History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 39

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

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Fitz James Evans. Jr., attended the public schools of York, and then entered the employ of A. B. Farquhar, as office boy. By his energy and strict attention he won the approval of his employers, and he was steadily advanced to the position of general purchasing agent, with full charge of the office. In his death the firm lost an employee hard to replace, he be- ing one of the best and closest buyers in York. Mr. Evans was buried in Prospect Hill ceme- tery. He married Miss Lucy A. Palmer, a daughter of Phineas and Susan ( Lenhaitt) Palmer, and a member of an old English fam- ily. Mrs. Evans survives, residing in one of the oldest and most historic houses in York. situated at No. 31 North Beaver street, and she holds a deed for the same dated 1763, from the Penns. Children as follows were born to Mr. and Mrs. Evans: Louisa P., a graduate of the York high school; Florence, who is attending school ; and Fitz James.

In politics Mr. Evans was a Republican. and served as president of the school board of York, among the lasting monuments to his name being the new high school building now erected on Potter's Field, for it was mainly through his efforts that the plat was secured to the city for that purpose. He was connected with the Episcopal Church, of which he was a valued and consistent member. He was high- ly respected for his many sterling qualities, and in his death the city of York lost an honor- able and upright citizen.

BAIR FAMILY GENEALOGY. The horrors and devastation of war that swept Al- sace, the German Palatinate and the Rhenish Alps before and after 1689, as well as religious persecution by the militant Calvinists, caused the pietistic, non-combatant Mennonite ances- tors of Robert C. Bair to depart from Switzer-

The Swiss German families separated and scattered thus by a series of cruel circumstances had been carried during the period mentioned to Ireland and the West Indies, and deposited all along the American coast from Georgia, East and West Jersey to Acadia. By grace of the English Queen Anne thousands had also been brought to the country in and around London (1703), and after suffering three years unutterable hardships at that place were conveyed thence to territory along the Hud- son and Mohawk rivers.

It is difficult to find the lost trails by which the early Bairs (they wrote the name Bar) came into Pennsylvania during the period be- tween 1703 and 1727. The names of the or- iginal heads of this Bair freundschaft migrat- ing 1707-1709 into what, after 1729, became Lancaster county, Pa., were Henry, Jacob, John, Michael, Martin and Abraham. Of these either Henry or Jacob was the ancestor of the family branch here traced. The name Jacob runs through every generation of this branch. He most probably was the father of certain five sons and one daughter, who were born in Europe and came with their parents across the Atlantic, viz. : Samuel Bair of Co- calico township, Michael of Upper Leacock township, Henry of Earl township, Jacob of Earl township, John of Leacock township, and Barbara of Cocalico, who married a Bowman -all being of Lancaster county, Pennsylva- nia.

Jacob Bair of Earl was Robert C. Bair's great-great-grandfather .. He early occupied lands in the rich Lancaster county valley 'twixt the Conestoga and Pequea creeks, near Mill Creek, in Leacock and Earl townships. The land on which his people first dwelt (six hun- dred acres where Mechanicsburg now stands) was not patented until June 9, 1741, and his homestead tract upon which he died was not patented until July 2, 1765, although warrants and surveys were had, respectively, in 1729 and Feb. 28, 1734.

The homestead tract, 152 acres, is situated

WE YORK ON T PENNSYLVANIA

the Sap ....

C.c. call Estatite

. caused 1 en formenby tant Vente ances- 1

(Mert C. Bair to depart Dat Switzer-

av ne tral Holland. How 1. wwel gi re before emigrating m. 100 vi, but a well preser it that they also live. we of the colonies ne all about thirty yed ww d with other German far hansof Pennsylvania.

Woman families separated an -eries of cruel circumstane during the period mentio .. West Indies, and deposi Weerican coast from Georg ursey. to Acadia. By gr. een Anne thousands had als the country in and aroun and after suffering the- hardships at that place win to territory along the Hu. A rivers.

To find the lost trails by wh. they wrote the name B ylvania during the period 1727. The names of the . A whis Bair freundschaft mig YInto what, after 1729. bec: wis, Pa., were Henry, Ja. Martin and Abraham. wiry or Jacob was the ance ranch here traced. The 11 igh every generation of t probably was the fathe , and one daughter, who v and came with their parc tic. viz. : Samuel Bair of Michael of Upper Leac

i Hope of Karl township. Jacob 1600 : 1hn of Leacock township. Who, who married a Bowl o being of Lancaster county. Pennsy

Jach Bar of Earl was Robert C. B. men-great-gran Ifather. He early occu Qual in the rich Lancaster county valley 'ty de Conestoga and Pequea ereeks, near 1 Brock, in Leacock and Earl townships. end on which his people first dwelt (six I d'red acres where Mechanicsburg now stan Was not patentol until June 9. 1741. am 1. miestead tract upon which he died was patented until Joly 2. 1765, although warr and surveys were bad, respectively. in ind Feb. 28, 1731.

The homestead tr ct. 152 acres, is sit'

Robert C Dair

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BIOGRAPHICAL

in Earl township on the north side of the old Peter Bazillion Indian Trader Road. It is immediately in front of the gap that cuts the western terminus of the Welsh mountains, through which runs the Intercourse and New Holland road. This pioneer homestead re- mained in the family until 1800, when it was sold to Adam Diller. It is in the Diller name now (1906).

Jacob Bair of Earl township died in No- vember, 1769, leaving a widow, Sarah, his second wife, and three sons, Jacob, Michael and Abraham, and two daughters, Barbara and Mary. Barbara married Michael Knisely. Mary married Joseph Hersberger, both of Co- calico (now Ephrata) township, Lancaster county.

Abraham Bair, of Leacock township, great- grandfather of Robert C. Bair, born Sept. 7, 1741, died March 14, 1828, leaving a widow, Catharine Worst, and five sons and five daugh- ters: Jacob, John, Benjamin, David, Abra- ham, and Elizabeth, Anna, Mary, Leah, and Catharine. Elizabeth married John Miller, of Lancaster county; Leah married Christian Zook, of Shippensburg, Pa .; the others were spinsters.

John Bair, of Leacock township, grand- father of Robert C. Bair, born March 22, 1781, died March 4, 1819, at Intercourse, Lan- caster county, leaving a widow, Elizabeth (Miller), daughter of John and Mary (Soud- er) Miller, and four sons and two daughters : David married Mary Buckwalter, of Wheat- land, Lancaster county; Jacob married Eliza- beth Bowman, of Lancaster county; Daniel married Hettie Shenk, of Providence township, Lancaster county; John married Susanna Groff of Camargo, Lancaster county ; Elizabeth married John Shaub, of Lancaster county ; Catharine married first Daniel Keeport, of Lancaster county, and (second) Joseph Mc- Sherry, of Lower Chanceford, York county.

nearly fifty years he conducted an active busi- ness on the Susquehanna Tide Water canal in pig iron, lumber, coal, bark, grain and gen- eral merchandise. He was an influential man and has left his mark not only on numerous farms and lands but upon the people who knew him.

ROBERT CABEEN BAIR was born at York Furnace, Lower Chanceford, York county, April 27, 1856. He was educated at Millers- ville State Normal School and York Collegiate Institute. He was engaged for thirteen years in business with his father, 1878-1891, under the firm name of John Bair & Son. In 1887 he married Ella Nora, daughter of Dr. Henry L. and Emma E. (Rieman) Smyser, of York. To this union a son, Henry Smyser Bair, was born April 2, 1889. Mr. Bair removed to York and read law with Silas H. Forry and James G. Glessner. Admitted to the bar Jan. 1, 1899, he at once entered upon an active practice. He is a close student in genealogy, archaeology, history and statistics, attracting attention as an original and effective worker. As chairman of the York County Republican Committee since 1900, his careful management has unified his party and divided and totally defeated the Democrats. Under his general- ship a series of partial victories culminated at the November election of 1905 in the election of the entire Republican ticket by majorities exceeding two thousand. His services and his general capabilities as a statistician found recognition in appointment as chief of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Industrial Statistics by Gov. Samuel W. Pennypacker upon the recommendation of Hon. Isaac B. Brown, sec- retary of Internal affairs, Harrisburg, May 5. 1903, for a term of four years. The work of this Bureau is of great interest and importance to the public. Its province is to make impartial examinations of the relations existing between capital and labor and inquire into the educa- tional, industrial and social conditions of those engaged in manual labor. To aid the chief of this Bureau all corporations, firms or indi- viduals engaged in mining, manufacturing or other business, and all persons working for wages within the Commonwealth, are required to furnish such statistical information as he may demand.

Jolın Bair, father of Robert C. Bair, born May 25, 1816, at Intercourse, Lancaster coun- ty, died at the home of his daughter in Chance- ford township, York Co., Pa., Jan. 30, 1892, leaving a widow, Susanna (Groff), daughter of David and Ann (Longenecker) Groff, and one son and one daughter, Robert C. Bair and Lizzie. Lizzie married Samuel M. Fulton, of Chanceford township, York Co., Pa. Jolın Bair was a charcoal ironmaster. He came to HENRY L. SMYSER, physician, grad- York Furnace, York county, in 1844. For uate of the University of Pennsylvania, was

21.1

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

born in York borough Dec. 8, 1825. He was to permanent work in the Army Hospital, es- descended from Mathias Smyser, who with tablished on the Commons, now Penn Park, at York, his record in that institution was marked by faithful and efficient service. At the close of the war he was in greater demand profession- ally than ever before. Having contracted a condition of weak heart, he relinquished his practice at its most lucrative period. For a number of years he rested modestly on his well-earned laurels. He died at York Sept. 16, 1900, at his home No. 30 South Beaver street, the immediate cause of his death being myocardial degeneration of the aorta. Barbara Margerite and George Smyser, emi- grated from Germany in the year 1731 to America, and settled in York county, Pa. The genealogical line ascending is : His father, Michael, 1799-1874; grandfather, Jacob Smy- ser, 1765-18 -; great-grandfather, Jacob Smyser, 1742-1793; great-great-grandfather, Mathias Smyser ( emigrant), 1715-1778. The ancestor Mathias took up land and settled in what is now West Manchester and North Codorus townships, in 1740.

In 1860 Dr. Smyser married Emma E. Rieman, daughter of the late Associate Judge John Rieman, of York. To this union were born two children, a daughter and a son : Ella Nora, wife of Robert C. Bair, Esq .; and John Rieman, druggist, member of the com- mon council of Philadelphia. The brothers and sisters of Dr. Smyser were: Jacob, Al- bert, Thomas C., Michael, Lewis E., Mrs. An- nie M. Williams, Mrs. Ella Hagen and Eliza Barnitz.

Dr. Smyser was unobtrusive, but there are among his friends and the profession which he honored many who will bear testimony to his medical skill, his strong common sense, as well as his careful business methods and finan- cial ability in affairs. Generons and kind, whatever he did was ungrudging and un- stinted. Though plain, blunt and unpreten- tious in his ways, the recipients of his favor and his counsel were always sure his acts were honest and his words sincere.

JOHN ELIOT WILLIAMS. of the well- known shirt manufacturing firm of J. E. Will- iams & Co .. York, is a native of the city of which he has become such a successful business man. He was born in 1868, son of David F. and Annie M. S. Williams.

Mr. Williams received his education in the York County Academy, attending that institu- tion from 1879 to 1881, and then went to the York Collegiate Institute, attending during the years 1882-1884. After completing his edu- cation Mr. Williams was employed as book- keeper for one year by A. B. Farquhar. and then by Broomell & Schmidt for two years. The next five years were spent with the Variety Iron Works. after which he engaged with the York Dynamite Company, of which he was a

In 1844 Henry L. Smyser began the study of medicine under the late Dr. James W. Kerr, of York, and in 1847, graduated from the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania. He began the prac- tice of his profession in Jackson township, York county, and had already secured a valti- able practice when gold was discovered in Cal- ifornia. Joining the Rocky Mountain migra- tion, he became one of the original "forty- niners." The Doctor was an active pick and shovel miner in the washings of California for two years. In 1851 flattering suggestions reached him to induce his return to the East. and to accept the deputy superintendency of the State Hospital for the Insane at Harris- burg. "With much reluctance I pulled up stakes," as he said, "from a certain profit to go a long journey wild goose chasing; for when I reached Pennsylvania, by the long and tedious Panama route, the appointment I ex- pected to receive had already been made." Re- engaging in his practice, which soon became lu- crative, in 1855, other inducements coming to him, he went to Europe and attached himself as sergeant-major to the Russian army, serv- ing through the Crimean war. At the close of the war, for distinguished services, Alexan- der II, Czar of Russia, decorated him with the medal of St. Stanislaus. Returning to Amer- ica he again took up his profession, locating on South Beaver street, in York, and at once en- tered upon a fine practice. His experience proved of inestimable value for the Doctor had developed a professional quickness of per- ception and soundness of judgment and con- clusion that made him a physician and surgeon of a high order.

In 1862 he enlisted in the war of the Re- bellion, and was immediately appointed con- tract surgeon in the army. Being assigned

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stockholder, treasurer and manager. In that shoemaker, receiving as wages twenty-six capacity he remained three years, and then, with John F. Kell, engaged in the insurance business, the firm being known as Kell & Will- iams, the partnership continuing three years.

In November, 1898, Mr. Williams engaged in his present business-the manufacture of shirts-under the firm name of J. E. Williams & Co. His first place of business was on Cherry avenue, where he remained three years, but on account of the increase in his business was compelled to seek larger quarters, and lie removed to East Philadelphia street. Here he remained three years, when he was again forced to vacate, and he left the building now occupied by the York Dispatch Publishing Co. In 1904 Mr. Williams located in his present place, No. 5 West Gay avenue, in the rear of No. 156 North George street, where he has four floors, and 8640 square feet of floor space. He manufactures men's and boys' shirts and employs over 100 hands. His business is steadily increasing, as his goods are trust- worthy and his business methods honorable, and he sustains an enviable reputation for hon- esty and integrity.

Mr. Williams resides at No. 321 East Mar- ket street, York. In politics he is a Repub- lican. He is a member of the Lafayette and Country Clubs of York.

JOHN KROUS is a prominent business man and successful farmer of Lower Chance- ford township, York county, and for the last ten years has engaged in dealing in furs and the cultivation of ginseng. His birth occurred Oct. 3. 1851, near Grahamville, Chanceford township, and he is the son of John and Mar- garet (Dressel) Krous.

John Krous, the father of our subject, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1814, and attended school until fourteen years of age, ac- quiring a good education. For some years af- ter this he herded geese and worked on a farm. At the age of twenty-one years he sailed for America, landing at Baltimore after a terrible voyage of seventy-two days, on a sailing ves- sel. The passage had been so rough that it was impossible to cook food on board, and by the time the ship made a landing, after being repeatedly driven back, the crew and all on board were nearly starved. After locating in Baltimore Mr. Krous obtained work as a

cents per day. He married Miss Margaret Dressel, born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1819, who had come over on the same vessel with him, and they were married in Baltimore soon after landing. Mr. and Mrs. Krous moved from Baltimore to York several years after their marriage, and there Mr. Krous fol- lowed his trade of shoemaking. He removed to Lower Chanceford township, where he located in a tenant house on the old Ankrum farm, and followed his trade at different points in this section. He finally bought a farm from John Bair, in Chanceford township, which he occu- pied for twelve years and then sold to Abra- ham Heaps, and then bought a farm of twenty- eight acres in Lower Chanceford township, where he died Jan. 6, 1900. Mrs. Krous passed away Feb. 6, 1892. Both she and her husband were valued members of the Lutheran Church. In politics Mr. Krous was a Demo- crat. The following children were born to this worthy couple : Christina married James Duncan, of Lower Chanceford township: Katie (deceased), married George Shotta, of Baltimore, Md .; Sophia married Frederick Sheck and died in Baltimore, Md .: Mary mar- ried Charles Keener, of Biggsville, Ill. ; Henry married (first) Martha Smith and (second) Mary Scarborough: John is the subject of this sketch; George, of Columbia, married Martha Lee; Thomas is a resident of Lower Chance- ford township; and Lizzie married George Martin, of Northumberland county.

John Krous spent his boyhood days on his father's farm near Goram, in Lower Chance- ford township, and attended the public schools until sixteen years of age, during the winter months, while in the summer he worked on the farm. He remained at home until twenty-three years of age, when he married and began housekeeping in a tenant house on John Bair's farm, where he remained one year, working out. He then farmed the Samuel Curran farm, in Chanceford township, for two years, on shares, and then went to a tenant house on the Stephen McKinley farm, in Lower Chanceford township, remaining on this place one year. He next went to the John Smith farm for one year, and then returned to the Samuel Curran farm, working it this time for Clark Murphy. and remaining two years. After this he bought forty-eight acres of his present farm. adding the other forty-eight acres in 1902. This

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

farm was formerly the old Robert Campbell spent at Holyoke, Mass., and there he learned farm. Although not himself actively engaged in the farm work Mr. Krous oversees all work done, and it is due to his excellent manage- ment that the place has become one of the most productive of its size in the community. For the past ten years Mr. Krous has been engaged in raw fur dealing during the winter months, and finds a ready market for his goods in New York. During the summer months he deals extensively in ginseng, buying in Ohio, Ken- tucky, Indiana, Michigan, Delaware and throughout Pennsylvania, and selling in New York. Mr. Krous has built up quite a large business in this line, and can say from exper- ience that the cultivation of ginseng pays when properly managed.

On June 28, 1874, Mr. Krous was married, in Lower Chanceford township, to Miss Susan Ellen McConkey, born Feb. 22, 1857, in Bain- bridge, and she was reared on the Duncan farm, in Lower Chanceford township. Chil- dren have been born to Mr. and John Krous as follows: George William, born Sept. 24. 1875, married Miss Hattie Simmers, and they reside in Lower Chanceford township; John Charles, born March 1, 1877, resides in York ; Etta E., born Oct. 20, 1879, married G. W. Stewart, of Goram; Chester B., born May 13, 1882, died in infancy ; Lillie E. was born June IO, 1884; T. Wiley, March 10, 1886; Mary M., Oct. 5, 1888; Harry L., Oct. 18, 1890, and Robert J., July 26, 1895.

John Krous was reared in the faith of the M. E. Church, but belongs to no particular religious denomination. In politics he is a Democrat. He is a man who commands the respect of his neighbors, and has a wide circle of personal friends. In every sense of the word he is a self-made man.

MICHAEL J. KELLEY, superintendent of the Philip H. Glatfelter Paper Mill, and one of the reliable and substantial men of Spring Grove, York county, Pa., is a native of America, born Nov. 5, 1861, son of Martin Kelley, a native of Ireland, and a paper maker by trade. Emigrating to America when a young man he found employment for his skill, in a paper mill in Massachusetts, and there he perfected his knowledge of paper manufactur- ing in all its branches, he following this line of work until 1882.

The early life of Michael J. Kelley was

his trade of paper making. He was superin- tendent of the Dickinson & Clark Paper Com- pany for three years. Later, he removed to Providence, Md., to take charge as superin- tendent, of the Singerly Paper Company. Still later, he accepted the same position at Lock- haven, Pa., with the New York & P. P. Mills Co., which operated another plant at Johnson- burg, Pa., of which he was also manager. In 1895 Mr. Kelley was offered the position of superintendent of the Philip H. Glatfelter Pa- per Co., manufacturers of blank book paper, writing paper and label papers. From his long experience in the paper business with various companies, and in the manufacture of different kinds of paper, Mr. Kelley has become thor- oughly acquainted with the business in all its details. He does the greater part of the buy- ing for the establishment; arranges the sales, which extend throughout the principal cities of the east, and makes large contracts with the government for book paper, and he is an ex- pert in his line.

In 1883, Mr. Kelley married Miss Sarah O'Brian, of Holyoke, Mass., and five children have been born to them: Mary A .; Esther; Lillie ; Ruth and Sarah. Mr. Kelley possesses in remarkable degree the faculty for organiza- tion, and his executive ability is recognized to a marked. extent by his company. His keen, clear intellect and quick perception of business opportunities give him that necessary insight into future possibilities, indispensible to a man in his responsible position. Personally Mr. Kelley is a man of pleasing manner, and has a host of loyal friends and numerous business ac- yuaintances, not only in his immediate vicinity, but throughout the entire East.

HENRY L. NEUMAN, ice cream manu- facturer, wholesale and retail dealer in ice, building sand and gravel, of York, Pa., is one of the most progressive and public-spirited business men of York, where he is engaged in several flourishing enterprises. He was born in Conewago township, York county, Dec. 9. 1839, son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Lenhart) Neuman, both natives of this county.

Andrew Neuman, the paternal grandfather, was an early settler of Conewago township, while the maternal grandfather. William Len- hart, for many years resided near Dover. Ja- cob Neuman was a very prosperous farmer of

R. L. Nemman

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BIOGRAPHICAL

Conewago township, and a man respected by and Caroline Lehmayer. The father died in all who knew him. Henry L. Neuman passed 1847 in Germany, where he had been a mer- chant for thirty years, and after his death Mrs. Lehmayer brought her children to America, where they located, settling in York, Pa. his boyhood days upon the farm, attending the district schools during the winter months. Later he went to the Dover public schools, and for a short time had the privilege of attending Nathan Lehmayer and his brothers, Simon and Joseph, were the founders of the well known men's clothing and furnishing business of Lehmayer Brothers at York. The firm was established under that name on the site of the present large store, the business at that time, however, being very smal in comparison to the patronage the firm enjoys at present. Joseph Lehmayer died in 1877 and Simon in 1890, while Nathan continued the store under the same name. On Feb. 17, 1904, his three sons, Martin, Louis and William, were admitted in- to partnership with their father, and the mem- bership of the firm has continued the same since that time. The name of Lehmayer Brothers is known throughout York county, and the store has the reputation of being the most reliable of its kind in the city of York. In proportion to the growth of the business so has Mr. Leh- mayer increased his building and stock, being now the employer of fourteen people. The building, 34x120 feet, is equipped with modern fixtures and appliances, and the business has grown to large proportions-solely because of the quality and reliability of the goods sold, and through Mr. Lehmayer's good business judgment and strict attention to business. a select school, and at all times he made the most of his opportunities. In 1855 he came to York, and entered the dry goods store of Pe- ter Wiest, there remaining about six years. At that time the war broke out, and he was too patriotic to remain at home, so enlisted in Company A, P. V. I., Col. George Hay com- manding. Mr. Neuman was ordered with his regiment to the front in Virginia, and he par- ticipated in a number of engagements, among which was one near Petersburg, on the Wel- don railroad, where he was severely wounded June 23, 1864, by a gun-shot, the ball passing through his left thigh. He was sent to the hospital at City Point, partially recovered, and in September, 1864, was discharged at the ex- piration of his term of enlistment. Returning to York this brave young soldier took up the thread of private life, entering into partner- ship with Peter C. Wiest in the grocery and confectionery business in which he continued until 1879, that year dissolving the partner- ship and establishing himself in the business of manufacturing ice cream. In connection witli this business he began to handle ice, sell- ing largely both at wholesale and retail, and giving employment to eighteen or twenty men. Naturally from time to time, he added the other commodities he now carries, and has made an exceptional success of his work.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 39

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