History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 43

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

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

had eight children: Samuel, Jacob, Charles, a member of Christ's Lutheran Church under Daniel, Catherine, Eliza, Margaret and Cas- sandra.

Samuel Weiser, the eldest son, succeeded his father in the manufacturing of hats until 1840, when he bought a farm one-half mile south of York, and died there in 1856. Augus- tus, his eldest son, died on the farm; Albert is living in Preston, Minn., engaged in the jew- elry and drug business; Aemilius is located in Decorah, Iowa, in the drug business ; Louisa married John Ensminger, and is now deceased; Alexander died unmarried; Catherine married John C. Rupert; Margaret married Josiah Poorbaugh, of Berlin, Somerset Co., Pa .; Annie married David Ziegler, of York; Flor- ence, deceased, was married to Martin Bender, of York; Miss Helen is living in York.

Jacob Weiser, second son of Samuel Weiser, Sr., went into the dry goods business in 1818, with his brother Charles, continuing same until 1836, when he engaged in the lum- ber trade with his brother Daniel P. Weiser. He was director in the York County Bank, York Water Company, and York & Susque- hanna Turnpike Company, each for many years. He died in 1874, at the advanced age of about eighty-three years. He left two chil- dren : Franklin S., who succeeded him in the lumber business, and Jane, married first to Jacob Smyser (deceased) and now to Na- thaniel Weigle.

Daniel Weiser, fourth son of Samuel Weiser, Sr., was a tanner and currier for many years, and afterward formed a partner- ship with his brother Jacob in the lumber business. He died about 1855, leaving three sons : Gates J. Weiser (lately deceased), Da- vid Weiser and Oliver P. Weiser.

Charles Weiser, son of Samuel, Sr., and father of John A. and Charles S. Weiser, who are prominently identified with the business interests of York, was born in 1796, and was the junior member of the dry goods firm of J. & C. Weiser, commencing business in 1818, and continuing until 1846. In 1856 he founded the banking house in his own name. In Jan- uary, 1860, his son, Charles S. Weiser, be- came a member of the firm. In January, 1867, was formed the firm of Weiser, Son & Carl, which has since merged into the York County National Bank. For a number of years Charles Weiser was a director in the York Bank, and president of the York & Gettysburg and York & Susquehanna Turnpike Companies. He was

Dr. Schmucker, and one of the founders of St. Paul's Lutheran Church. He died in 1867, aged seventy-one years. He lived for twenty- five years on the property now owned by Jere Carl, Esq. He was married to Anna A., daugh- ter of Gen. Jacob Spangler, and left nine children out of the family of ten born to them : John A., Erastus H., Horace S., Charles S., George (who died in infancy), Josephine (married to Dr. Pentz), Theodosia E. (un- married), Arabella (now deceased), Amelia (married to M. S. Green), Adaline (married to Jere Carl).

John A. Weiser, eldest son of Charles Weiser, was born July 31, 1824. He received his education in York County Academy. He began his mercantile career in 1838 as a clerk in his father's store, and remained in the same position until 1846, when he succeeded his father in the business. This he continued until 1883, when his two eldest sons succeeded him. This store, in the same location, was continued in the Weiser name from its organization in 1808 until H. P. Weiser & Bro. discontinued the dry goods business. Mr. Weiser had been exceptionally prosperous as a merchant, and his name was familiarly known in York coun- ty. Possessing rare business qualifications, John A. Weiser was prominently connected with other interests in the town and county, being one of the founders and directors of the Farmers National Bank, and for many years a director of the York County Bank. He was president of the York & Gettysburg Turnpike Company from 1881; treasurer of the York Gas Company from 1850; manager and treas- urer of the York & Susquehanna Turnpike Company from 1867. He was married (first) to Miss Georgiana Eichelberger (now de- ceased) in 1851, and of this marriage there was one son, Harry P., born in 1852, formerly senior member of the mercantile firm of H. P. Weiser & Bro. In 1859 he was married (second) to Miss Mary Jane Upp, and the children by this marriage are: Bertha, born in 1860; George U., in 1861; Sterrett P., in 1864; Louisa, in 1865; and Annie S., in 1867. Mr. Weiser resided in his delightfully situated home at No. 218 East Market street, sur- rounded by all the comforts and conveniences of life.

Erastus H. Weiser, second son of Charles Weiser, was born in 1826. He received his preparatory education at York County Acad-

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BIOGRAPHICAL

emy and Pennsylvania College, at Gettys- burg. He afterward entered Yale College, and graduated in the class of 1849; read law with John G. Campbell, Esq., and had a lucrative practice in this profession before the York Courts until the time of his death, in 1872. He was married in 1852 to Miss Annie Frank- lin, daughter of Walter Franklin, Esq., of York, who is now also dead. They had two sons, William F. and Charles, the latter a graduate of. Yale Law School, class of 1893, and now an attorney in New York City. Mr. Weiser was an earnest and devoted Christian, an elder in the Presbyterian Church at York, and a teacher in the Sunday-school.

Horace S. Weiser, son of Charles, was edu- cated at Yale, and read law with Judge Fisher. He practiced at the York Bar for a few years, then removed to Decorah, Iowa, and founded the Winneshiek County Bank in 1854, con- ducting the same successfully until the time of his death, in 1875. He married Miss Louisa Amy, of Ohio, and their children were: Charles J., now a prosperous banker of De- corah, Iowa; Amy, who married Edward Car- lisle, of Chicago, Ill .; and Anna, Mrs. Jones, of Fargo, North Dakota.

Charles S. Weiser, son of Charles, was born in 1838, and educated in the schools of York and in York County Academy. He be- gan the banking business as a partner with his father in 1860, and continued the senior mem- ber of the firm of Weiser, Son & Carl until the banking house was discontinued. For several years he was a member of the firm of Weiser & Bender, engaged in the lumber business in Center county, Pa. The following positions of trust and honor held by him give conclu- sive evidence of his business capacity and in- tegrity: Treasurer of the York Water Com- pany, of the York County Academy, of the York Hospital and Dispensary, of the So- ciety for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, of the York County Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of the Board of Home Missions of the General Synod of the Evangelical Luther- an Church in the United States, of the Theo- logical Seminary at Gettysburg, of the Charles A. Morris fund of $7,000 for St. Paul's Luth- eran Church, and vice-president of the Orphan's Home and director in the York & Susquehanna Turnpike Company. Mr. Weiser was married, in 1866, to Miss Isadora Brown, daughter of the late William Brown, Esq., of York, and they had one child, Charles, who died in in-

fancy. Fraternally Mr. Weiser is a Mason. He and his wife are members of the St. Paul's Lutheran Church, and they reside in a comfort- able and convenient home at No. 257 East Market street, York.

William F. Weiser, at the time of his death a retired business man of York, and who was for a number of years prominently identified with the banking interests of that city, was a native of York county, a son of Erastus H. Weiser. He attended the graded schools of York and Harford, and entered the bank of Weiser, Son & Carl, in 1872. There he re- mained until 1889, when he left active busi- ness life, thereafter living retired. In politics Mr. Weiser was neutral, having never taken an active interest in such matters, and cast- ing his vote rather for the man than for the party. He made his home at No. 136 East Market street, York, where he died suddenly in the evening of April 1, 1906, in his fifty- third year. His illness was of only a few min- utes' duration, heart disease being the cause.

Mr. Weiser was well versed in the history of York county and the State of Pennsylvania, was a member of the Pennsylvania German Society, the Lafayette Club and the Country Club, and was prominently identified with the First Presbyterian Church and the York Young Men's Christian Association. He was a great traveler, having been to every section of the United States, toured Europe and vis- ited Alaska. He was unmarried.

PHILIP J. BARNHART, one of the most prominent citizens of West Manheim township, and a man well-known throughout York county, died April 6, 1905, at his home near Heil's Mill, in West Manheim township. Mr. Barnhart was born in Heidelberg town- ship, this county, June 8, 1846, son of Adam and Eliza Barnhart.

Philip J. Barnhart was reared on his fath- er's farm, receiving his education in the pub- lic schools of his native township. He came to West Manheim township in 1864, settling near the place where he resided until his death, and there he became one of the foremost busi- ness men of the vicinity. In 1869 he engaged in a general merchandise business, continuing therein for eight years, at the end of which time he engaged in farming, and as a general collector and business agent. In politics he was a Democrat, and he served his party as

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

committeeman and delegate, the former in Kendal, in the County of Westmoreland, through fifteen years, and the latter at thir- teen conventions of the county, and several State conventions. In 1896 he was mentioned as a delegate to the National Convention, but declined in favor of his friend, H. N. Gitt, of this place. In 1868 he was elected township auditor, was appointed deputy collector of In- ternal Revenue in 1894, and in 1898 was nom- inated and elected to the office of register of deeds of York county. Mr. Barnhart was very prominently connected with the business interests of his township, was a director of the Hanover Milling & Manufacturing Co., and a director of the Hanover Foundry & Ma- chine Co. He was, at the time of his death, the adjuster of the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insur- ance Company, and was one of the stock- holders, and vice president of the board of di- rectors of the Hanover Printing Company. Mr. Barnhart was a self-made man, one of keen judgment, and of tireless energy. In his death York county has lost a public-spirited citizen, an enterprising and successful business man, and a true Christian gentleman.

Philip J. Barnhart was married in 1865 to Miss Barbara Kalebaugh, of West Manheim township, who survives him, as do his two sons and two daughters: Lyman A., a farm- er in West Manheim township, who married Elma Meckley, of Blooming Grove, and has six children; Philip C., of West Manheim township; Mollie, who married John D. Dubs; and has had three children, Osebar, John and Ella, the last named deceased; and Missouri, who married Henry W. Baumgardner, of West Manheim township, and has two chil- dren, Addie and Hattie. Mr. Barnhart was buried at St. Paul's (Dubs) Church, the Rev. J. H. Hartman conducting the services.

PHILIP C. BARNHART was born Dec. 9, 1881, in West Manheim township, and there received his education in the public schools, assisting his father, during the summer months. at farming. He now resides with his mother at the old home in West Manheim township. He is single. Mr. Barnhart is a great lover of sports, and was one of the pitchers on the strong Hanover Base Ball Club for two years. He is an amateur photographer of some repute, and is a great hunter.

COOPER. (I) John Cooper, the progenitor of the Cooper family in York county, was born

England, in 1689. He was the son of a linen draper, and came to America in 1720, landing at New Castle, Del. He settled at Peach Bot- tom township on a tract of land called "Elisha's Lot," containing fifty acres, purchased of Elisha Perkins, who resided at what is now Lapidum, Harford Co., Md. It was granted by patent from Lord Baltimore to Mr. Perkins Dec. 19, 1719, and is described as being in Baltimore county, Maryland. Much of the land in this vicinity, although now in Penn- sylvania, was held under Maryland title, be- ing in the territory which occasioned the dis- pute between Penn and Lord Baltimore. The deed from Perkins to Cooper is dated Jan. 29, 1721. They were both of Baltimore coun- ty. The consideration named is eighteen pounds of silver money and a gun; the occu- pation of John Cooper is given as that of a "weaver." On May 20, 1724, he obtained a patent from Lord Baltimore for a tract of land lying contiguous to the above called "Deserts of Arabia." Another tract of 250 acres was laid off for him Sept. 7, 1724, called "Cooper's Addition," and later he acquired "Cullins Park," and also held land under Penn- sylvania title. Much of this land is still in the possession of his descendants. At that early date Mr. Cooper was in the midst of the pri- meval forest, and his stock roamed at will, making it necessary to mark and brand same. He recorded under date of July 30, 1730, his two ear marks and brand as follows: "John Cooper his mark for cattle and hogs, vgt .: a poplar leaf and a slitt in the left ear and swal- low forke in the right;" "Jno. Cooper, his mark, for cattle and hogs, vgt .: a crop and an under keal in each ear;" "John Cooper, his brand, vgt .: two round O's; and a flower du- luce." In order to aid in clearing the land Mr. Cooper leased, in December, 1729, for twenty years, fifty acres to Godfrey Hatfield and fifty acres to Abraham Each, on condition that they "shall plant and set out 100 apple trees on the place and to clear the land good. The first year the making a pair of horse traces, and the 2d the making of a plow, and then a barrel of Indian corn for each year."

John Cooper was married Oct. 23, 1722, to Alice Gill, who was, no doubt, the daughter of Stephen and Elizabeth Gill, who resided at or near where Baltimore city now stands. Trad- ition states that John Cooper, their son, was

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the first male white child born in York county. home. He was a justice of the peace from John Cooper died in 1759. His will is dated 1797 to 1815, and Associate Judge from 1820 to 1841. (3) Duckett, born Aug. 15, 1775, married William Stump, son of Rachel and Henry (Perkins) Stump, of Harford county. They lived near Darlington. (4) Stephen is mentioned below. Oct. 1, 1759, and probated in Baltimore coun- ty, Nov. 18, 1759. It is witnessed by John Forwood, Thomas Hambleton and James Brice. The following were the children of John and Alice Cooper : Priscilla, born Oct. 7, 1724, died Dec. 29, 1724; Alice, born July 8, 1726, died young ; John, born Nov. 29, 1728, married Hannah Wheeler; Thomas, born March 23, 1731, married Mary Abercrombie; Stephen, born May 13, 1733, married Susanna Morgan; Nicholas married Sarah Gill; Alex- ander married Mary Whiteford; Agnes, born in 1736, was the wife of John Boyd, son of Samuel Boyd; who settled in Lancaster, Pa .; Elizabeth married William Rowan, re- moved to Kentucky in 1783, and was the mother of John Rowan. John Rowan was born in Pennsylvania in 1773, and was ad- mitted to the Bar in. 1795. In 1799 he was a member of the State Constitutional Conven- tion, and was. Secretary of State in 1804; Mem- ber of Congress in 1807-09; member of the Legislature for several terms; Judge of the Court of Appeals; and United States Senator in 1825-31. A county in Kentucky and also one in North Carolina bears his name.

(II) Thomas Cooper, son of John and Alice, was born at the old homestead in Peach Bottom township, where he became a success- ful farmer, the home farm having descended to him by the will of his father. There in 1774 he built a large stone dwelling. He married Mary Abercrombie, daughter of James and Rebecca (Colgan) Abercrombie, who came from Scotland. Thomas Cooper died Sept. 18, 1798, leaving four children, two others hav- ing died in infancy. (1) Armfield, born in 1768, married Robert Morgan, the son of David and Lydia Morgan, and resided in Har- ford county, Maryland. (2) Alice, May 22, 1770, married John Grubb, son of Thomas Grubb, of Lancaster county, Pa. Mr. Grubb was commissioned captain of Lancaster coun- ty militia, Oct. 27, 1792; Sept. II, 1794, as captain of 2d regular brigade; and major of the State Militia in December, 1798. In the fall of 1794 he was ordered to Presque Isle. Lake Erie; there he remained until the fall of 1798, when he returned to his old home and married Miss Cooper. In the spring of 1799, they returned to the land he had selected near the town of Erie, and made it their future

(III) Stephen Thomas was born Aug. 29, 1777. His early education was supplemented with a course in Dickinson College at Carlisle. At the death of his father he became the pro- prietor of the old homestead and engaged in farming. In 1800 fire destroyed the mansion house which he restored, only to be again burned in 1900, when owned by his son, Levi. Stephen T. Cooper married in 1814, Kezia Beall, daughter of Zephaniah and Margaret (Crawford) Beall, of Washington county, Pa., and they were the parents of ten children : Zephaniah B. died in childhood; Levi died un- married, Jan. II, 1904, aged eighty-four years, nine months, sixteen days; Zephaniah B. (2) died unmarried, Dec. 20, 1854, aged thirty-one years, seven months, and twenty-seven days; Thomas J. married Sarah Bowne, and died Nov. 17, 1901, aged seventy-seven; Achsah B. died in infancy ; Henry, married Martha Ayers, of Jarrettsville, Md .; Stephen Parker, died un- married, Sept. 15, 1885; Margaret K. resides at the old homestead; Evan B. married Mary Jane Woodroe, now living at Mankato, Minn .; Mary E. lives with her sister at the homestead.

(IV) Thomas J. Cooper was born June I, 1825, on the old homestead in Peach Bot- tom township. He completed a common school education at the age of twenty-one years, and then learned the carpenter's trade. He con- tinued at that for about a year before going to New York to learn ship carpentry, but after about eight years at the latter occupation, he returned to York county, built a house a mile west of the old home, and settled down to farm- ing for the rest of his life. At the age of thirty he was married in New York to Miss Sarah Bowne, daughter of William and Mary (Bowne) Bowne, of Monmouth county, N. J. Mr. Cooper returned to Pennsylvania immedi- ately after his marriage. The children born to this union were as follows: W. Spencer, residing on the homestead; Ida, who died in infancy; Nelson B .; Mamie K., Mrs. William S. Dinsmore; Sidney; Emma, twin sister of Sidney, who died aged twenty; John E., of Parkersburg, W. Va .; Carrie, Mrs. William

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Henry; one that died in infancy, unnamed; and Charles, who married Mrs. Margaret (Bennington) Evans.

(V) NELSON B. COOPER was born in the house built by his father on the old homestead, Sept. 17, 1858. Until he was seventeen he was sent to the Mt. Joy school house, and after completing his education learned the black- smith's trade, which he has followed ever since. In December, 1876, he was married to Miss Deborah E. Stewart, daughter of John and Jane (Huff) Stewart, of Peach Bottom township; and they became the parents of three children: (1) Thorle F. is a blacksmith working with his father. (2) Scott R. mar- ried Miss Martha A. Craig, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Myers) Craig, and has two children, Alice G. and Edith. He is engaged in farming in Peach Bottom township. (3) Walton R. is also a farmer. Nelson B. Cooper is a member of the I. O. O. F. Though a life long Republican, he has never been active in practical politics.

(V) SIDNEY COOPER was born on the old Cooper homestead March 29, 1862, and at- tended school until he was fifteen. The fol- lowing three years he worked on his father's farm, and then spent two more traveling through the adjacent part of the country with no special occupation. Returning home he was employed by his uncle Levi on the farm until 1884, when he began farming for himself on his present homestead in Harford county, Md. He was married Jan. 18, 1884, to Miss Mary M. Stewart, a sister of Mrs. Nelson B. Cooper. To their union ten children have been born, namely : Emma, Ethel, Chester and Levi, all at home; John, who died in childhood; an in- fant who died unnamed; Mercy, who died in childhood; Vaughn; Stephen and Jason. Mr. Cooper takes no interest in politics, and is not actively allied with any party.

MARGARET K. COOPER, with her sister, Miss Mary E. Cooper, lives on the old home- stead, a place of 400 acres, situated on the Sus- quehanna river, and well-improved. On a part of this farm is the family cemetery in which John Cooper and his wife are buried, as well as their descendants. The grave of their daughter, Priscilla, is the oldest one, and the stone marking it bears the date, Dec. 29, 1724. The Misses Cooper are consistent members of the Slateville Presbyterian Church, and very well known and highly esteemed in the com- munity.

EMANUEL J. WEISER, of York town- ship, where he owns property and where he devotes his attention principally to market- gardening and fruit-growing, finding a ready demand for his excellent products in the city of York, from which his home is four miles distant, is a representative of the fourth gen- eration of his family in York county, the orig- inal progenitor in the county, and in this coun- try, having been his great-grandfather, who was of German extraction, but who had been a resident of Scotland up to the time of his emigration to tlie United States (in the latter part of the eighteenth century). He came to York county, Pa., and there took up about five hundred acres of wild land, in Spring Garden and York townships, passing the remainder of his life in this county.

John K. Weiser, grandfather of Emanuel J., was born and reared in Spring Garden township, this county, and in his youth learned the hatter's trade, which he followed for a num- ber of years, while finally he purchased the farm now owned by our subject, continuing his residence here a few years and being inci- dentally engaged in the huckstering business. He then took up his residence in the city. of York, where he established a notion store, and where he passed the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1873, while his remains rest in the beautiful Prospect Hill cemetery, at York, as do also those of both his first and sec- ond wives. The maiden name of his first wife was Elizabeth Crosby; she died in 1863, and was buried in Hindle's Union cemetery, North Codorus township. He married (second) Mrs. Joahanna Reikerd, whose death occurred in 1875. His children were: Benjamin C., a carpenter by trade and vocation, died in Spring Garden township; John C .; Alexander is a res- ident and business man of York; Charles C., of North Codorus township, died Feb. I, 1906, aged sixty-nine years, nine months and nine days, and was buried at New Salem; Emanuel C., enlisted in the army, took sick in New Mexico and died aged twenty-two years, and was buried by the Government ; the next two children died in infancy; Granville, a baker by trade, is a resident of York; and Mary is the wife of Adam Sager, a resident of Brillharts Station.

John C. Weiser, son of John K., died Dec. II, 1901, at the age of seventy years, six months and fourteen days, while his devoted wife, Leah J., passed away Sept. 25, 1896, at

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BIOGRAPHICAL

the age of sixty-five years, three months and twelve days, both being interred in Prospect Hill cemetery. They were both members of Christ Church (Lutheran), in York.

Of the children of John C. and Leah J. months.

Weiser William H., who married Miss Sarah Landis, is a resident of York township, where he is engaged in the trucking business; Charles F., who was a blacksmith by trade, married Miss Leah Levenight, died in York township and is buried in the cemetery of Green Hill church; Miss Emma C. E. resides with her brother Emanuel J., who was the next in order of birth; and Carrie E. first married Nelson Shepp, and after his death became the wife of William Smith, their home being in the city of York.

Emanuel J. Weiser was born at the family home, on Queen street, York, Jan. 17, 1861, and he has passed his life thus far in his native county. He duly availed himself of the advant- ages of the public schools, continuing his studies at intervals until he had attained his legal majority, while in the meantime he as- sisted his father in his business affairs and la- bors, and also worked out by the day to a great- er or less extent. Upon the death of his father he fell heir to the old home place, which com- prises fifteen acres, and here he has since been actively engaged in the nursery and market- gardening business, raising the highest grade of products and having built up a most profit- able enterprise, with York as his principal market. He has also given special attention to the growing of small fruits, and in the line of grape culture has gained a high reputation, having specially fine varieties and understand- ing so thoroughly the proper care of his vines that he secures large yields of most superior grapes, while he has gained on the same many premiums at the York county annual fairs. Mr. Weiser is held in high regard in the com- munity, and is known as a public-spirited cit- izen, while his political allegiance is given to the Republican party, in whose cause he takes a lively interest. He is a member of Christ Church (Lutheran), in the city of York, and his wife belonged to the First Reformed Church.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 43

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