History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 40

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

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On Oct. 16, 1866, Mr. Neuman married Miss Amanda Wambaugh, daughter of John Wambaugh, and they have had these children : Edward WV .; James W .; Margie, wife of Hus- ton E. Landis; Daisy, wife of Charles V. Bor- ing, of Pittsburg ; and Mary. Mr. Neuman is a member of Sedgwick Post No. 37, G. A. R .: and of the Union Veteran Legion, No. 65, of which he is serving as quartermaster and has since its organization in 1890. He and his family are consistent members of the Reformed Church, and very highly respected in the com- munity.

LEHMAYER BROTHERS. NATHAN LEHMAYER, the oldest living merchant in York, was born in Germany in 1833, son of Moses

Since 1855 Mr. Lehmayer has been a mem- ber of the Masons at York. In religious mat- ters he is connected with the Reformed He- brew Church. On Jan. 13, 1861, he was united in marriage with Mary Rosenbaum, daughter of Moses and Caroline Rosenbaum, of Phila- delphia, and to this union were born children as follows : Pauline, who is now' the widow of J. Schall Wilhelm; Martin, born in 1864, who married Martha Rosenau (he is a member of the Masons, the Elks and the Royal Arcanum of York) : Daisy M., living in York, who there married Abe Jandorf: Louis, born Nov. 6, 1867, who married Adella Strasberger (he belongs to the Masons, the Elks and the Hep- tasophs) : William, born Nov. 9, 1868, who married Rae Herz (he belongs to the Masons, the Elks and the Royal Arcanum) ; and Carrie, who lives in Philadelphia, married to Marc Hydeman.

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

JAMES H. GABLE, president and gen- terests, divers pursuits and occupations. At eral manager of the Deer Creek Water & Wa- the age of sixty he had acquired a handsome ter Power Company, of Stewartstown, form- erly a prominent lawyer of Baltimore, has had one of the most unique not to say distinguished careers of any resident of York county. He became well known not only for his marked legal ability, but for a versatility of talent for achievement in other directions as well. To unusual natural gifts for the profession of the law he united the best of training, and with such advantages his ambition carried him for- ward to well deserved success.

In both paternal and maternal lines Mr. Gable descends from prominent old families in York county. The tradition is that his ma- ternal great-great-grandfather, George Von Einstein (as the name was originally spelled), was forced to leave Canada at the time of the Revolution to escape British conscription of certain of his grown sons, and fleeing to the United States settled at Catskill, N. Y. Thence he removed to the region of the Wyoming Val- ley, but again was driven from his home, by the Indian depredations, culminating in the celebrated Wyoming massacre, and he finally settled in York county, in Windsor township, now Lower Windsor, on a tract of 315 acres, for which he paid $2,000 in gold and silver coins. as the deed recites.

Mr. Gable's great-grandfather, commonly called George Anstine, and son of the preced- ing George Von Einstein, on attaining the mil- itary age entered the Colonial army, in which he remained until the close of the Revolution- ary war. In his later years he was often heard to say that he was entitled to a pension but would not apply for one. After his discharge from the patriot army he returned presumably to his home in Windsor, afterward married a Miss Shearer, and subsequently purchased a tract of land in Hopewell township, of about three hundred acres, whereon a large part of Stewartstown is now built.

On his father's side Mr. Gable's great- grandfather was Valentine Gable, who built and owned the well known "Brogue Hotel" at Brogueville. The next in line, Jacob Gable, was born in Chanceford township, as was also his son, Israel, on the family homestead near the old Manor Furnace.

Israel Gable followed farming, but he was a many-sided man of great force and business- like sagacity, and had, besides his farming in-

competence, and was the owner of one of the very finest estates in Hopewell township, com- prising about three hundred acres. The home- stead tract of 200 acres adjoined on the south the borough of Stewartstown, none of it, how- ever, belonging to the old Anstine tract pre- viously mentioned, which lay to the west of said town. Dividing a large part of his estate and property with his children, and having given and provided a liberal education for them all, he lived his later days in leisure and retirement at the old homestead and died in 1901, in the eighty-fifth year of his age. His wife was Miss Catherine Anstine, the eldest of thirteen children born to Henry Anstine, who was a farmer and oil operator in Hope-

well township. Mrs. Gable died several months before her husband, aged eighty-eight. To the union of Israel and Catherine (An- stine) Gable were born six children who grew to manhood and womanhood. In the order of age they were: James H., the subject of this sketch ; Henry A., wholesale and retail dealer in hardware in Harrisburg; Mary, who mar- ried (first) William Norton, of Ohio. and (second) T. C. Thoburn, of Peabody, Kans .; J. Benson, who is on the family estate at Stewartstown; Elizabeth, the first woman phy- sician who matriculated from York county, who first held a responsible position in the Wil- mington Asylum for the Insane, and later was at Kirkbride, Philadelphia, but her strength being overtaxed, pneumonia intervened and she died at the old home from tuberculosis ; and Esther Anna, the youngest, who was an artist and amateur authoress and for higher musical talent has acquired quite a local repu- tation.

James H. Gable was born in Shrewsbury, June 7, 1844. He was educated in the Stew- artstown Academy, and the Military and Clas- sical Institute at Columbia, Lancaster county, and when only fifteen began his own career as a teacher. His first school was at Old Center School, near Forest Hill, in Harford county, Md., from which place he went to Hopewell township, then to Delta Academy, York coun- ty, and finally to Columbia. becoming first as- sistant in the institute there. This position he resigned to enter the colporteurage field for the Presbyterian Board of Publication, and for the next two years canvassed a large section of

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the territory then comprised in Donegal, Hun- his literary turn of mind led him to take ad- tingdon and Northumberland Presbyteries. He vantage of the famous Congressional Library. In 1897 Mr. Gable returned to Stewartstown, to make his home, and there lived in compara- tive retirement, although he undertook oc- casional cases in Baltimore. In 1903, however, when he became interested in the Deer Creek Water & Water Power Company, he again entered into more active business life, and is serving as president and general manager of the company at the present time. The water works supply of the company and the power plant on Deer Creek are just now in course of construction and when completed as contem- plated promise great results for Stewartstown and vicinity. was quite successful in selling and distribut- .ing a large amount of the board's books and Presbyterian literature, formed many pleasant acquaintances with the prominent ministers and laymen of the church over the sections visited, and still retains many agreeable reminiscent memories of these days. Having made quite a complete canvass for the Board in the city of Williamsport, Pa., and also an extended tour through the West Branch Valley, he was offered the position of secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association at Williamsport, and librarian of its library, the only circulating library of any note then in the city. This place he held for four years, and made use of Mr. Gable was married July 12. 1877, to Miss Harriet L. Stirling, daughter of Robert Stirling, retired, of Baltimore. Her death oc- curred July 15, 1890, and eight years later, on Jan. 26, 1899, Mr. Gable was married to Mrs. Ida M. Ritchey, widow of Robert Ritchey, of Stewartstown. Mrs. Ritchey was the mother of one son. Henry, of the class of 1907, York Collegiate Institute. it for a course of reading and an acquisition of knowledge of both books and men that stood him in good stead in after years. That posi- tion Mr. Gable resigned in order to enter the law office of Phelps & Findlay, in Baltimore. Mr. Phelps afterward became Judge of the Supreme court, while Mr. Findlay was re- turned to Congress. With his own natural powers so adapted for the law developed by Mr. Gable belongs to the Presbyterian Church of Baltimore, in which he was for some time vice-chairman of the Church Guild. In politics he is a Republican, and he was one of the charter members of the Reform League of Baltimore, an organization which has ex- erted a marked influence for good in that citv in the final overthrow of the corrupt political rings of both city and State. Mr. Gable is now living quietly in the city of York, where his name and opinions deservedly command the confidence and respect of his fellow-citi- zens. these able preceptors, it was to be expected that Mr. Gable would reach a position of promi- nence at the Bar of Baltimore, and for twelve years he pursued his profession there most suc- cessfully. During the twelve years of his ac- tive practice, as is shown by the reported cases, he tried or assisted in the trial, and argued in the Court of Appeals of Maryland (the high- est court in the State), the Supreme Court of the United States, and other higher courts. some twenty-five or thirty cases reported. These were all additional to a large practice in the Common Law and Equity Courts of original jurisdiction in Baltimore City: GEORGE W. S. LOUCKS, ex-mavor of York, is a prominent Republican and a success- courts, saving an exceptional instance or ful manufacturer of that city. He comes of one of the old York county families. members of which for generations have been well- known farmers. his practice was altogether in the Civil two in the City Criminal Court; he also eschewed divorce cases and prac- tice. The first case he tried after admis- sion to the Bar was in the Court of Appeals, George W. S. Loucks was born Sept. 29. 1856, at Hoffmansville, Baltimore Co., Md., and was educated in York County Academy under Prof. Ruby. His grandfather, George, lived and died on the homestead farm, one mile from York: his father, Jacob, was a paper manufacturer. in which he appeared for the appellant and re- versed the Circuit Court for Baltimore Coun- tv (Judges Grason and Yellott). At the end of twelve years Mr. Gable's health failed, and after a six months' trip and sojourn in Europe he lived for four years in the more genial and favoring climate of Washington, D. C., where The first employment of Mr. Loucks was

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

with is uncle, P. H. Glatfelter, in the paper ally of New England origin, his grandfather, making business, where he remained three years. He then, in 1877-78, went into business with his father, the firm being Jacob Loucks & Son, and began the manufacture of various small ice machines. That business was the gerin of the present York Manufacturing Company, which has grown to such gigantic proportions. Mr. Loucks remained with the manufacturing company, through its various stages of development, until 1893, when he was elected mayor of York for a term of three years, being the first Republican mayor of that city.

After the expiration of his official term, Mr. Loucks took no active part in business un- til June. 1904, when he resumed his connection with the York Manufacturing Company, this time in the clerical department.

In July, 1882, Mr. Loucks married Annie M. Lord, daughter of Robert L. Lord, of Shrewsbury, York county. Mr. Lord was a manufacturer of dye stuffs, the dyes being ex- tracted from the bark of various trees. To Mr. and Mrs. Loucks three children have been born, as follows: Robert L., a graduate of the York high school, class of 1904, who re- ceived from Congressman Lafean, as a result of a competitive examination, the appointment to a cadetship at the Naval Academy at Ann- apolis; and Margaret and Catherine, members of the class of 1905, in the York high school.

In a Democratic community, Mr. Loucks has always been an uncompromising Republi- can, and has time and again been a dele- gate to county and state conventions. In religious faith he is a Methodist. He is a member of the Masonic Order, a Knight Templar, and a Mystic Shriner. He belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge and Encampment ; and is a member of the Order of Red Men, and Knights of Malta. In social and political cir- cles no man in the community enjoys a wider popularity than George W. S. Loucks.

EDWARD WING SHAPLEY, pro- prietor of the Shapley Publishing House, Dillsburg, editor and proprietor of The New Era, has been in the business at that place for over twenty years, and has one of the best equipped establishments in York county.

Mr. Shapley was born April 7, 1857, in Carlisle, Cumberland Co., Pa., and comes of a family long known in that section, but origin-

Rufus E. Shapley, having been a native of Massachusetts, whence he came to Carlisle in early manhood. There he became the owner of much valuable real estate and was an exten- sive manufacturer. He married Lydia E. Metzger, and they became the parents of a large family, all the sons of which became promi- nent in business and the various professions, namely: John located in Ohio and became widely known in the medical profession; Joel lived in Shippensburg, where he became wealthy and influential; Edmund lived in Me- chanicsburg; Rufus E. spent his days in Car- lisle, where he was one of the largest property holders and most prosperous men of his day (his son, Rufus E., third of that name, is one of the most distinguished lawyers of Phila- delphia ) ; Charles was the father of Edward Wing Shapley, whose name introduces these lines.

Charles Shapley was, like his brothers, a prosperous and influential citizen, making his home in Carlisle, where he was engaged in the manufacture of furniture. He accumulated a large property. His wife, Lydia J. Connelly, bore him the following children: William C., who resided in Carlisle; Lydia and Laura ; Ed- ward Wing; Joseph, deceased, who was a prominent business man of Carlisle; and Harry L., now a leading furniture dealer in Carlisle. The mother of this family still makes her home in Carlisle; the father died in 1882. He was an official member of the First Pres- byterian Church of Carlisle.

Edward Wing Shapley was taught in the public schools and academy in Carlisle. At the age of twenty he started on a tour of the West, returning after an absence of three years, and settling in Dillsburg, became engaged in the printing and publishing business with J. N. Rhoads, Esq. At the end of the first year he became sole proprietor and as such continued the business for twenty years with uniform suc- cess. Meantime he took an active part in pub- lic affairs, serving a number of times on the school board, and in the council chambers, and like most successful business men he has been eminently useful in the local civil administra- tion. He is now the proprietor of the Shapley Publishing House, publishing The New Era, one of the most reliable newspapers of this sec- tion. The establishment is splendidly equip- ped with modern machinery for newspaper

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engaged in a general practice, also becoming the official examining surgeon for the local Mr. Shapley is a man of social disposi- Camp, Modern Woodmen of America. tion, and takes much pleasure in his church and fraternal relations. He is a Knight Templar Mason, belonging to the Blue Lodge at Me- chanicsburg, Samuel C. Perkins Chapter, at Harrisburg, and St. John's Commandery, Car- lisle : he affiliates with the Heptasophs at Dills- burg. His church membership is in the Monaghan Presbyterian Church, in which he is a ruling elder and teacher of the Young Ladies' Bible Class.

In 1882 Mr. Shapley married Miss Laura E. Smith, only daughter of J. A. Smith, of Dillsburg. They reside in a large farm in Carroll township, adjoining Dillsburg, which Mr. Shapley owns.

J. C. STEM, M. D., an eminently success- ful physician and surgeon of York county, whose chosen field of practice is in the city of York, is conveniently situated in his offices on West Market street. Dr. Stem was born July 26. 1855, in Cashtown, Adams county, son of William and Eliza (Watson) Stem.

Dr. Stem's parents were natives of Adams county, and of German and Irish descent. They had two children-twins-J. C. and An- nie. The mother was a twin. William Stem was a well-known physician of Cashtown, and lived retired many years, and his father, Reu- ben Stem, a merchant, was a resident of Adams county, where he also lived retired for many years prior to his death. James Watson, father of Mrs. Eliza (Watson) Steni, died at the remarkable age of 102 years.

Dr. J. C. Stem spent his early days in Cash- town, where he attended the public and private schools, and afterward for five terms attended a select school at Gettysburg. For three win- ters he taught school at Buchanan Valley. Adams county. At the age of seventeen years he began the study of medicine with his father. and then attended the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, from which he was graduated with the class of 1878. He then took a tour through the West, after which, in the fall of 1878, he settled in Lewisberry. Pa., where he built up a lucrative practice. After practicing at Lewisberry for twenty-five years Dr. Stem removed, in September, 1903, to No.

work, binding, job printing, etc., and enjoys 527 Market street, York, where he has since first class patronage. For fourteen years he has also been engaged in farming.

In 1880 Dr. Stem married Mary Paup, daughter of Hiram and Phoebe A. ( Hooper ) Paup, of York county. Socially Dr. Stem be- longs to the Heptasophis, Artisans, Odd Fel- lows and Modern Woodmen of America, and is a Mason of the thirty-second degree, being a member of Harrisburg Consistory and past commander of York Commandery, No. 21.

It may be said that Dr. Stem took his first lessons in surgery when a mere boy. When the Confederate army invaded Pennsylvania Gen. Lee had his headquarters during the fore- noon of the first day's fight in Dr. Stem's fath- er's lot, and his father's office was filled with wounded Confederates. The elder Dr. Stem ¡attended to their injuries, and the genial Dr. J. C. Stem, now of York, then a lad of eight years, handing bandages and other needful things to his father, thus rendered all the as- sistance of which a child of his age was capa- ble.

HENRY W .. HEFFENER, of York, Pa., was born in that city, in 1845. son of William H. and Charlotte ( Reika ) Heffner, both na- tives of Germany, who settled in York the year in which our subject was born.

The military career of Mr. Heffener is a romantic one, and began when he, at the early age of sixteen, enlisted in Company G, 9th Pa. Veteran Cavalry, and soon thereafter, his reg- iment was placed under Gen. Kilpatrick's com- mand, the only Pennsylvania cavalry to partic- ipate in Sherman's famous march to the sea. Mr. Heffener participated in all of the engage- ments and skirmishes of his regiment from At- lanta, Ga., to Morrisonville, N. C., where he saw Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's forces sur- render, and he remained with Sherman's Army until the close of the war. At Waynesboro. his horse was shot dead from under him. Mr. Heffener was one of 100 mnen selected to carry important dispatches from Gen. Kilpatrick to Gen. Sherman. They performed the daring act of piercing the Confederate lines, and passing through them to Gen. Sherman. This was justly considered one of the most daring acts of the war, and richly merits the admiration of all. The Ninth regiment captured, dur-

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

ing its term of service, some 8,000 prisoners, twenty-eight pieces of artillery, and destroyed hundreds of miles of railroad and bridges. It was known as Krider's Mounted Rangers, and did scout duty for all the prominent generals under the famous "Kentucky Bill," who burnt the house of Gen. Battle, where all the guer- illas had their headquarters, and were com- manded by a son of the general. After being mustered out at Harrisburg, Mr. Heffener re- turned to York, and followed the trade of a painter until 1868. He then became a fireman on the Northern Central railroad, and thus continued until he entered into his present business of manufacturing cigar boxes.

Mr. Heffener, in addition to his other in- terests, is a member of the Keystone Building Association, and acts as director in the same; he is also a director in the York National Bank. Naturally, he is a prominent member of the G. A. R. and a member of the Lodge of Elks, Heptasophs, and the Lafayette Club, and also belongs to the Rescue Fire Association. For some years, he has served very acceptably on the town council, and is a man of high standing in the community.

In April, 1883, Mr. Heffener married Miss Rebecca Brenner, of Adams county, and they have one child, George W. Mr. and Mrs. Heffener are highly esteemed in the commun- ity, where they have many friends. Mr. Hef- fener has lived an upright, industrious life, and is now beginning to enjoy the fruits of his labors.

DR. EDMUND D. BORTNER, of Green Ridge, Codorus township, York Co., Pa., was born in that township Sept. 22, 1852, son of Charles G. Bortner. The family, one of the oldest of the county, is a large and respected one. It was founded in this country by Balt- zer Bortner, who was born in Germany in 1695 or 1697.

Michael Bortner, son of George and Ap- polona, was the grandfather of Mrs. Edmund D. Bortner, and is mentioned later.

Three of the sons of George and Appolona Bortner married sisters of the name of Gantz. Three Bortner brothers married three Ernsts, two of them sisters. The number of Catha- rines the Bortners married is noteworthy.

Appolona Bortner. He received a common- school education, and then learned the tanning trade, which he followed until 1893, since which time he has resided at Seven Valley. He married Lydia Lau, daughter of Daniel and Barbara Miller, and she died May 14, 1892, aged sixty-four years, six months, five days; she is buried at the Stone Church in Codorus township. Her mother died at the advanced age of 103 years, and is buried at Wolf's Church, in Manchester township. Chil- dren as follows were born to Mr. and Mrs. Charles G. Bortner : Esrom, who married Sarah Bankert; Edmund D .; A. Milton, who married Sarah Bahn; Emma J., the widow of Daniel Werner, who died in 1892; Frank, who married Amelia Milner, and resides in Balti- more, Md .; Ozias, who married Cora Slyder, and died Sept. 2, 1893; Rolandes, who died Jan. 18, 1898, and was buried at Stone Church (he left a widow, Maggie Bortner) ; Eckert, who married Mrs. Clara Gladfelter, and lives at Glen Rock, Pa .; and Jonathan, living with his brother Eckert.

Edmund D. Bortner attended the town- ship schools and went to Ohio to learn dentis- try. After completing his education, in 1875, he returned to his native township, where he engaged in the practice of his profession until 1890, in which year he located at his present place. He has the confidence of the commun- ity, and has built up a fine practice.

Dr. Bortner married Catharine Bortner, daughter of Jared and Magdalena (Cramer) Bortner, and a descendant also of Baltzer Bort- ner. To this union were born children as fol- lows : Miles, a graduate of the Goldy Col- lege, of Wilmington, Del., is now employed in that city with the Pennsylvania Railroad com- pany, as stenographer, and was engaged in teaching school two terms; Verne died when five years, six months old, and is buried at the Stone Church; Homer attends the Glenville Academy; Arta is attending school. Mr. and Mrs. Bortner also reared Cletus O. S. Bortner, a son of Ozias Bortner, taking him after the death of his father, when he was six weeks old. He is now twelve years of age, and is attend- ing school.

Dr. Bortner is a Democrat in politics. and in 1888 served as school director. He is at present serving his township as treasurer of the board. In religion a Lutheran, he has held

Charles G. Bortner, father of Dr. Edmund D. Bortner, was a son of Jacob, grandson of Ludwig, and great-grandson of George and office in the church, and is known as a true

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Christian gentleman. Fraternally he is con- nected with the A. & 1. O. Knights of Malta, at York, Lodge No. 152.

Michael Bortner, grandfather of Mrs. Bort- ner, our subject's wife, was born Nov. 20, 1780, son of George, and died Oct. 21, 1870, aged eighty-nine years, eleven months, one day. He was thirteen years and fifteen days on his sickbed. He was twice married, his first wife being Margaret Markel, by whom he had four children: John, born Feb. 16, 1808 (married Catharine Kerchener) ; Michael, Nov. 23, 1809 (married Catharine Sweitzer) ; Elizabeth, Feb. 18, 1811; and Jacob, Jan. 13, 1814 (married Catharine Walker ). His second wife, Catherine Markel, bore him these children : Sarah, born June 15, 1818; Jared, Oct. 18, 1819; Henry M., Jan. 3. 1821 ; Jonas, Dec. 7. 1823 (married Catharine Bortner) ; Lydia, Nov. 24, 1825 : Cassian, Aug. 30, 1828; Cath- erine, July 12, 1831 ; and Noah, Jan. 22, 1835.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 40

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