N. J .; and William H. H., whose name heads this article.

William H. H. Welsh was born in York, Nov. 21, 1841, was educated in its public schools, and learned cigarmaking in his father's shop. At fifteen years of age he com- menced work as a carpenter, remaining thus employed one year, and then (in 1857) enlist- ing in the 2nd Dragoons, U. S. A.,serving thus one year. Mr. Welsh was only sixteen years old when he enlisted and was sent with his company to Utah to fight Brigham Young, but the Mormon leader yielded to the forces that confronted him, and the trouble passed with- out bloodshed. At the end of his term of service Mr. Welsh returned to York, but, at the first call for troops in the war of the Re- bellion, enlisted, and became orderly sergeant in the Shawnee Guards, under Captain Welsh. He was discharged at the expiration of his three-months' term, and on Sept. II, 1861, en- listed as third sergeant in Company D. 87th P. V. I. His first promotion was in the spring of 1863, when he was made 2nd lieutenant. He was captured by the Rebels at the battle of Winchester, June 15, 1863, and was promoted to the position of Ist lieutenant while a prisoner of war, having been a prisoner from 1863 to

1865. He was placed in the Libby dungeon for six weeks for attempting to escape. When liberated he was so weak he could scarcely walk, crawling upstairs on his hands and knees. He could take handfuls of mold from his beard, and had had no meat for seventeen days. There was 1,800 prisoners in Libby at the time Colonel Welsh was there, and, after he had gained some strength, he and ten other pris- oners gave an entertainment. Many of them had instruments and knew how to play them, and, after fitting up a stage, spent $1,500 in Confederate money for the printing of the programs, one of which Colonel Welsh has in his possession at the present time. After spending eleven months in Libby prison, Colonel Welsh was sent to Danville, then to Macon, Ga., and next to Charleston, S. C., where 500 Union prisoners were placed under the fire of the Federal guns. After some other changes in his imprisonment, Colonel Welsh was sent, with others, to Columbia, S. C., where the Union prisoners were compelled to live on corn-meal and molasses. On Nov. 9, 1864, Colonel Welsh escaped, with eight others, and were followed by bloodhounds. They divided into two parties, five in one and four in the other. Colonel Welsh had in his party, Captain Skelton, Captain Wilson, of Ohio, and Captain Dusenberry, of Newark, N. J. They succeeded in getting to Transylvania county, N. C., surrounded by Rebels at almost every point of the route, but they managed to evade their enemies, and built a little log cabin, in which they lived for four weeks, during which time they became acquainted with seven- teen deserters from the Confederate army. This made a party of twenty-one men, and. all of them being armed, they started on their perilous march from Ducktown, Tenn. After marching for three days and three nights, they were attacked by 100 Rebel cavalrymen, but Colonel Welsh, Captain Dusenberry and one of the Confederate deserters escaped. They trav- eled three days without food, then, encounter- ing the Notley river, crossed a bridge and were compelled by hunger to approach a house for food. There they found a man named Brown, and after considerable talk, disclosed their identity. Brown gave them a good supper, kept them all night, and directed them on an underground railroad to a man named Bussey, who had sons in the Union army. It was foggy

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

at eight o'clock in the morning, but toward noon the mist cleared, and they came to a road, following which they reached a house, where they received directions, traveling until four o'clock in the afternoon, when they were sur- prised by a squad of Rebel cavalry and re- captured. They were taken hack eleven miles and recrossed the river, but the next morning they again escaped and succeeded in again reaching their friend Brown's, where they re- ceived new directions, and for a second time found their way to Bussey's, the latter's son being now at home. Through the friendly of- fices of the Busseys, the escaped prisoners were guided to Tennessee. During his imprison- ment, as well as during his weary marches by day and night. Colonel Welsh and his comrade lived largely on raw pumpkins and raw corn, being two months and nineteen days in es- caping.

Colonel Welsh was honorably discharged at Washington, D. C., and his first employment after the war was in the building of Chambers- burg, Pa. This work having been finished, Colonel Welsh returned to York, where he be- came a letter carrier under the penny-delivery system, and then a carrier in the service now in vogue, remaining in that capacity until President Cleveland's administration. In 1888 Colonel Welsh started the bottling business in York, and on March 18, 1904, added to that line the wine and liquor trade, at No. 129 North George street.

William H. H. Welsh was married in October, 1865, to Emma A. Swartz, of Han- over, York county, daughter of Augustus Swartz, who had served in the Union army, and was the editor of the Hanover Citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Welsh have had one daughter born to them-Ida E., the wife of Charles F. Welsh, who is a partner with Colonel Welsh in the wine and liquor business. To the latter couple has been born one child-Eugene S.

Colonel Welsh belongs to the B. P. O. Elks. In politics he is a Republican. He has little time, however, for politics or lodge af- fairs, and when not devoting himself to busi- ness, may be found in his commodious and ele- gant home on West Market street. One of the apartments in his dwelling, which he calls his "den," is an ideal place for contented retire- ment. Here his male friends may smoke and chat to their heart's content, and there is no

cosier retreat in all York. Among the pictures in this apartment is a reproduction of the pen- drawing that Colonel Welsh made of the log cabin he built, which was occupied by himself and companions while escaping from the Rebel prison. A pleasant recollection of Colonel Welsh is that concerning Sam Tinsley, one of the Rebel deserters who joined his party when they were escaping. This man was with them when they were recaptured, and was ordered to be shot, but Colonel Welsh interceded for him, saved his life and brought him to York. This, however, was only one of many intensely in- teresting experiences in the capture and escape of Colonel Welsh, to give a full recital of which would in itself require a good sized vol- ume.

JOSEPH D. BROWN, for many years a coachmaker in York county, whose death Dec. 31, 1903, caused deep regret among his many friends, was a native of East Berlin, Adams county, where he was born March 3, 1840.

Jacob Brown, father of Joseph D., was a Dunkard preacher of considerable local re- nown. His week-day occupation was that of a saddler, and he worked faithfully at the duties laid upon him in both fields. His death was an untimely one, for he reached only the age of forty years, dying in 1852. He was buried in Mummert's Meeting House in Adams county. His wife's maiden name was . Leah King.

Joseph D. Brown attended the school in East Berlin, and after finishing his education learned the coachmaking trade with his brother-in-law, at Dillsburg, York county. In 1871, shortly after his marriage, he settled in Dover borough, and established himself in the coachmaking business there, and for four years continued to make his home there. In 1885 he moved to York, and resuming his former occupation successfully continued it for six years, finally retiring in 1891. Mr. Brown was prominent in other than business circles, as he was well known in politics, an active worker for the Democratic party, and had also been for thirty years a member of the Odd Fel- lows Lodge at York. At the time of his death Mr. Brown had reached the age of sixty-three years, nine months and twenty-eight days. He was married Dec. 4. 1870, to Miss Amanda Strayer, and they became the parents of five

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children, namely: Catherine, who died in in- fancy ; Mary Louise, born in Dover, who mar- ried Augustus Bufflap, and lives in York; Edith who died in infancy; Sally, born in Dover, now Mrs. Charles Rittenhouse, of York; and Anna, born in Dover, now Mrs. Nevin Wagner, of York.

Mrs. Amanda Brown was a daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Hamme) Strayer, the former of whom was a farmer in Dover town- ship, where he owned a tract of 160 acres. He was the founder of Strayer's Church, and donated the ground where it is now situated. Late in life he moved into Dover borough, and there lived in retirement until he passed from this world Sept. 17, 1885. He was buried at Strayer's Church. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Hamme, was a native of York county, daughter of John and Mary Hamme. She died more than a year before her husband, April 10, 1884, and was buried in the family lot near Strayer's Church. Their children were : Amanda, Mrs. Brown ; Theophilus, who died in 1898, and was buried at Strayer's Church; Peter, a resident of Davidsburg, Dover township; Mary Ann, Mrs. Jacob Stauf- fer, of Clear Spring, York county ; Eliza, who died in 1883, and is buried near the other de- ceased members of the family ; Israel, of York county ; Sarah, living in Clear Spring ; George, of Dover; and Calvin, residing at Lewisburg.

JOSEPH ELSESSER. who for many years was prominently identified with the busi- ness interests of York, retired from active life in 1900, and on April 2, 1905, entered into rest in the seventy-third year of his age.

Michael Elsesser, grandfather of Joseph, was a farmer in Germany, where he died at the age of eighty years, leaving these children : Conrad, Michael, Henry, John, Elizabeth, and Annie.

Michael Elsesser, father of Joseph, was a shoemaker by trade, learning his occupation in Bavaria, Germany. He came to America in 1841, landing at Baltimore, where he remained but a short time. He came to York county, where he followed his trade, and later came to York City, where he died at the age of eighty- three years and was buried in St. Mary's ceme- tery. He was twice married, first to Mary Flickenstine, who died leaving two children, Lawrence and Joseph. Mr. Elsesser's second

marriage was to Margaret Elsesser, by whom he had these children : John, Adam, George, Rebecca, Mary Jane, and James.

Joseph Elsesser was born in Bavaria, Ger- many, March 12, 1833, and first attended school in his native country, finishing his edu- cation in York county. He followed farming in Dover township, York county, until twenty- seven years of age, when he located in York and learned shoemaking, which he continued to follow until 1900, when he retired. In 1859 he started in the shoe business near Center Square, in 1876 removing to No. 205 South George street, where he engaged in the harness- making business, which he carried on in con- junction with his shoemaking. His place of business at that location in York was well known. In 1887 he built the home he occupied at No. 636 East Prospect street, and also built the residence next to it. He was interested in real estate and put up a number of residences in the Twelfth ward, or East York.

'Mr. Elsesser was united in marriage with Eva Kemmerer, who died Dec. 17, 1894, and was interred in St. Mary's cemetery. To Mr. and Mrs. Elsesser the following children were born : Mary, Michael, Louis, Kate, Frank, Lena (wife of Edward Beck), George, Mag- gie, Vincent, Joseph and Harry. Besides his children Mr. Elesser leaves to mourn his loss five brothers and two sisters: Lawrence, John and Adam, of York; James, of Philadelphia ; George, of Baltimore; Mrs. Charles King, of York; and Sister Helena, in a Catholic con- vent in Tacoma, Washington.

Politically Mr. Elsesser was a Democrat. In his religious connection he was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, of which he was one of the founders. He was one of the directors of the Keystone Building & Loan As- sociation. Throughout Mr. Elsesser's long and active career his affairs were conducted with the strictest honesty and fairness, and there was none who enjoyed the confidence and re- spect of his fellow citizens to a greater extent.

JOHN HENRY WESTERHOLD, who owns and operates one of the finest drug stores in York, is a native of that city and was born March 1, 1866, son of Frederick and Mary (Rabe) Westerhold. The father was born in 1820, in Germany, and received his education in his native country, where he was reared to

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manhood. When twenty-one years of age he many, and is interred with her husband in came to the United States, and, settling in Prospect Hill cemetery. York, Pa., spent ten years in the milling busi- ness in Spring Garden township, with P. A. & S. Small. He then engaged with the same firm to take charge of the iron department of their business, for twenty-three years, retiring a decade prior to his death, which occurred in his seventy-third year. He married Mary Rabe, both in Germany, who died in 1885 and was interred, as was her husband, in Prospect Hill cemetery. They had children as follows : Sarah, born in York in 1864 and married to Frank Bierman; John Henry; and ten chil- dren who are deceased.

John Henry Westerhold attended a private school in York for nine years and at the age of fourteen commenced to clerk for Dale & Hart, druggists (now Dale & Co.). In their employ Mr. Westerhold spent nineteen years, and, after receiving his certificate from the State Board of Examiners at Harrisburg, on Sept. 13, 1887, engaged in the drug business with George W. Sample, whose interest he purchased two years later. Since that time Mr. Westerhold has conducted the business alone, and has one of the finest establishments in his line in the city. His place of business is located at the corner of Beaver and Market streets.

In 1895 Mr. Westerhold was united in mar- riage with Ida Jane Patrick, daughter of John and Sarah (Mann) Patrick, of Lisbon, Howard Co., Md., farming people of that sec- tion. To this union have come two children : Olive Joy, born in York Oct. 9, 1900, and Frederick Henry, born in the same city Aug. 29, 1902. Mr. Westerhold is a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles at York. His re- ligious connection is with the Methodist Epis- copal Church, while in his political belief he is a Republican and has been a delegate to several county conventions.

HENRY W. MILLER, a well-to-do re- tired citizen of York, was born Dec. 31, 1824, in Hanover, Germany, and is the son of Fred- erick and Elizabeth ( Miller) Miller. The father was a native of Prussia, where he was a miller and shoemaker, locating in America in 1848, where he lived retired with his son, Henry W., until his death at the age of seventy- four years. The mother was a native of Ger-

Mr. Miller attended school until fourteen years of age. In 1845 he came to America' and located in York, being engaged by P. A. & S. Small, in whose employ he remained for forty-one years. In 1890 he left Mr. Small's employ and since that year has been living re- tired in York. In 1850 he married Mary Stall- man, daughter of Henry and Charlotte Stall- man, farming people of Spring Garden and to this union these children were born : Elizabeth, the wife of John Getz; Amanda; Frederick; Mary, who was the wife of Herman Daehnke; and Lillie-all deceased and buried at Prospect Hill. The following' are residents of York: Henry, who married Annie Webel; Martha, the wife of George Herman ; and Annie, now Mrs. Charles Kunkel. .

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 37

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