History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 50

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

USA > Pennsylvania > York County > History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II > Part 50

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

David Detwiler, father of David Stoner, was born in January, 1818, on the Lancaster Pike, near Columbia, Lancaster county. When he was two years old his parents moved to the homestead near Wrightsville, and there he grew up, working on the farm and attending the neighborhood schools. After the death of his father he carried on the home farm, and lived there until 1879. He then built the house which is the present home of his daughter, Mrs. George Graybill, and there resided until his death, Dec. 14, 1898. Like his father, Mr. Detwiler was all his life a Democrat, and served as one of the school directors in Hellam township for many years. He succeeded his father as turnpike supervisor, and held the position for twenty-five years. His wife, Sarah Stoner, was born in Hellam township, Feb. 6, 1829, daughter of Henry and sister of Emanuel Stoner, of Hellam township. Her death occurred in December, 1901, three years after that of her husband. They had the fol- lowing children : Paul, of Wrightsville ; Anna, Mrs. George Graybill, of York; David Stoner; and Ella K., widow of Dr. G. A. Rebman, of Wrightsville.

David Stoner Detwiler was born on the home farm adjoining the town of Wrights- ville Jan. 11, 1856. He grew up a farmer boy, but attended school regularly until he was nineteen years old. His first teacher was Wil- liam Levergood; in Hellan township he came under the instruction of Col. Frank J. Magee, and he attended the Millersville Normal School during the years 1874 and 1875. After leaving school Mr. Detwiler passed a few years at home on the farm, and in 1881 began business as a cigar manufacturer and dealer in leaf tobacco in Wrightsville. His factory is in the building on Front street, formerly used by William McConkey as a grain ware- house. He buys as much as $50,000 worth of leaf tobacco a year, and the yearly output of his factory for some years has been 4,000,000 cigars. He has other business interests in Wrightsville, and has been a director in some of the larger concerns. He gives a great deal

D.S. Detwiler

273

BIOGRAPHICAL

of attention to his farming interests in Hellam Mrs. David Stoner Detwiler, of Wrightsville; township.

On Oct. 12, 1886, Mr. Detwiler married Matilda G. Kerr, daughter of William H. Kerr, of Wrightsville, a sketch of whom ap- pears following. Two children have been born of this union : Helen B. and Reba May. In politics, like his forefathers, Mr. Detwiler is a Democrat. His first presidential vote was cast in 1876 for the Democratic candidate. He has served as chief burgess of the town, his term expiring in March, 1903. He is one of the directors of the First National Bank of Wrightsville. Although brought up in the Lutheran faith, he attends the Presbyterian Church with his wife.

WILLIAM H. KERR, a son of Matthew Kerr, Sr., is a prosperous citizen of Wrights- ville, where he has passed his entire life.

Mr. Kerr was born Oct. 19, 1828, on the family place which he now owns, situated in the rear of his present home. He obtained his education in the common schools of Wrights- ville, and at eighteen began work ás mate on the canal boats plying between Wrightsville and the eastern and western shores of Mary- land along Chesapeake Bay. He rose to the position of captain of a boat owned by William A. Wilt, of York, and later was captain for a number of years on boats owned by his father and his brother, James L. Kerr. He then pur- chased an interest in the lime business of his father, and continued with the firm through all its changes until the business passed into the hands of the next generation. The firm, at first, Matthew Kerr & Son, became James L. Kerr & Company; passed successively as Robert W. Kerr & Company, James L. Kerr & Company, Kerr, Cook & Co., James L. Kerr & Co., and finally Kerr Brothers, under which name it is carried on at present by the grand- sons of Matthew Kerr, Sr.

Mr. Kerr married in Wrightsville, in 1850, Eliza Beaverson, a native of Hellam township, and a daughter of Henry Beaverson, who was also born in Hellam township, where he was well-known as a boat man, and as a tobacco grower. Mrs. Kerr died at the family home in 1897. She was the mother of the following children : Kate and Sarah, unmarried; Ger- trude, Mrs. John S. Musser, of Harrisburg; Harry, who is mentioned elsewhere; Matilda,

Sewall B., at home; Eliza, Mrs. Paul McJun- kin; and several others who died in infancy.

Mr. Kerr attends the Presbyterian Church, of which his wife was a member. He has al- ways been a Democrat, and he cast his first vote for President Polk. He has served as chief burgess on the town council for several years, and has been a school director for some time. He is one of the directors and vice pres- ident of the Wrightsville Bank. Fraternally he belongs to Riverside Lodge, No. 503, F. & A. M.

WILLIAM G. KIMMEL, of Warrington township, York county, who is making his home at Mount Top, was born July 3, 1835, in Washington township, son of David and Eliz- abeth (Gensler) Kimmel, grandson of David and great-grandson of Nicholas Kimmel.

The Kimmel family in Pennsylvania de- scended from German ancestry and it is record ed that there were three brothers, who came from Germany, one of whom was the pro- genitor of the branch of the Kimmel family herein mentioned.

Nicholas Kimmel, the great-grandfather, was born, says tradition, in Lancaster county, but he settled in York county at an early date. He was a farmer, and cleared and improved the farm now occupied by Cleason C. Kimmel, the son of our subject, which the latter owns. Here Nicholas Kimmel lived all of his life, and, it is believed, he was buried on the farm. His wife's name is not known, but among the children born to the couple were: David, grandfather of our subject: Timothy; Joel; and several others, whose names cannot be learned. In religious belief they were German Baptists.

David Kimmel, the grandfather, was born in Washington township, and became a farmer, owning a part of the farm which is now owned by Cleason C. Kimmel, and which is located in. what is called the Barrens. He became quite a prosperous farmer, and lived many years on the above mentioned property, and also in- herited a farm from his father, upon which he died in 1845. aged eighty years. He married Magdaline Wiley, and she bore him these chil- dren : John, George. David, Jacob, Mrs. Eliza- beth Larue, Mrs. Sally Harbold, Mrs. Harriet Wolfe, Mrs. Leah Best and Mrs. Susan Won-

274

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

ders. The family were German Baptists. In this section of the State since early pioneer his political views Mr. Kimmel was a Demo- days. He is a member of the firm of Frey crat. Brothers, conducting a large coal and wood

David Kimmel, father of our subject, was business in York, while he is also a stockholder also born in Washington township. and like in the Spring Garden Brick Manufacturing

his forefathers, was a farmer all of his life. He acquired two good farms, and at the time of his death was considered quite well-to-do. He and his wife were the parents of fourteen children, namely: Magdaline, who married Joseph Speck; Mary A., who married John Straley; Philip; William G .; John; Samuel; Eliza, who married Henry Keeney; Jesse; Joseph; Rebecca, who married Conrad Ho- baugh : Daniel, deceased; Frederick, deceased, and two that died in infancy. Mr. Kimmel died in 1868, in the faith of the German Bap- tist Church, while his wife passed away in her seventieth year.

William G. Kimmel was born in Washing- ton township, and received his education in the common schools of his day. He also attended the Whitehall Academy, an institution now de- funct, which was located in Cumberland coun- ty, and after graduating, he began school teaching, which he followed until he was thirty- two years old. He then turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, and up to the present time he has accumulated three good farms, lo- cated in Warrington township, and Washing- ton township. Mr. Kimmel has met with much success due to his industry.

On Nov. 18, 1866, Mr. Kimmel married years he was also prominently concerned in Mary A. Detter, daughter of John Detter. She the manufacturing of brick, under the firm was born in Washington township, where she name of I. Frey & Co., and he disposed of his interests in this industry in 1901, the firm be- ing succeeded by the Spring Garden Brick Manufacturing Co., Ltd., in which the inter- ested principals are Israel, C. D. Frey, and Elmer E. and Ethan A. Frey, so that the per- sonnel of the company is entirely represented by members of the family. The business was incorporated in 1903, and the executive corps is as follows: Elmer Frey, president ; C. D. Frey, secretary, and Israel Frey, treasurer. The company controls a large and important business. its manufacturing plant being lo- cated in Spring Garden township, while its offices and yards are located in the city of received her education in the district schools. Two children have been born to this union : Cleason C., a farmer of Washington township, married Miss Mary Arnold, and they have had three children: William G., Jr., Lewis and Alta ; and Laura J., married George J. Knaub, and they have two children, William L. and Paul. In religious belief both Mr. and Mrs. Kimmel are liberal supporters of the United Brethren Church. In politics Mr. Kimmel is liberal, voting rather for the man than the party. Mr. Kimmel's knowledge is conceded to be far above the average in agricultural mat- ters, and he is highly respected as the worthy representative of an old and honored York York. county family.

ELMER E. FREY represents a family which has been prominently identified with

Co., representing one of the most extensive in- dustrial enterprises in the line to be found in the county. The interested principals in the wood and coal business are Messrs. Emanuel, Marcellus and Elmer E. Frey, the first men- tioned being the brother of Marcellus and father of Elmer E., and both Emanuel and Marcellus are now retired from active associa- tion with the business. The enterprise, which has headquarters at the southwest corner of East King and Fulton streets, formerly Freys- town, now the Twelfth ward, York, dates its inception back to 1869. The founder was Emanuel Frey, father of the present active member of the firm, and he was long num- bered among the prominent and influential business men of York, while as a citizen he has ever commanded the most unequivocal confidence and esteem in the community. He is a native of York county, where he was born Aug. 6, 1836, and for a number of years he was employed in the car shops of Billmeyer & Small, of York, while in 1869 he established the coal and wood business with which he was actively identified until 1892, when he retired, leaving the management of the enterprise to his son, as previously noted. For a number of .

Elmer E. Frey was born in Freystown, a village named in honor of the family, and now constituting one of the attractive suburban dis- tricts of the city of York, the town having been

275

BIOGRAPHICAL

located and platted by his great-grandfather, whom he remained until the age of seventeen Capt. Samuel Frey, who was one of the lion- years, when he learned the trade of shoe- maker, which he has followed, off and on, nearly all his life. He has devoted much of his time to growing fruit, and at one time was in the nursery business. His farm comprises thirty-one acres, and he has raised some ex- cellent brands of peaches-Mt. Rose, Fox Seddley, Crawford's Late Wheatland, Ford's Late Elberta and several other varieties. ored and distinguished pioneers of the county and for many years a captain in the State militia. Elmer E. Frey was born Aug. 6, 1861, being the second in order of birth of the five children of Emanuel and Rebecca Frey. He received his educational training in the public schools of York county, and at the age of seventeen years entered upon an apprentice- ship at the carpenter's trade, with William Mil- In 1851 Mr. Myers married Susan Crom- lick, daughter of Frederick Cromlick, and they have had these children : Frederick C., de- ceased; Jacob J .; John W .; William H .; Joseph, deceased ; Andrew J., deceased; and Peter K., deceased. Mrs. Myers died in 1888, aged fifty-six years. Mr. Myers is a consistent member of the Church of God. In politics he votes the Democratic ticket, but has never as- pired to office. He has a standing in his com- munity as a man of integrity, and he is one of the first class agriculturists of the town- ship. ler, of Freystown, with whom he continued to be associated for six years after completing his apprenticeship. He then identified himself with the coal and wood business, in company with his father and brother and has since been actively concerned in the management of this successful enterprise, having bought the inter- est of Israel Frey in the firm of Frey Brothers in August, 1892. In politics Mr. Frey gives his support to the Democratic party, and fra- ternally he is identified with Zeredatha Lodge, No. 451, A. F. & A. M., and with the local or- ganization of the Knights of Malta, while he is a sincere and valued member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church.

On Oct. 19, 1886, Mr. Frey was united in marriage to Miss Kate Heistand, daughter of Jolın. S. and Annie ( Oleweiler ) Heistand, well known residents of Springetsbury township, York county, Pa., where she was born and reared. Mr. and Mrs. Frey have two children, Stephen H. and Helen L.

JACOB MYERS, of Monaghan township, who follows a shcemaking business and en- gages in the cultivation of fine fruit on his lit- tle farm of thirty-one acres, was born in that same township, Dec. 22, 1827, son of Fred- erick and Sarah (Frysinger) Myers, both of whom were born in York county.

Frederick Myers was a cooper and butcher by trade, and followed these lines until his death, which occurred at the age of thirty- five years. His wife was killed by a stroke of lightning at the age of forty-four years, and they had two children: Elizabeth, who mar- ried Peter Heiges; and Jacob. Frederick Myers was a member of the German Lutheran Church, and a Democrat in politics.

WILLIAM JAMES MARTIN, engaged in the blacksmith, wheelwright and general repair business, also carrying· on carriage mak- ing, was born in Lower Chanceford township, York county, Feb. 26, 1858, and is a highly respected citizen of his community.

Mr. Martin received his education in the public schools and Pleasant Grove Academy, his teachers being: Frances Cameron, Sam- uel McCollam, Robert Milliner and Robert Chanel, and he finished his schooling at the age of twenty-one years under Professor Grove. Until nineteen years of age he worked on the farm, and then learned the trade of blacksmith with J. F. McDonald, of Lower Chanceford township, carrying on this trade on the home farm until his marriage. After marriage Mr. Martin started on his present place, where he has since been engaged. In the same year, 1886, he built his present home and also his shop, on a tract of eight acres of land. He continued his blacksmithing, also taking up carriage making and wheelwright- ing, and at the present time does gun, bicycle and stove repairing, and has been very suc- cessful.

Jacob Myers received his education in the Mr. Martin is a member of the Guinston United Presbyterian Church, which he joined commen schools of York county, and at an early age was bound out to Jacob Cocklin, with in 1874. Since 1884 he has been an elder in

276

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

the church, has also been at times an officer in in the Guinston United Presbyterian Church, the Sabbath school, and for the last five years has been teacher of a Bible class. He has been a member of the Big Spring Presbytery a num- ber of times and once a member of the General Assembly of the United Presbyterian Church. Politically he is a stanch Prohibitionist.

William J. Martin was married, in 1885, to Miss Ida H. Allison, born in Hopewell township, daughter of Gawn and Isabella (Grove) Allison, the latter a.sister of Gordon Grove, of Muddy Creek Forks. Mrs. Martin was educated in the public schools and under Professor Prowell, and for six years she taught school, all of which time was spent in York county, except one year in Hancock Co., Ohio. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Martin, Marian Lois, who is attending the public schools.

ALEXANDER M. GROVE, merchant and miller at Muddy Creek Forks. Lower Chanceford township, was born Aug. 17, 1859, in Chanceford township, son of Alexander Gordon and Elizabeth (Thompson) Grove, and grandson of Jacob Grove.

and during his youth it was the custom of the parents to send the older children ahead to Sabbath service on foot, while they, with the youngest child, would follow on horseback. After his marriage Mr. Grove united with the New Harmony Presbyterian Church, at Brogueville. He was formerly a Whig but became a member of the Republican party on its organization, and has voted for every Pres- idential candidate of the party.

To Alexander Gordon Grove and his wife the following children were born: (I) Archi- bald Purdy Thompson, a graduate of the Col- lege of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, was for many years one of the most prominent physicians and surgeons in Dallastown, where he died. He married Cora Shaw, and his son, Dr. Austin Grove, was formerly resident phy- sician of the York City Hospital, and is now on the Surgeon's Staff of the Hospital. (2) Robert A. lives in Lower Chanceford. (3)

Alexander M. is mentioned below. (4) Emily J. married R. G. Andrews, of York. (5) James K. married S. Florence Wilson. (6) A. Theda married C. M. Fulton, of York. (7) J. William, a graduate of the Dental De- partment, University of Maryland, married Emily Bucher, and settled in Columbia, Pa., where he died. (8) Sarah B. married F. C. Uffelman, of Chanceford township.

Alexander Gordon Grove was born Jan. 8, 1823, at the Cross Roads in Hopewell town- ship, and was one of six children. The fam- ily was carefully reared by his mother, who combined religious instruction with practical government. Mr. Grove's mother taught him Alexander M. Grove attended the Thomp- son school from the age of six years until he was seventeen, starting under the tutorage of Mary Bigler. After leaving school Mr. Grove began his business career as a clerk in the store of Henry Curran, at Brogueville, his home village, remaining there about three years, af- ter which he attended Millersville Normal School for a time. He then clerked in the stores of Zeller & Gable and Stouch & Oswald, in York, and one year in Delta with H. R. Lloyd. He then entered a partnership with James W. Kilgore, in Brogueville, continuing with him two years, at the end of which time he embarked in business for himself at Brogue- ville. In 1888 Mr. Grove purchased from James P. Moffet the property where he has since resided, known as Muddy Creek Forks, and comprising 160 acres, on which were erect- ed a general store, a railroad station, with all the Alphabet from the Bible, and he later was instructed by James Proudfoot and Squire Sampson Smith, both of whom were noted educators of that day. Mr. Grove's father was a weaver, and after finishing his limited educa- tion the boy assisted him in the work, later engaging as a mason, at which work it is justly said he was unequalled, no man in all this region of Pennsylvania bearing a better repu- tation both as a builder and as a man than did Gordon Grove, as he is known. In 1853 Mr. Grove married Miss Elizabeth Thompson, and located on a forty-acre farm near Brogue- ville, which he had bought from Jacob Bow- man. The soil of the farm was poor, but Mr. Grove's hard labor had its just reward, for at its sale the piece of land which he had pur- chased for $700 sold for $2,500. After selling his farm Mr. Grove retired, and for four years lived at Dallastown, but since that time has the necessary switches, a flour-mill, two dwell- lived with his son, Alexander. He was reared

ings, and other buildings. Under his adminis-

alex, Mi Grove

277

BIOGRAPHICAL

tration many improvements have been made on the property, all the old buildings having been remodeled or painted, and four new dwellings having been put up, among them Mr. Grove's present residence. The mill has been twice remodeled, being now an up-to-date roller process flour-mill, with a reputation sec- ond to none for making the old process buck- wheat flour, which finds a ready sale. He has also built a modern grain elevator (capacity 9,000 bushels) and a new warehouse, the form- er being equipped with scales and the neces- sary machinery for handling and cleaning wheat, operated by waterpower. Mr. Grove has leased some of his ground to W. Scott Whiteford, who has erected thereon a large canning house, provided with all the latest machinery, and having a capacity equal to any house of the kind in York county. Mr. Grove's store, which is the chief structure in this group of buildings, is a fine example of his ideas of what a business establishment should be. It is 40x60 feet in dimensions, three stories in height, and modern in all its appointments. It is heated by steam and lighted by gas from a private plant, and a com- plete telegraph and telephone service enables Mr. Grove to send and receive messages from any part of the civilized world without leaving his desk. In addition to this establishment Mr. Grove, in partnership with his brother-in-law, F. C. Uffelman, conducts a branch store at Brogueville Station. He also owns a farm which requires close attention, and the super- vision of which, in addition to numerous other duties, makes him a very busy man. All his enterprises have prospered. In Mr. Grove's mercantile venture he attributes equal share of his success to the efficient superintendency of his brother, James K., whose ability and judg- ment have never been open to question. With his assistance the establishment has become well known and extensively patronized as a reliable, up-to-date department store. He is also a partner with his brother in the fertilizer business.

Mr. Grove has been postmaster and ex- press agent in Muddy Creek Forks for eighteen years, and for the past two years has been agent for the Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad Company. For fifteen years he has been a director in the City Bank of York, and is president and one of the organizers of the

York Eastern Telephone Company. He is a trustee of the York Collegiate Institute.

Mr. Grove since his youth has been a con- sistent member of the New Harmony Presby- terian Church of Brogueville. For several years he served as trustee and treasurer, and is now an elder, and he has always been a liberal con- tributor to all church projects. In politics he is a Republican. In fraternal circles he is a member of Esdraelon Lodge, No. 176, A. F. & A. M., of Delta.

On Nov. 1, 1883, Mr. Grove married Miss Elizabeth Uffelman, daughter of Frederick Uffelman, who was born in Germany and came to the United States in 1863, landing at New York, and later settling in Chanceford town- ship, where he died. To Mr. and Mrs. Grove were born children as follows: Bessie N. and Carrie E., who are graduates of York Colle- giate Institute and now are at Wilson College, Chambersburg; and Charles Gordon, who is at the York Collegiate Institute. Mrs. Grove has always been in full sympathy with her hus- band's plans and ambitions, and though she has never taken any active part in his business affairs, she has done much by her good judg- ment and wise encouragement to help him in his striving toward worthy ends. The beauti- ful home in which Mr. and Mrs. Grove reside is situated on a hill overlooking the picturesque winding trail of the Peach Bottom railway. Therein dwell love and refinement, and the true spirit of domesticity, without which even architectural excellence and pleasing surround- ings do not make a home.

SAMUEL MARTIN. Among the highly esteemed residents of York county, who have cultivated fine farms, may be mentioned Sam- tel Martin, who is now living retired on his estate in Lower Chanceford township. He is descended from Samuel Martin, who was of Scotch-Irish descent, and came to America from the North of Ireland. Settling in Hope- well township, in a log cabin which he had himself built, he became a well known farmer, and there he and his wife, who had been a Miss McNeary, reared a family of three sons and one daughter: Peter, who went to the Pigeon Creek settlement, in Washington coun- ty : James, who settled near Canonsburg; An- drew, the grandfather of our subject ; and the daughter, who married Peter Stewart, and

278

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

died in Chanceford township. Samuel Martin married (second) the Widow Allison, nee Wallace.

Andrew Martin was born in Hopewell township, where he followed farming all of his life. He married Miss Jenny or Margaret Allison, and died on his farm at a ripe age. and was survived by his second wife. The The names of both him and his wife appear on the Guinston U. P. Church roll. Andrew Mar- tin's children were as follows: Samuel, born July 1, 1786, died a bachelor ; Jane, born Dec. 26, 1787, married Joseph Thompson, and moved to New York State where she died; James died in infancy ; Agnes, born in 1791, married Jacob Grove; Andrew, born Sept. 9, 1793, married (first) a Miss Brooks, and (second) Jane Gibson; Isabella, born July 25, 1795, married and died in Canonsburg; Al- exander, born March II, 1799; Margaret, born March 7, 1801, married Alexander Gor- don, and died in New York State, the mother of the noted India missionary, Dr. Andrew Gordon; and Gavin, born Oct. 9, 1805, settled in Pittsburg, where he married and carried on a merchandise business.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 50

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