History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 44

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

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On Aug. 3, 1893, was solemnized the mar- riage of Mr. Weiser to Miss Thirza M. King, who was born and reared in York county, daughter of Henry and Martha (Daw) King. She died in November, 1898, aged thirty years.

They had three children, the eldest of whom, Martha, died in September, 1894, aged twenty- one days ; the second died in infancy unnamed; John Henry died in August, 1898, aged ten

CHARLES FREDERIC LAFEAN, pres- ident of the Lafean Paper Company, and brother of Hon. D. F. Lafean, was born in York Dec. 12, 1862. He was educated in the public schools, and his first employment was in the coal yard of his father, Charles Fred- erick Lafean, which was located where the Lafean paper mill now stands. After leaving there Mr. Lafean spent one year in a grist mill, and then found employment with P. C. Wiest, the manufacturing confectioner, now retired, for whom he worked two and a half years. Mr. Lafean's next venture was in Bal- timore, where he engaged in the grocery and provision business, remaining eight months and then returning to York, again finding em- ployment with P. C. Wiest in the confection- ery business. Within a few days after ob- taining employment for the second time with Mr. Wiest Mr. Lafean purchased the business from the latter, and associated with him his brother, G. Jacob Lafean, as partner. On the foot of his father's coal yard property, to which other property had been added, Mr. Lafean established in 1889 a candy factory, but his brothers sold their interests to him, and in 1899 Charles F. established the Lafean Paper Company on the site of the old candy works. It was incorporated May 27, 1903, and was capitalized at $50,000. Of this Charles F. Lafean was made president; his brother, G. Jacob Lafean, secretary and treasurer ; and an- other brother, John R. Lafean, a director. The annual output is 2,500 tons, and the product finds a market all over the United States, Can- ada and South America.

Mr. Lafean was married June II, 1885, to Kate Allison, daughter of A. K. Allison, of York, and one child has been born to this union, Carl Luther, Oct. 7, 1890. Mr. Lafean belongs to Christ Lutheran Church, and in politics is an uncompromising Republican. He was born and reared in the Fourth ward of York, where he has always taken an active part in politics, having repeatedly been elected to county conventions, and received other marks of confidence from the Republicans of his dis- trict. Untiring in his industry, straightfor-

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ward in all his dealings and possessed of in- survive, Mary Elizabeth, Henry and Daniel. telligent judgment in all matters, Mr. Lafean Mary Elizabeth, born Oct. 11, 1830, is the may be said to be only at the beginning of a most successful career, for he is just in the prime of manhood. widow of David Brenneman, and resides in Springfield township. Daniel married Caro- line Landen, and they reside in Springfield township, York county.

HENRY GABLE, who is now living re- tired in the city of York, was for many years prior to his removal thither a prosperous farmer of Codorus township, this county, and he was held in such high esteem among his neighbors and fellows citizens there that the community regarded his change of residence as a distinct loss. He is a veteran of the Civil war, and his patriotism and public spirit have added to the respect which a life of integrity and right living has won for him wherever he is known.

Mr. Gable was born June 17, 1839, in North Codorus township, son of John Henry and Annie Gertrude (Jacobs) Gable, both of whom were natives of Germany. John Henry Gable was born June 16, 1795, and his wife was born Nov. 5, 1800. They were reared and married in their native land, where several of their children were born, and in 1835 came to the United States, landing at Baltimore. They did not remain there long, however, coming to York county, Pa., and settling in North Codorus township, where they passed the remainder of their lives. Mr. Gable was an industrious and upright man and was well respected by all as a good citizen-in fact he became quite prominent in his township. He assisted in making the tunnel on the North- ern Central railroad in North Codorus town- ship, and was employed by the same company for three years, assisting in building the road. A Mr. Feizer, living on the farm now owned by Mrs. John Sprenkel, near the tunnel, was the first man to pass through that tunnel. Mr. Gable bought the Emig farm of sixty acres in North Codorus, and there he engaged success- fully in agricultural pursuits, making his home on that place until his death, which occurred in 1844. The place is now owned by George W. Heiges. Mrs. Gable died at the age of eighty years, two months, and both are buried at the well-known Ziegler Church, in North Codorus township. They were members of the Reformed Church, and always took an ac- tive interest in its work. Mr. and Mrs. Gable had ten children born to them. Five of this family remained in Germany, and three still

Henry Gable received his first schooling in the old dwelling house on the Israel Folkomer farm in North Codorus township, and last at- tended at Mummerts meeting-house, in Adams county, remaining in school until his eighteenth year. In 1848 he saw the first telegraph poles thrown off the train that came from York. This was on a Sunday morning, and a pole was thrown off every 300 yards, and one wire was put on. This was a wonderful sight in that day, and a large crowd from the country round collected to view the train as it went speeding past Brillhart. The road was then the Baltimore & Susquehanna, but is now the Northern Central. That same year occurred a notable wreck. A freight train struck a heifer that belonged to James Robinson, a colored man, and was derailed, knocking off the northwest corner of the bridge at Brill- hart Station, the engine and cars going into the creek. Five men were injured and taken to the home of John Brillhart, near the Station. John Gable, a brother of Henry, was employed there at the time, and he went to the mill north of the station, now owned by the York Water Company, at one o'clock at night for rye flour for poultices for the injured men. By the fol- lowing Sunday the wreck was all cleared away, except the cow-catcher, and that is still there.

On June 18, 1857, Henry Gable returned to York county from Adams county, and in North Codorus township, near York New Salem, engaged in farm work, to which he had ben reared. In the fall of 1861 he came to York, continuing here until his enlistment, Feb. 23, 1864, in Company B, 187th P. V. I. He was wounded June 18, 1864, on the Peters- burg & Norfolk railroad, in Virginia, a bullet passing through his left thigh, and leg; Sam- uel I. Adams, of York, was at his side at the time. He was taken to the Division Hospital June 18, 1864, received attention there on the 19th, the next day going to City Point (Va.) hospital. On June 30th he left City Point Hospital for Washington, where he was re- ceived at the Finley Hospital July Ist. His sister, Elizabeth, went to Washington, D. C.,

Henry Gable

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in September, 1864, to secure his transfer to county, and founded the settlement afterward York Hospital A, and he left Finley Hospital known as Jefferson. The later members seem to have followed a mercantile life, both Cal- vin T. Kraft's grandfather, Frederick, and his father, Albert, having been merchants at that point. Late in life ( 1884) the father removed to York, where he was in business for some seven years longer, and then lived a retired life until 1898, which marked the date of his death, at the age of fifty-nine years. His wife was Elizabeth J. Ebaugh, daughter of David Ebaugh, who was for many years a farmer and teacher at Stewartstown, York county, passing his later years in the city of York. Calvin T. Kraft is one of a family of four children. A sister, Lilian, died in infancy ; Fannie died in 1890, at the age of eighteen, and Albert L., is now a salesman in York. Oct. 4, 1864, making the trip on the well- known "Penn Park," York, Pa., and arriv- ing at his new quarters Oct. 5th. On July 25, 1865, he was again transferred, this time to the Citizens Hospital, Philadelphia, where he arrived the same day, the next day leaving for Chestnut Hill Hospital, near Germantown, where he remained from July 26th to Oct. 17th. That day he went to the Christian Street Hospital, Philadelphia, where a piece of bone was taken from his leg Jan. 10, 1866, a second piece coming out years afterward, Sept. 3, 1872, on his farm in Codorus town- ship. Mr. Gable left Philadelphia Feb. 23, 1866, for Harrisburg, where he received his discharge the same day, also entering his ap- plication for a pension, at Washintgon, D. C. Returning to York county, Mr. Gable remained a short time near York New Salem, and thence removed to Seven Valley, where he was en- gaged at farm work.

On Oct. 29, 1868, Mr. Gable was united in marriage with Mrs. Elizabeth Henry, and they located on the farm in Codorus township, where Mrs. Gable passed the remainder of her active years. It was a fine tract of land, made more valuable by intelligent cultivation and constant improvement, and its owner justly ranked among the most successful farmers in men would have scorned to accept, as beneath

his locality. Mrs. Gable passed away at that home Dec. 26, 1885, and Mr. Gable continued to reside there until Dec. 24, 1903, since when he has lived retired in York. Mr. and Mrs. Gable had no children. She was a member of St. Peter's Reformed Church, and is buried at what is known as the White Church in Springfield township. Mr. Gable is a member of the Reformed Church in Springfield town- ship. He is a Democrat in political faith. Few men are better known than he in the locality where he made his home for so many years, and none are held in more general esteem.

CALVIN T. KRAFT, for the past five years cashier of the City Bank of York, be- gan his connection with the bank as a mes- senger boy, and received successive promotions to his present position.

The career of Calvin T. Kraft has not been an eventful one, but it has been exceedingly creditable from the point of industry and faitli- ful and efficient service. Born March 30, 1867, he passed the period of youth in gaining an education at the place of his birth, the village of Jefferson, later spending a period in attend- ance at the York County Academy. He began his business career while yet in his teens as a clerk in his father's store. After five years he- was offered the position of messenger boy in the City Bank, a position which many young

their dignity. But not so with Mr. Kraft: and having accepted it he attended to the duties involved with as much attention and care as if he were at the top of the ladder, instead of just stepping on the bottom round. Mr. Kraft passed from messenger boy to bookkeeper dur- ing the second year of his service, because, while faithfully attending to his work in the former position, he yet had time to acquaint himself with the work of the bookkeeper. Two years in this position, and he was found com- petent to handle the money of the bank, and as teller he passed a period of eleven years. The important position which Mr. Kraft now holds came to him by election of the board of direc- tors in May, 1900. Here he has maintained his reputation for efficient and painstaking ef- fort, and he is regarded in financial circles as one of the best men in his line in the city.

Mr. Kraft was married, July 10, 1902. to Mazie Stauffer, daughter of D. F. Stauffer. kery of York. The genial social qualities of

The date when the original emigrant of the Kraft family landed in America has been lost. but it was certainly in Colonial times that the proprietor of the Stauffer Steam Cracker Ba- first members of the family came to York

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Mr. Kraft have made him a popular member of They had these children: Mary, who died in York society. In the line of the fraternities he affiliates with the Elks, the Odd Fellows and the Royal Arcanum. In church faith and mem- bership he and his wife are Lutherans. Poli- tics as such have no particular attraction for him; he votes the Democratic ticket, and demands good men and correct principles. He is one of the younger members of the York County Historical Society, an institution which is becoming increasingly the pride of those in- terested in the past history of York county.

It is true that life with Mr. Kraft has not been a summer vacation at all times, indeed but seldom; yet he enjoys it, being by nature and training gifted with a penchant for work, and happy, therefore, only while busily en- gaged. No boy born with the true Ameri- ¿can spirit need have a less successful career if he accepts the opportunities everywhere at hand, and having taken up a line of work, fol- lows it with the same devotion to duty dis- played by Calvin T. Kraft.

WILLIAM B. NELSON, now living re- tired in Carroll township, was born June 30, 1838, in that township, son of Samuel Park Nelson.

Samuel Nelson, his great-grandfather, was born Feb. 7, 1742, and came from Eng- land to America at an early date, landing in New York City, whence he later on removed to York county, Pa., where he died Nov. 8, 1802. On March 9, 1769, he married Mary ( McMullen) Nelson, who was born May 21, 1747, and she died March 16, 1828. Their children were: Susanna, born Aug. 18, 1770, Margaret, born Feb. 18, 1773: William, born May 31, 1775; Mary, born Nov. 18, 1778; Robert, born June 26, 1781; Elizabeth, born Sept. 25, 1785; Sarah, born Jan. 26, 1787; Rebecca, born Aug. 31, 1790; and Jane, born Oct. 7, 1793.

William Nelson, son of Samuel, was born May 31, 1775, in York county, and there mar- ried Frances Parks. He owned two farms in Carroll township, consisting of about 300 acres of land, was very prosperous and highly es- teemed in his county. Later in life he re- moved to Dillsburg, where he lived retired un- til his death, which occurred in his seventy- fourth year. His wife had died aged forty- five years, and both were buried at Dillsburg.

Monaghan township, was buried at Dillsburg, and survived for some years by her husband, William Porter; Margaret, who married James Clark, died at Mechanicsburg, Cum- berland county, and was buried at Dillsburg; Samuel Park; Caroline, who died in Carroll township, and was buried at Dillsburg, mar- ried Matthew Porter; Joseph, who still lives in Ottawa Co., Kans., sixty miles east of the Rocky Mountains, married Mary Stanley, of Illinois, who died some years ago; Eliza Jane, who married James Williams, is buried at Dillsburg; Frances, the wife of Nebin H. Pal- mer, lives in Vermilion county, Ill .; and two boys who died when young.

Samuel Park. Nelson was born Dec. 25, 1813, in Carroll township, and there spent all of his life. He received a common school edu- cation, and, after his marriage to Margaret Bailey, born Jan. 9, 1815, daughter of Jolin and Anna (Blair) Bailey, they removed to his farm in Carroll township. This place con- sisted of 128 acres of finely improved land, upon which he erected new buildings and made improvements. He continued to farm there for twenty-four years, but retired from active work some time prior to his death, when he re- moved to Dillsburg to live a retired life. He was a very prominent man in local affairs, and his death, Feb. 9, 1884, caused universal sorrow. He was buried at Dillsburg. His first wife died aged thirty-two years and nine months, in 1847, and Mr. Nelson married her sister, Joanna, who was born Sept. 28, 1816, and she now makes her home in Dillsburg, be- ing one of the oldest ladies in that part of York county. The children born to Mr. Nel- son and his first wife were: Frances A., born Nov. 22, 1835, is single and lives at Dillsburg ; William B .: Maria T., born Nov. 1, 1839, died Dec. 28, 1843; Lucinda J., born Oct. 7, 1841, died unmarried Oct. 7. 1872; Robert, born Feb. 3, 1844, married Caroline Livings- ton, and lives in Adams county, where he car- ries on farming ; Maria T., born May 7, 1846, is the wife of James Floyd, a farmer of Mon- roe township, Cumberland county. To Mr. Nelson and his second wife were born these children : Emerson B., born July 29, 1850, married Katherine Kimmell, and lives at An- dersontown, York county; Mary B., born Sept. 28, 1852, died June 2, 1863; Joseph M.,

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born Nov. 14, 1856, died Nov. 7, 1864; and a high state, and all the best and latest im- Elmer, born Sept. 28, 1860, died June 10, provements in the line of machinery are to be 1863.

William B. Nelson attended the Stony Run school in his native township until twen- ty-one years of age, and then assisted his fath- er at farming. In 1866 he married Mary El- len Hurst, daughter of J. B. and Susan (Hershfelt) Hurst, of Philadelphia. They lo- cated on the home farm for five years, and then went to Cumberland county for one year, af- ter which seven years were spent in Dillsburg. Mr. Nelson then purchased a farm of eighty- nine acres in Carroll township, and remained there from 1879 to 1894. The next two years were spent at Bendersville, and he then en- gaged in a mercantile business at Wellsville. He built his present residence in 1896, on a small tract of six and one-half acres, and is now living a retired life.

These children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. William B. Nelson : (1) Laura C., born Sept. 12, 1867, died Sept. 28, 1890. She was the wife of Robert M. Metzger, and her son, Nel- son P., is making his home with our subject and his wife, they having taken him when quite young, and he is now attending school. (2) Jacob H., born April II, 1871, and work- ing his father's farm, married, July 10, 1894 at Bendersville, Pa .. Charlotte Whaley, and has two children, Ellen Hunt, born June 15, 1896; and William R., born Aug. 9, 1900. (3) Park H., born June II, 1875, died March 15, 1894, aged eighteen years, nine months, and four days.

Mr. Nelson is a Republican, and has been an able and active worker in the interests of his party in his section. He has served his township as assessor, school director, tax col- lector, and was a delegate to a number of county conventions. He is religiously con- nected with the Presbyterian Church of Dills- burg, and he has been a trustee of the church for a number of years, his wife and family also attending the services there. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are both well-educated and fond of good literature, as is evidenced by their large library and the presence of the latest and best magazines in their home. The Nel- sons' home, which is located about one mile from Dillsburg. is one of the handsome ones of the township, and the farm is in the finest possible condition. It has been cultivated to

found thereon. Mr. Nelson, his wife and fam- ily are very well-known in this section, and are most highly honored and esteemed.

HANANIAH SUTTON, a venerable and highly respected citizen of Fairview town- ship, York county, now living retired, was born in that township, March 8, 1823, son of John Sutton, and grandson of John Sutton, Sr., a native of England.

John Sutton, Sr., was born June 3, 1754, in England, and came to America, settling in Chester Co., Pa. He removed to Princeton, Fairview township, some time before 1800, where he followed farming and died March 8, 1849, at the age of ninety-four years, nine months and five days, and was buried in Krone cemetery, at Emanuel Church, Fair- view township. His wife, Elizabeth Hoffstot, of Germany, was born May 9, 1755, and died Dec. 17, 1835, aged eighty years, seven months and eight days. The children born to them were: Hannah, who married John Moore; Peter, a farmer; John, the father of Hananiah; Daniel; Mrs. Barbara Fisher; Mrs. Catherine Atticks ; and Mrs. Sarah Jones.

John Sutton, son of John, Sr., was born Aug. 12, 1786, in Chester county, where he learned the weaving trade, following this for a number of years in Fairview township, York county, in conjunction with farming, and died there Aug. 15, 1879. Mr. Sutton was thrice married, first to Mary Laird, who died March II, 1823; second to Catherine Ashenfelter; and then to Mary Snellbecker, now deceased. The children were all born to the first mar- riage: Barbara died young; John L. died in Fairview township; Daniel, a minister, died in Warrington township; Washington and Elizabeth, twins, of whom Washington died in York, and Elizabeth, who married William Taylor, died in Cumberland county ; and Han- aniah, the last named being three days old when his mother died.

Hananiah Sutton attended the schools of Fairview township, and also for a short time in Bucks county. At Princeton and Lewis- berry he learned the trade of blacksmith, and in the former town he engaged in business, and worked at his trade for forty-two years. For five years he was located at Lewisberry. So expert he became, and so accurate and

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swift his movements that he could shoe a horse in twenty minutes. In 1867 he located at his present place, buying the old David Cline farm of 240 acres, and has made many improvements. While he is now retired from active work, his shop still attracts and he of- ten goes there, and makes many little things for use on his farm.

Mr. Sutton married Elizabeth Nisley, daughter of Anthony and Susan (Snyder) Nisley. She died in 1875, and is buried at Emanuel Church. The children born of this union were: Robert, a farmer, who married Margaret Frankeberger, and is mentioned having accumulated some money, he purchased elsewhere; Luther, on the home farm, who a farm of 120 acres of his father-in-law's es- tate. This farm was close to Lewisberry in Newberry township, and is now owned by Jacob Fetrow. He built a fine barn and cider mill and otherwise improved the property. married Isabella Myers, and has one son, Han- aniah Myers; Emma Jane, who died aged four years; and Susanna, who married Luther Bushey, and died in Warrington township, in 1880. Politically Mr. Sutton is a Republican, and in spite of his advanced years he is well posted on public questions, and actively inter- ested in all progressive movements. Hale and hearty, he is a practical example of one who has grown old gracefully, but whose heart and interests are still youthful.

His grandson, Hananiah Myers Sutton, is now a successful and popular teacher, having had four years experience at Cross Roads, in Fairview township, and now being engaged in the school at Pinetown.

LEWIS CLINE, a useful citizen and suc- cessful miller in Fairview township, is an hon- ored veteran of the Civil war. He is descended from John Cline, of German descent, who was born in 1769, and who was a farmer living in Newberry township, near Lewisberry. He married Elizabeth Ensminger in 1787, and died in 1839. Both he and his wife were in- terred in a private burying ground on his farm. They had a family of twelve children : Mary (no record) ; Elizabeth, who married Jacob Kirk, and died in 1836; John, a farmer of Fairview township, who died in 1857, and was buried in St. Jolin's cemetery at Lewis- berry; Margaret, who died in 1874, and was buried in St. John's cemetery; Daniel, who died in Ohio; Philip, who lived in Illinois, and died there in 1859; Catharine (no record) ; Andrew, the father of Lewis (record below) ; George, a tanner of Dauphin county, who died in 1878; Joseph and Franklin, both plasterers, his death, had property worth over $60,000.

the foriner dying in 1874, the latter in 1886, and both are buried in St. John's cemetery; and Lewis, who lived and died in Illinois.

Andrew Cline, son of John, was born Nov. 3, 1805, and he received a limited school edu- cation. He learned the hatter's trade, making silk and beaver hats, which occupation he fol- lowed a number of years, a part of which time was spent in Ohio, called then the "Back- woods," and it being before the time of rail- roads, he was obliged to make the journey to that State on foot. Returning to Lewisberry he continued to make hats until 1836, when,

Mr. Cline was a progressive farmer, al- ways ready to try improved methods. He pur- chased an O. Hussey reaper, the first one in the community, and crowds of people were at- tracted by the novelty of seeing it work. On its trial trip a little dog belonging to Joseph Starr, tried to make a rather too close investi- gation, sprang into the knives and had his leg cut off and so lost his life. Mr. Cline also owned the first cook stove in the neighborhood, which was almost as great a curiosity; the cooking previously having been done in pots and kettles, over the coals on the hearth in the chimney corner. In 1852 he bought the Lewisberry mill property, in Fairview town- ship, of John Kauffman, with the beautiful mill dam covering nearly forty acres, known as Silver Lake, and he moved to that property, selling his farm in Newberry township in 1856. Mr. Cline was very successful in both his mill- ing and farming business, and soon purchased a couple of adjoining farms, and gave constant employment to half a dozen men.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 44

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