History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 42

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

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Dr. Everett married Emma Collingwood, of Pittsburg, Pa. They have no children.

ALTLAND. The Altland family were among the earliest settlers in York county, Pa.,

Daniel Altland, son of Daniel, was born two and a half miles from Big Mount, and was sent for his early education to the schools of York county. Later he attended the York County Academy, and after completing his literary training, entered the profession of teaching, also learning the trade of a carpenter and cabinetmaker. In time he gave up teach- ing, and for many years was engaged in a gen- eral mercantile business in Mechanicsburg. He retired from this in 1890, and moved to York. Pa., where he lived retired until the death of his wife, when, in 1903, he removed to Dills- burg. In 1856 he was married to Elizabeth. daughter of David S. Shaeffer, who resided near Gettysburg. Two sons and a daughter were born to this union, Alfred D., Frank M. and Mary J.

ALFRED D. ALTLAND was born near Get- tysburg, Oct. 16, 1857. While he was still a child his father located in Mechanicsburg, and there the boy was educated, and later began his business career. He was fourteen when lie began clerking for J. A. Kauffman, of that city, and after three years experience in that position he went into business with his father under the firm name of D. A. Altland & Co. In 1880 he engaged in business for himself in Lisbon, Cumberland county, but after two years removed to Dillsburg and opened a gen- eral mercantile establishment. Ten years later he started the manufacture of horse fly nets, collars and harness, and was so successful that in 1897 he sold his former business to his brother Frank M., and gave his entire atten- tion to his manufacturing industry. The pro- ducts of his factory go to all parts of Penn- sylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Maryland, and his plant is the largest in Dillsburg, employing at times as many as fifty hands. In connection with his regular business Mr. Altland handles a full line of harness, saddlery, horse clothing

A. S. Altland

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BIOGRAPHICAL

and leather ; he is also the owner of the Dills- of Ireland, and after the war settled down to burg Harness Company.

In 1879 occurred Mr. Altland's marriage with Miss Mary E. Wilson, daughter of George W. Wilson, of Cumberland county. They have one daughter, Lettie, who attended the public schools of Dillsburg, graduated from Harrisburg Business College, and for several years filled the position of bookkeeper in her father's office; in 1904 she married J. Victor Jones, of York, where they reside. Mr. Alt- land is a Republican in his views, and has been somewhat actively engaged in local politics, holding various offices at different times; he served as councilman for several terms; was president of the board of health for some years ; and also held the office of borough treasurer. In religion he is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

FRANK M. ALTLAND married Miss Alice Brunhouse, daughter of Frederick Brunhouse, of York. They have two children : Daniel and Katherine.

MARY J. ALTLAND is the wife of M. H. Stine, D. D., pastor of the Lutheran Church at Altoona, Pa. They have two children, name- ly: Charles, a professor in a Ladies' Seminary at Luthersville, Md .; and Walter, who is still at school.

The members of this family are all good citizens, public-spirited, and interested in mu- nicipal affairs. They have been eminently suc- cessful along business lines, are of sterling in- tegrity and command the esteem and confidence of all who know them.

ARCHIBALD HYSON is now making his home on his farm in East Hopewell town- ship, in the house in which he was born, Feb. IO, 1824, which house was built by his ma- ternal grandfather in 1803.

Archibald Hyson, grandfather of our sub- ject, was born in the North of Ireland, and came to America prior to 1776. He settled in Hopewell township close to what is now Fenmore Station, where he entered a large tract of land, which has since been divided in- to many farms. He served in the Revolution- ary war, and fought at the battle of Brandy- wine, hearing General Washington make a speech to his men on the banks of that river, in which speech he said in part: "Be true to your God, your country and your home." Archibald Hyson married Catherine Ramsey,

farming near Fenmore. He removed from this farm about the year 1810, selling out to one Peter Saylor, and purchased a tract of 200 acres, two miles south of Cross Roads, on a branch of Muddy Creek. He remained there but six years, when he died. He was one of the founders of the Associate Reformed Church, and was a leading spirit in that Church. He was a great reader, and all his spare time was spent in this manner. Dr. Hugh McDonald at that time had his office in the room which our subject now uses for a reading room, and grandfather Hyson, on coming across a Latin or Greek word which he could not translate, would walk to the Doctor's house, a distance of about a mile, and the learned Doctor would put it straight for him. Archibald Hyson and his wife had these children : Margaret, who married (first) John Brown, and (second) William McWherter, removed to Washington Co., Pa., and there died; Mary, who married John Herr, died on what is now the Eckert place, in East Hopewell township; John, who was a farmer in East Hopewell township, married Catherine Proudfoot, and died near Cross Roads; Catherine and Martha died single; and Robert.

Robert Hyson was born on the farm near Fenmore, in 1774. He grew to manhood on his father's second farm, received a good ed- ucation for that day, and was a skilled penman. He grew up a farmer boy, and followed farm- ing all of his life, acquiring a part of his fath- er's farm on the latter's death, and there he continued to reside, engaged in agricultural pursuits, until his death, in 1854. He was very highly esteemed in the community for his many sterling traits of character, and had hosts of friends. He was a very religious man, and a member of the Hopewell Associate Reformed Church, which he attended regularly all his life. Robert Hyson married, in 1819, Miss Jane Bortner, born in Hopewell town- ship in 1791, daughter of John and Jane (Gantz) Bortner, of Holland and German blood. Mrs. Hyson died in 1882, and was buried, with her husband, in the U. P. Church at York. These children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hyson: John, who died in 1892, in East Hopewell township, married Margaret Miller; Archibald; and Robert R., who died in March, 1903, in East Hopewell township,

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married Elizabeth M. Grove, who still sur- lor, and has missed but one presidential elec- vives.

Archibald Hyson received his education at Cross Roads and the Fulton school. From boyhood he showed an inclination for con- struction, and, after school hours, was often found with hammer and nails; consequently, years as director and treasurer, and during all when at the age of eighteen years he engaged of this period has missed but one board meet- ing, and has been late to but one. He has al- ways taken an active interest in local history, and has written numerous interesting articles on the early history of his church and town- ship. These articles have appeared, from time to time, in the Christian Instructor, printed in Philadelphia. In 1866, Mr. Hyson built the Hopewell U. P. Church. in carpentering, it was no surprise. He as- sociated with Christian Leib, as apprentice, and continued with him for some time, and then went to Baltimore, where he finished his trade in two years, part of which time he worked for George W. Arnold, father of Samuel Arnold, one of President Lincoln's assassins. Mr. Hyson knew Samuel Arnold as a self-willed boy.

Mr. Hyson returned to his native place from Baltimore, and here he has since engaged in carpentering, and, although eighty-two years old, is still engaged in his work. In his time he has erected and repaired nineteen churches, scattered all over Harford and Bal- timore counties, Md., and York and Juniata counties, Pa., and he has also erected many school houses, to say nothing of many resi- dences and barns, some of them being the fin- est in the section.

Mr. Hyson was married Feb. 21, 1856, to Miss Martha J. Gemmell, born in Hopewell township, in 1831, who died in 1874. Her father was Robert Gemmell, at one time com- missioner of York county, and her mother Elizabeth Dorris, of Fawn township. In 1857 Mr. Hyson located on the home farm, and there he has since resided. He built a mill on the farm in 1854, and this and his farm are operated by assistants. The farm consists of 100 acres of as fine land as is to be found in the county, and the tract, under Mr. Hyson's management, is a model for order and state of cultivation. Mr. Hyson's second marriage occurred Dec. 21, 1877, to Ellen W. Collins, daughter of John and Margarte I. (Wilson) Collins.

Archibald Hyson has been a director of the Shrewsbury National Bank, and has other business interests. He united with the Hope- well U. P. Church in 1843, and has continued a member thereof ever since, having been a trustee for twenty years, and elder since 1863. He has also, for years, been actively interested in the work of the Sabbath-school. In 1848 Mr. Hyson cast his first vote for Zachary Tay-

tion since, that being at the time of Lincoln's first election, when Mr. Hyson was serving on a jury and could not attend the polls. He has been connected with the schools of Hopewell and East Hopewell twonships for eighteen

To Mr. Hyson and his first wife these chil- dren were born: Robert Gemmell, died at the age of two years; Ella E. I. married John F. Maughlin, and lives in East Hopewell ; John Beniah, who was a farmer in East Hope- well township, and who died aged thirty-three years, in 1894, married Maggie E. Neil, by whom he had three children: Archie C., Rob- ert J. and Nellie Belle. There have been no children born to Mr. Hyson and his second wife. Archibald Hyson is a temperate, do- mestic, kind and gentle Christian gentleman, and as such is loved and respected by all who know him. He is truly one of York county's representative men.

E. W. LOUCKS, director of the First National Bank of York, is a son of Zachariah K. Loucks, one of the organizers of that in- stitution, in which he was a director from 1864 to 1875.

The annals of the Loucks family are very interesting, historically. John George Loucks came from Germany some time previous to 1780, and settled in the beautiful region of Berks county, known as Tulpehocken, where he purchased a large tract of land. About the year 1780, hearing of the fertile lands west of the Susquehanna, he removed to York county to continue his chosen occupation of farming, and purchased land southwest of York. On May 13, 1805, he purchased the mill and farm, where Z. K. Loucks afterward lived.

George Loucks, son of John George Loucks, and grandfather of E. W. Loucks, was born Aug. 18, 1787, and died Oct. 29, 1849. He followed the occupation of miller and farmer at the Loucks homestead

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BIOGRAPHICAL

and purchased a great deal of real estate, at his death owning the mill property. He was married to Susanna Welzhoffer, of Hellam township, and had three sons and three daugh- ters.

Zachariah K. Loucks, E. W. Loucks's father, was born March 14, 1822, on the place where he lived throughout his life. He re- ceived his education in the York county Acad- emy, under Rev. Stephen Boyer. For a num- ber of years he was a classmate of Prof. Kirk- wood, who afterward became the famous astronomer and mathematician. He commenced business in York first as a clerk, with the firm of Schriver & Loucks, and afterward was a clerk for Loucks & Becker, at the old Manor Furnace in Chanceford township, where he remained one year. He then entered the store of Henry Becker in York, where he remained until 1839, when he returned to his home in Spring Garden township, and attended to the duties of the grist mill and farm until his father's death. After this event, he and his brother, Henry J., succeeded their father in business at the old homestead, where Zacha- riah continued to reside, about one mile north of York, along the Northern Central railroad. Zachariah K. Loucks built a new and splendid mansion on this site, and carried on his father's milling and farming business with great suc- cess. Here was erected one of the first grist- mills west of the Susquehanna. The old two- story mill, distillery and sawmill was destroyed by fire, April 29, 1864, and the present com- modious, five-story brick mill was built in the fall of the same vear, at a cost of $30,000. It contains the latest improvements of milling machinery and has a capacity of 150 barrels of flour in twenty-four hours. For many years it was leased by P. A. & S. Small of York.

In connection with milling and farming Zachariah K. Loucks engaged in other busi- ness pursuits. At the time of the organization of the First National Bank in York, in 1863, he became a director. He was afterward elected a vice-president, and in 1877 was chosen president of that institution, which po- sition he filled until his death, April 25, 1895. He was a director and general financier of the York and Peach Bottom railroad when it was built ; for many years he was a member of the board of directors of the York County Agri- cultural Society, and a life member of same; was president and one of the projectors of the York and Chanceford Turnpike Company ;

was a director of the York City Market until its completion, when he resigned; was vice- president of the Pennsylvania Mutual Horse Insurance Company, of York; and was largely engaged in the real estate business.

Zachariah K. Loucks was married Jan. 5, 1843, to Sarah Ann Ebert, daughter of Col. Michael Ebert of Spring Garden. She was born March 18, 1822, and the children born to this union were: Alexander, who married Catherine Wambaugh, lives in Manchester township; George E. married Susan Jane My- ers, and resides at Hellam Station; Edward W. is unmarried, lives at home and manages the estate; Z. K., the well known lawyer, grad- uated with honors from Princeton; Isabella, the only daughter, who married John W. Koller, died at the age of twenty-seven years, leaving two children; William; and E. L.

Mr. Loucks, as a business man, had an active and prosperous career, and having good judgment, keen discrimination and excellent financial and executive ability, was eminently fitted for the successful prosecution of the real estate business. Originally a Whig, he after- ward became an ardent Republican.

E. W. Loucks was made a director of the First National Bank of York in 1895, and in addition to this responsibility is a director of the Spring Garden Building & Loan Asso- ciation and Spring Garden Fire Insurance Company, a director of the Rockdale Powder Company, and Rockdale Railroad Co., and has large landed interests at Loucks's Mill, the fam- ily seat where he makes his home, as has the Loucks family since 1805. Mr. Loucks con- ducts a real estate business in York, where he has an office. He is superintending his father's estate which has not as yet been divided. For fifteen years he has been a deacon in Zion's Lutheran Church. Mr. Loucks is justly rated as one of the most active, intelligent and enter- prising business men of York, and the mantle of his father could not have fallen upon more worthy shoulders.

EMILE BOILEAU. The honorable dis- tinction of having woven the first yard of broad silk ever made in York county, and of starting the first silk loom in York city, in December, 1878, belongs to an adopted citizen of our country, Emile Boileau, who was born and reared in France.

Nicholas Boileau, father of Emile, married Amelia Febvay, and the first period of their

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married life was passed in their native France. Codorus Council, D. of P., in York. Since They had eight children, namely: Emile; residing in York, Mr. Boileau has taken an Charles, engaged in trucking in Pike county, active interest in the work of the Emanuel Evangelical Church, and as elder and assis- tant superintendent of the Sunday-school has done much to build up the organization. Pa .; Jules, a mail carrier there; Camille, an electrician in New York; Leon, a trucker in Pike county ; Joseph, a hotel steward in New York; Marie, the widow of Joseph Craig; and Justine, who married the late Capt. Joseph Valentine. In 1877 Nicholas Boileau and his family emigrated to America, and, settling in Pike county, Pa., engaged there in trucking.

Emile Boileau was born in the Commune of Fresse, France, May 6, 1860, and was seventeen years old when he accompanied his parents to this country. He had attended school in France and continued his studies in Pike county. On completing his education he en- tered the employ of Luchneyer & Schaffer, silk manufacturers at Union Hill., N. J., with whom he remained nine years, first as a weaver and for the last three years as a loom fixer. When he left that firm, Mr. Boileau went to Paterson, N. J., as a loom fixer, and after four years there was employed in the same capacity by the Paragon Silk Company and Grimshaw Brothers. In 1896 he became foreman of the Fleetwood mills and two years later took a similar position with the York Silk Manufac- turing Company, where he is still engaged. He is foreman of a weaving department, and has over 200 employees under him. He is ex- ceedingly competent, and his employers have the utmost reliance upon his ability and judg- ment.

In 1885 Mr. Boileau was united to Marie, daughter of Nicholas and Magdalen (Jaril- lat) Mallet, of Lyons, France. Another daughter, Janne, is the wife of John Anbonnet of that same city. Mr. and Mrs. Boileau are the parents of two children, Paul and Amelia.

Since becoming a citizen of the United States, Mr. Boileau has been identified with the Democratic party, and has been much inter- ested in political issues. In May, 1902, he was elected justice of the peace for Spring Garden township for a term of five years, and is filling the position with great credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. In fraternal circles he is prominent, and is connected with a number of orders. He is P. N. G. of Jackson Lodge, No. 150, I. O. O. F., in Union Hill, N. T .; a member of Unamis Tribe, No. 330, I. O. R. M., of Reading ; of Chandler Lodge, No. 227, F. & A. M., of Reading; and of

SANFORD BRAINERD GLEASON, late of. York, was a native of New England, born July 29, 1833, in North Adams, Mass., and he served as lieutenant with the 49th Massachusetts Volunteers, Col. Bartlett com- manding, in the Civil war. He was wounded at Baton Rouge, La., and was carried from the field by his captain (later colonel) Byron West- on, of Boston, now of Dalton, Mass. He was honorably discharged May 9, 1863.

Mr. Gleason made York his home for a number of years prior to his decease, coming hither March 9, 1879, and in company with A. B. Farquhar purchasing the lands of Michael Smyser, then farming property. Here Mr. Gleason designed and laid out what is now known as Farquhar Park, naming it after his partner. They carried on an extensive real-estate business in York, and were very prominently identified with that line. Farquhar Park is one of the pleasantest places in York county. Mr. Gleason was also connected here with the Corliss Safe Manufacturing Company, of Providence, R. I., from the time of its organization. His death occurred June 9, 1890, and he was buried in Prospect Hill cemetery, the funeral services being conducted by Rev. J. O. Miller, of Trinity Reformed Church.

It will be noticed that the number "9" played a peculiarly important part in Mr. Gleason's life-born on the 29th day of the month, enlisted in the 49th regiment, on the 29th of October, discharged on the 9th day of May, located in York March 9, 1879, and died June 9, 1890.

Mr. Gleason was married to Mrs. Matilda (Myers) Spangler, widow of Michael Spang- ler, and daughter of John and Eleanor (Hum- mer) Myers, a complete history of which fam- ily will be found elsewhere. Mrs. Gleason survives her husband and resides in the Ex- press building, on Beaver street, York city.

LEO MYERS, brother of Mrs. Gleason, was born in York in 1840 and received his educa- tion there, developing unusual ability. He read law with Mr. Cochran, was admitted

J.B Gleason

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BIOGRAPHICAL

to the York County Bar, and for many years dian natives. He died and was buried in engaged in successful practice in York, first in Berks county. . company with Lawyer Mayer, and later as

a member of the firm of Ziegler & Myers. He under the King, and the celebrated Indian inter- died in 1884, after a brilliant career, and is buried near Pittsburg. preter and head of the Indian Bureau of Penn- sylvania. As a boy he had been sent to live with the Indians, and with them learned their language, thus laying the foundation for his future usefulness. In 1736 he was sent to treat with the Six Nations in New York, con- cerning a war that was to break out between them and the Indians of Virginia, and his policy accomplished much in averting the threatened rupture. He was visited, Aug. 14, 1752, by Count Zingendorff, at Tulpehocken, who here met a numerous embassy of sachems of the Six Nations. The Count preached the Gospel to the Indians. At the conclusion of his remarks to them he said of Weiser: "This is a man whom God has sent both to the In- dians and to the white people, to make known His will unto them." For a quarter of a cen- tury he attended all the important treaties. In connection with the governor of Pennsylvania, Benjamin Franklin and several other persons, in 1752, he was appointed one of the trustees of the public schools, which were established through the efforts of Rev. Michael Schlatter; one of these schools was, about this year, started in York. During the French and In- dian war he was lieutenant-colonel of a bat- talion of Pennsylvania soldiers. After an eventful and very useful life he died among his friends at Womelsdorf, Berks county, July 13, 1760, at the age of sixty-four. His re- mains were interred and still rest in the old graveyard near the house, which is still stand- ing. He left seven children, to whom, by mar- riage, the Muhlenbergs are related.

THE WEISER FAMILY. On a proc- lamation of Queen Anne, of England, in 1708, owing to internal dissensions in Germany, about four thousand Germans were transported to Holland in 1709, and thence to England. They encamped near London, when, in the following year, Gov. Robert Hunter, of New York, who was then in England and about to sail for his own country, invited. with him about three thousand of these Germans or Palatines to what is now the State of New York, and they were soon afterward located on what was called the Livingston manor, and turned their attention to agriculture. A chief of the Mohawk Indians, who had about this time visited England, presented Queen Anne a tract of his land in Schoharie, N. Y., and in 1713 about one hundred and fifty families were transferred through the wilderness to that place. Among these emigrants was the father of Conrad Weiser, with his wife and seven sons and daughters. He is the great ancestor of the Weiser family in this country. His Christian name is not for a certainty known. From one of his sons the Weisers of York are descended. The colony at Scho- harie did not prosper. They commenced building houses and improving lands, and la- bored until 1723, when they were partly dis- persed, owing to defects in their titles to lands. They then began to search for new homes, and began wending their course in 'a south- easterly direction, until they struck the Sus- .quehanna. Here they made canoes, in which they floated down the river to the mouth of the Swatara, and therice to the fertile spot in Berks county, along the Tulpehocken creek, where they settled among the Indians. The father of Conrad Weiser remained at Scho- harie until 1729, when, with his wife and four children, all that were then living, he also came to the Tulpehocken. It was his design to devote all his attention to farming. But on many noted occasions his services as an interpreter were demanded by the authorities of Pennsylvania. He was a man of great benevolence. It was through him the Mo- ravian people were made so attentive to In-

Conrad Weiser, his eldest son, was a justice

Samuel Weiser, a descendant of the Tul- pehocken settlement, came to York in 1780, and immediately commenced the business of a hatter in a building on the present site of Jacob Wilt's jewelry store, on East Market street. He continued this business until 1822, but opened a dry goods store in 1808, on the corner still occupied by his descendants. Dur- ing the war of 1812 he employed about fifty workmen making hats, and sent wagonloads of them every Monday morning to Baltimore. He died in 1834, aged seventy-four years, and his remains were interred in the graveyard ad- joining Christ's Lutheran Church. They have since been removed to Prospect Hill cemetery. He was married to Eve Phfleager, and they

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 42

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