History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 47

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

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

the Hopewell Presbyterian Church, and has served as a trustee. Always an active worker in the church, he is liberal in its support, and donated $500 toward the building of the new church.

Mr. Miller was married May 29, 1853, to to Miss Sarah Ann Winemiller, who was born April 28, 1828, in the Cross Roads vicinity, this township, daughter of Joseph and Mary Magdalene (Souder) Winemiller, natives of Hopewell township. Mrs. Miller died Jan. 12, 1894, in the faith of the Presbyterian Church. Before her marriage she was a member of Sadler's Lutheran Church. These children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Miller : John C., who operates the farm for our subject, mar- ried Annie P. Miller; Joseph S., a doctor of York City, married Miss Olivia Miller, of Monkton, Md .; William H., of York City, married Miss Ella Faulkner; Salome A. M., is at home; Carrie died at the age of nine years ; Neeley died at the age of six years; and Gran- ville died in infancy.

In 1904 Mr. Miller, with his daughter Salome, and a party of relatives and friends, took a trip West, Mr. Miller stopping off at Decatur, Ill., to visit his nephew, D. A. Muffet, whose place he had visited when a boy, while the rest of the party continued on their way to the St. Louis Fair.

DANIEL EBERLY, A. M., D. D., one of the prominent clergymen of York county and now a retired resident of Hanover, was born on the old homestead farm, one-half mile north of Shiremanstown, Cumberland Co., Pa., April 22, 1834. During his boyhood he worked on the farm and attended the public schools. On New Year's Day, 1852, he started to attend college at Mt. Pleasant, West- moreland Co., Pa., later entering Otterbein University, Ohio, from which he graduated with the degree of A. B. in 1858. He has also pursued special studies in Brown University at Providence, R. I., during the collegiate year of 1855-56. He recited in the class of Intel- lectual Philosophy under President Barnas Sears, in which was Richard Olney, ex-Secre- tary of State, and in the class in Logic, Rhet- oric and English Literature, under Prof. R. P. Dunn, was the late John Hay, Secretary of State. After completing his education he en- tered as a member the Pennsylvania Annual Conference of the United Brethren in Christ, and served congregations in the counties of Sept. 28, 1905.

Cumberland, York and Adams, Pa., and Car- roll, Md. He was also pastor of the Scott Street United Brethren Church in Baltimore, Md., and later of Trinity United Brethren Church in Lebanon, Pa. He was president of the Cottage Hill Female College of York, Pa., from 1866 to 1872; and in 1872 was elected president of the Otterbein University, Ohio, but served only long enough to graduate one class, resigning on account of his interests in the East. He was professor of Latin Lan- guage and Literature in the Lebanon Valley College at Annville, Pa., from 1876 to 1884. A few years later he was elected to the presi- dency of the college, but on account of his own business engagements did not accept.

During part of 1863 Rev. Eberly served in the Union army, and since Dec. 2, 1875, he has been chaplain of the 8th Pa. N. G., be- ing in 1906 ranking state chaplain.

On Aug. 23, 1870, the Rev. Dr. Eberly was married to Josephine Bittinger, only daughter of William and Eliza (Hafer) Bitt- inger, of Abbottstown, Pa. She was a woman of splendid address, cultured, refined and affa- ble in her ways. While on a visit to her par- ents she took sick and died July 28, 1884, and is buried in the cemetery of her native town. Her father, William Bittinger, was a man of great personal worth, and was held in high esteem wherever known. He possessed great financial ability, and during his life amassed a large estate. He died in 1888, his wife sur- viving until 1899. After the death of his wife in 1884, Mr. Eberly lived with her parents un- til their decease. In the spring of 1900 he moved to Hanover, where he still resides. He has no regular charge at present, but almost every Sabbath preaches somewhere. He lec- tures frequently, and is lecturer on the Philos- ophy of History in the Lebanon Valley Col- lege. In his position as chaplain he invariably goes with the 8th Regiment when on duty in the State.

Much of the time of Dr. Eberly is taken up in the management of his farms and other interests, which demand his attention. He served as one of the three commissioners ap- pointed to erect a monument at Hanover, Pa., to commemorate the battle of Hanover, fought June 30, 1863, his associates in this work be- ing Governor Pennypacker and Col. John P. Nicholson. The monument was dedicated

Dane Eberly

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BIOGRAPHICAL

JACOB R. SPANGLER, M. D., who has of each of two years thereafter he was success- dignified and honored his chosen calling through his able services, and whose value has not fallen short of popular appreciation of a representative character, is a man of high pro- fessional attainments. He is a native son of York county, and a scion of one of its old and honored families. Dr. Spangler was born in Jackson township, this county, Nov. 22, 1850, son of Rudolph and Sarah ( Harbaugh) Spang- ler, both of German descent.

Henry Spangler, his paternal grandfather, was one of the prominent and highly esteemed pioneers of Jackson township, where he passed the closing years of his life. He was a mem- ber of Capt. Ament's company, of the Seventh York County Battalion in the Revolutionary war. An exhaustive genealogical record con- cerning the Spangler family has been compiled and published by Dr. Spangler's brother, E. W. Spangler, and is a most valuable produc- tion, being complete and accurate in the data furnished.

Rudolph Spangler was born on the old homestead farm, near Thomasville, Jackson township, this county, June 27, 1800, his par- ents having early settled in that locality. He was a farmer and general business man, and wielded much influence in his community, where he was held in unqualified confidence and esteem, while he was signally successful in his efforts.and accumulated a competency. In politics he was a Whig. He and his wife were both zealous and devoted members of the Re- formed Church. He was a member of the York Washington Artillerists from 1827 to 1831. He died Sept. 30, 1851, and his wife passed away in 1898, at the age of ninety-one years. She was a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Laucks) Harbaugh, and her grandfather was Yost Harbaugh, numbered among the very early settlers in what is now the county of York, and he was a captain in active service in the Revolutionary war. Mr. and Mrs. Spang- ler became the parents of eleven children, and of the number seven are living.

Dr. Jacob R. Spangler passed his youthful years on the old home farm in Jackson town- ship, while his rudimentary educational train- ing was secured in the district school, after which he continued his studies under most fav- orable auspices in the York County Academy, while later he became a student in the State Normal School at Millersville. For a portion 17

fully engaged in teaching in the district schools of his native county, and in 1871 he took up the study of medicine, having as his preceptor his brother, Dr. Benjamin F. Spangler, who was at that time engaged in practice in York, Pa. After thus reading for about one year, our subject entered Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, where he was graduated as a member of the class of 1874, receiving his de- gree of Doctor of Medicine, and coming forth well fortified for the active work and responsi- bilities of his exacting profession. Immedi- ately after his graduation he established an of- fice in his present location on West Market street, and in the intervening thirty years he has built up and controlled one of the largest and most representative practices in the city, while his prestige stands in evidence of his abil- ity, and also his hold upon the confidence and esteem of the people of the community. The Doctor takes great pride and satisfaction in driving a good horse, being an able judge of the noble animal and keeping several well bred horses in his well appointed stables, while in addition to his fine residence property he is the owner of other valuable realty in the city of York. He is a member of the York County Medical Society, the Pennsylvania State Medi- cal Society and the American Medical Associa- tion, while he keeps in close touch with the ad- vances made in both branches of his profession, having recourse to the best standard and peri- odical literature. In 1881 the Doctor served as city physician, while he has twice been elected a member of the city board of educa- tion, from the Fourth ward. In politics he gives an unqualified allegiance to the Repub- lican party, and both he and his wife are valued members of the Episcopal Church.

On Jan. 23, 1895, Dr. Spangler was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Jane McFee, daughter of James McFee, a prominent citizen of Baltimore, Md., and of this union has been born one son, James Henry, now a student in the city schools.

HORACE M. ALLEMAN, M. D., of Hanover, is a son of Dr. Horace and Rebecca (Winnemore) Alleman, and was born at Hanover, York Co., Pa., Feb. 19, 1863. He received his early education in the public schools, fitted for college at Baugher's Acad- emy, and in 1881 entered Lafayette College at

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Easton, this State, from which he was gradu- Emaus Institute and Pennsylvania College, ated in the class of 1885. Shortly after grad- and read medicine with Dr. Nathaniel Watson of East Donegal township, Lancaster county. He was graduated in the class of 1848, from the Pennsylvania Medical College, now the University of Pennsylvania, and practiced from 1848 to 1859 at Elizabethtown and Safe Har- bor, in his native county. In the last named year he came to Hanover, where he soon ob- tained a good practice, and where he died Jan. 14, 1887. He was an Odd Fellow and a mem- ber of St. Mark's Lutheran Church, and in pol- itics was successively a Whig and a Republi- can. At the time of his death he was burgess of Hanover, in whose advancement he took a great interest, especially in the public schools, having served for many years as school di- rector. Dr. Alleman was recognized as one of the leading physicians of the county, and had a lucrative and extensive practice. In 1847 he married Rebecca Winnemore, daughter of Thomas Winnemore, of near Elizabethtown, Lancaster county, and of the ten children born to them five grew to maturity; John H., cash- ier of the First National Bank of Hanover; Agnes, a teacher in the public schools ; Jennie, wife of J. J. Rohrbaugh, of Helena, Montana ; Louise, wife of Edward Wentz; and Dr. Hor- ace M. Mrs. Alleman survived her husband two years, dying Jan. 14, 1889, aged sixty- five years, and the remains of both rest in Mt. Olivet Cemetery. uation, and in the same year, he entered the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated three years later in the class of 1888, and im- mediately returned to Hanover for the prac- tice of his chosen profession. He was suc- cessful from the start has kept up with the medical advancement of the times, and now en- joys a very enviable practice. He is a member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church. He is a prominent Mason, belonging to Patmos Lodge No. 348, at Hanover, and he also belongs to Hanover Lodge, No. 763, Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks; and Hanover Lodge, No. 327, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In politics he has always been an active sup- porter of the Republican party and its prin- ciples. He is interested in public affairs, yet no politician, active in working for the supre- macy of his party, but no office seeker. Ho takes a special interest in the schools of Han- over, like his father before him, and when elected as school director in 1896, he accepted, and has been serving in that capacity ever since. He is now president of the board. De- voted to his profession, he is progressive and enterprising, a man abreast of the times and in touch with the medical spirit of the age. He is a member of York County Medical Society, and also of the American Academy of Medicine.

In 1891 Dr. Alleman wedded Cora Young, a daughter of W. J. Young, of Hanover. Their union has been blessed with one child, a son, Winnemore.

Dr. Horace Alleman, the father of the subject of this sketch, was one of the old phy- sicians of Hanover, `where he practiced for nearly thirty years. He was born Jan. 18, 1824, in Lancaster county, this State. son of John and Elizabeth (Mackert) Alleman, the former a native of Dauphin county, and the latter of Lancaster county. The Allemans are of German descent and were among the early settlers and prominent people of Dauphin county, where John Alleman was born in 1792. He settled near Elizabethtown, Lancaster county, and died there in 1866, and his wife, who was born in 1797, preceded him to the tomb by one year.

DAVID HORN, who died June 2, 1905, conducted a large and important business in plumbing, gasfitting and steani-heating con- tract work, in York, where he was known as a reliable and straightforward business man.

George Horn, father of David, was a car- penter by trade, and resided in York for many years engaged in contracting and building, but lived retired for a number of years prior to his death. He was a man of sterling character and ever commanded the confidence and esteem of all who knew him. He died in 1888, at the age of seventy-nine years. His wife, whose maiden name was Myers, was a member of an old and prominent York county family. To this worthy couple were born eight children, viz. : One that died in infancy, unnamed; Wil- liam, who died in 1878, at the age of forty-six

. Dr. Horace Alleman was reared on his years; Julia, wife of Albert Gotwalt, who is father's farm, received his education in the living retired in York; Amelia, the widow of

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John Haner, and residing in the city of Balti- eleven children born to our subject and his more; Henry, a carpenter, residing in York; Emma, wife of George Berkheimer, member of the York Fire Department; Annie, a resi- dent of Brooklyn, N. Y., and David.

David Horn was born in York, May 14, 1846, and in his youth he duly availed himself of the advantages afforded in the public schools of York. After leaving school he secured a position in connection with the Adam Express Company, and continued to be in the employ of that company until 1862, when he signalized his patriotism by going forth in defense of the Union, enlisting for a term of nine months, in Company K, 130th P. V. I., with which he proceeded to the front, participating in the memorable battles of Antietam, Fredericks- burg and Chancellorsville, besides many skir- mishes. At the close of his term of enlistment Mr. Horn received his honorable discharge and then returned to York, where he became identi- fied with the tinning and plumbing business, in which line of enterprise he engaged on his own responsibility in 1876. In 1892 he located in the present commodious quarters, at Nos. 217- 219 West Market street, where he was at the time of his death. He began operations on a modest scale, and by energy, progressive metli- ods and reliability he built up an extensive and prosperous enterprise, and was considered one of the pioneers in his line of business in the city of York. He handled many large con- tracts in plumbing, gas-fitting, steam and other heating systems, tin roofing and spouting, and general work along these important lines, while among the more notable buildings which he thus equipped may be mentioned the Security Title & Trust building and the Wiest block. He was held in high esteem in the business cir- cles of his native city, was a member of the Merchants' Association, and was a progressive and public-spirited citizen. Fraternally he was affiliated with Sedgwick Post, No. 37. G. A. R., and the Master Plumbers' Association. He had the distinction of being president of the board of health of York. In politics he ac- corded stanch allegiance to the Republican party. He was a valued member of the Luth- eran Church as is his widow.

In 1865 Mr. Horn was united in marriage with Miss Sara A. Morningstar, daughter of Michael Morningstar, superintendent of the beautiful Prospect Hill cemetery, from the time it was laid out until his death. Of the

wife, seven died in early childhood or infancy, the four survivors being as follows: Samuel H., an able assistant in his father's business; James B., a musician by profession, who re- sides in the city of Bradford, Pa .; Luther P., of Hanover, York county, where he is asso- ciated in business affairs with his father-in- law, who is the patentee and manufacturer of the laraphone; and Arthur H., a talented mu- sician, and student of the piano in Stuart E. Gipe's Academy of Music and Languages in York, and is also a piano teacher.

DR. AARON MARTIN GONTNER, a physician and surgeon of prominence in York, passed to his last rest May 16, 1903. He was born in 1856, and was a graduate of the Jef- ferson Medical College, at Philadelphia. He practiced his profession with marked success, for a period of twenty-six years, at York, and at one time he was the physician for the York county almshouse. His professional skill won him a wide acquaintance, and he was beloved for his sterling qualities of mind and heart.

On July 3, 1879, Dr. Gontner was married to Sarah J. Keefer, daughter of Moses Keefer, a contracting plasterer of York, where he died when Mrs. Gontner was but two years of age. She was reared and educated in York. To Dr. and Mrs. Gontner were born children as fol- lows: Mary Anna Romain, who died Sept. II, 1899, aged twenty years; De Etta Eliza- beth, who died in 1887, aged seven years; Amanda Magdalene, who died aged twenty- six days ; and Sarah Ellen and Rosa May, who reside with their mother.

Dr. and Mrs. Gontner belonged to the Trinity United Evangelical Church. In pol- itical sentiment he was a Republican.

DR. JOSEPH H. BITTINGER, phy- sician and surgeon, was born near Hanover Feb. 3. 1852. He is a lineal descendant of Adam Bittinger (Biedinger), who in 1736 emigrated from Alsace to America. He landed in Philadelphia, and settled first in Lancaster county, and in 1753 purchased a tract of land three miles northwest of Hanover. Adam Bittinger died in 1768, leaving a widow, Sabina, and children as follows: Nicholas, Henry, Michael, Peter, Marrilas. George, Adam, Christian. Frederick and Eva.

Nicholas Bittinger, the eldest son, was

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

a native of Alsace, grew to manhood in America, and as early as 1743 was one of the members of the council of the "Evan- gelical Lutheran Church of the Conewago," now St. Matthew's of Hanover. For a time, when the church was without a pastor, he was licensed by the Synod to read sermons from the pulpit and conduct other religious services. In 1775 he became a member of the Committee of Safety of York county. He served as captain in Col. McAllister's regiment in the Flying Camp, during the Revolution, participating in all the engagements under Washington, in the campaign of 1776 around New York City. At the battle of Fort Wash- ington, in November, 1776, more than one- half the company commanded by Capt. Bit- tinger were killed, wounded or captured, and he himself became a prisoner of war, being held by the British in New York City for several months. He was very successful in the accumulation of property, and at the time of his death, on May 2, 1804, owned several good farms within six miles of Hanover, and a number of choice tracts of land in Franklin county. His remains were interred at Ab- bottstown. He had a family of nine children, two sons, John and Joseph, and seven daugh- ters. One of his daughters married Major John Clark, of York, a famous soldier of the Revolution, who was a major in McAllister's regiment, and afterward served on the staff of Gen. Greene.

Joseph Bittinger, the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born Feb. 26, 1773. In the year 1798 he became the owner of a tract of land purchased by his grand- father, Adam Bittinger, in 1753. He died July 26, 1804, at the early age of thirty-one, and left a widow and five sons, namely : John, Joseph, Henry, Frederick and George. His second son, Joseph, the grandfather of Dr. Bittinger, was born Nov. 13, 1794, married Lydia Bear, of Hanover, in 1819, and died Sept. 27, 1850, on the old homestead of Adam Bittinger, the immigrant. He left twelve chil- dren, of whom William Henry, born in 1821, died in 1879. Joseph, a graduate of Pennsyl- vania College and Andover Theological Seminary, became pastor of Presbyterian churches in Cleveland, Ohio, and Pittsburg, Pa., was a fine speaker, an elegant writer and a doctor of divinity ; he died in 1885, and his

remains were interred at Hanover. The other children were: Ellen and Edward, who died in Chicago: Rebecca; John; Quiney, a grad- uate of Dartmouth College and Andover Seminary, pastor of a Congregational Church at Haverhill, N. H .; Daniel; Annie; Howard; Nicholas ; and Charles Lewis.

Dr. Bittinger grew to manhood on his father's farm and obtained his education in the public schools and Pennsylvania College. at Gettysburg. He then taught school in Illinois and Pennsylvania for five years. For a time he was associated with his uncles in the foreign and domestic fruit business in Chi- cago, residing in that city when the de- structive fire took place there, in 1871. The following year he returned to his native State, and began the study of medicine with Dr. A. J. Snively, of Hanover. He entered Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and was grad- uated in 1878 with a class many of whose members have won distinction in their profes- sion. He practiced medicine for two years in Hanover, and then went to Philadelphia to take advantage of the opportunities afforded a young physician in a large city. In 1882 he returned to Hanover, where he soon built up a large and lucrative practice, and became one of the leading physicians and surgeons in York county. Dr. Bittinger has served for many years as surgeon of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company and the Western Maryland Railroad Company. He is a member of the York Coun- ty Medical Society, and of the State Medical Society of Pennsylvania, which he has served as vice-president, and has been a member of the American Medical Association since 1881. He is also one of the censors of the Medico- Chirurgical College of Philadelphia.

In 1887 Dr. Bittinger assisted in organiz- ing the Hanover and Littlestown Turnpike Company, and has been its treasurer since 1889. He was a director and also president of the Penn Flouring Mill Company, of Han- over, until it was disposed of to the Eastern Milling and Export Company. In 1893 he was one of the organizers of the People's Bank of Hanover, of which institution he served as first president, and then for several years was vice-president of that institution. Owing to the increased duties devolving upon a phy- sician of large practice, he was compelled to re- tire from the banking business to devote his

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time to his profession. When Hanover needed a larger water supply. Dr. Bittinger became of his long and useful life. vice-president of the Consumers Water Com- pany, which he and others organized in 1896. He also served for several years as a director of the McSherrystown Water Company. Dr. Bittinger has been active in the public affairs of Hanover, serving for a long time as school director, and for two years as president of the board. He was influential in securing the State appropriation for the battle monument at Hanover. The bill appropriating $7,500 for the monument was introduced into the State Legislature by his brother, John R. Bit- tinger, who was then a member of that body. · Dr. Bittinger is a member (and past master) of Patmos Lodge, No. 348, F. & A. M .; Good Samaritan Chapter, No. 266, R. A. M .; York Commandery, No. 21, K. T .; Hanover Lodge, No. 327, I. O. O. F .; and a member and one of the trustees of Washington Council, No. 328, Patriotic Sons of America.

In 1882 Dr. Bittinger was married to Clara E., daughter of Michael and Eliza Bucher. They had seven children, five of whom are dead: Eliza May, Bryant Henry, Berthia, Clara and an infant. Those living are Ralph Emerson and Mary A. Ralph is a stu- dent at Worcester College, in Massachusetts. The ancestors of Mrs. Bittinger were among the early settlers in the western part of York county. Her father, Michael Bucher, a man of education and culture, for a period of half a century was one of the leading citizens of Hanover.

JOHN W. DEHOFF, M. D. Among the able and popular physicians and surgeons of the city of York is Dr. Dehoff, a disciple of the Homeopathic School of Medicine, who has been successfully established in practice in York for nearly a decade and a half.

Dr. Dehoff is a native of Maryland, born in Carroll county, June 20, 1848, son of John and Susanna (Shamberger) Dehoff, both na- tives of that same county and members of families long ago founded on American soil. The paternal grandparents of the Doctor were Samuel and Catherine (Wheeler) Dehoff, while Jacob Shamberger, his maternal grand- father, was a native of New York State, of German lineage, who removed to Maryland

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 47

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