History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 51

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

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Alexander Martin was born on the home- stead in Hopewell township, where his early life was passed as a farmer boy. He located Mr. Martin united with the Guinston U. P. Church, in 1849, the year he was married to Miss Elizabeth Kilgore, born June 30, 1825. in Fawn township, daughter of Solomon and .Elizabeth (Smith) Kilgore. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Mar- tin : Margaret Elizabeth, born Dec. 14, 1849, married Samuel McPherson, of Lower Chance- ford township; Martha Amanda, born July 6, 1851, married Valentine Trout, of Hope- well township; Alexander, born March 9. 1853, married Maggie Kilgore, of Lower in Chanceford township and learned the car- penter's trade with Robert Anderson, after which he followed that trade for a time and then bought a 138-acre farm, which now be- longs to our subject. The house upon the farm was built by our subject for his father, and he was compelled to make his own sash, doors, etc. Alexander Martin married Eliza- beth Allison, daughter of Willia mand Janet (Gemmell) Allison. He and his wife were members of the Guinston U. P. Church, in whose work they were very active. Mr. Mar- Chanceford township; John Andrew, born tin was an old line Whig, later becoming a Republican. His death occurred May 5, 1871, while his wife passed away Oct. 24, 1865. To this worthy couple the following children were born : William C. A., born April 15, 1822, died at the age of twenty-six years; Andrew died in his second year ; Samuel; Alexander and Margaret Janet died young; one died in infancy: John Adams died at the age of six years ; and Gavin Allison died young.

Samuel Martin was born April 18, 1826, on the old homestead farin, upon which he has

spent all of his life. His education was re- ceived in the subscription schools under Sam- uel McCaula, Thomas Caldwell, Robert Cress- well and Benjamin Fulks, and in the public schools under John Laird and James W. Logue, late of Cleveland, Northfield and Stowe. He left school at the age of twenty years, his schooling having been very irreg- ular. After leaving school Mr. Martin learned the carpenter's trade with James H. Wiley, with whom he served nineteen months. After serving a short time as journeyman he con- tracted for himself for a short time. He owned and operated a sawmill for four years in Chanceford township, and then moved it to his farm, where he ran it for a time. He next worked as a car builder for Bilmyer & Small, and also for Ilgenfritz & White. In March, 1863, he secured a position as woodworker with A. B. Farquhar, and at times worked as a machinist. In 1865 he returned home for a time, in 1867 going back to York, where for a short period he worked as a pattern maker. In 1871 Mr. Martin's father died, and he re- turned home to take charge of the farm. He added a machine shop, where he made tele- graph insulator pins and brackets, and also ran the sawmill on his place.

May 12, 1854, married (first) Mary Koplin and (second) Emma Cooper, and resides at Altoona ; Catherine, born Oct. 17, 1855, died in 1892; William James, born Feb. 26, 1858, married April 21, 1885, Ida Allison; Sarah Elnora, born July 3, 1859, married Charles G. McCollum, of Lancaster ; Samuel Francis, born March 30, 1861, died Feb. 20, 1889; Mary Rebecca, born June 7, 1863, married Walter Slade, of Harford county ; David Gor- don, born March 7, 1865, married Mary Grei- man, and resides in Philadelphia: Arthur

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Charles was born Jan. 9, 1867 ; Harry Edward Allison, born June 9, 1869. died young ; and Ida Belle, who was born July 8, 1875, is now the wife of Robert J. Patterson, of York.

Samuel Martin was nurtured in the prin- ciples which were embodied from the Whigs, into the Republican party, and he has been identified with this political organization since its formation in 1852. Mr. Martin now lives in comfortable retirement after his many active years of agricultural life, and he is highly esteemed and respected in York county.

DR. H. E. BASHORE, of York, is de- scended from French ancestry, the name hav- ing been originally written Borshor. His great-great-grandfather, Jacob Bashore, was a farmer and removed from Berks to York county. Our subject's grandfather was born in this country, and his father now lives a re- tired life, making his home with the Doctor. Dr. Bashore's mother was Annie Swatzbaugh, whose father was the well known millwright and farmer of York county. Four children were born to Dr. Bashore's parents : Harry ; Virtie, wife of William D. Armor, of Gettys- burg; Katy, wife of George Yagey, in the rail- road service at Baltimore ; and Dr. H. E.

The birth of Dr. Bashore occurred Jan. 17, 1862, in Hanover, York county. He en- tered the University of Maryland in 1883. Immediately after his graduation in 1886 he began the practice of dentistry at No. 137 West Market street, York, and he has re- mained there ever since in the enjoyment of a large and lucrative practice. Four students who chose him for their preceptor are now suc- cessful practicing dentists of York, while a fifth is practicing in Philadelphia.

Dr. Bashore was married Oct. 14, 1890, to Elizabeth Reichley, daughter of Jacob Reich- ley, of York. The Doctor belongs to the York Dental Society. the Knights of Malta and Crystal Lodge, Knights of Pythias, which he helped to organize. and of which he was the first past officer. In religion he is a member of Christ Lutheran Church, and in all that he does is a painstaking and capable gentleman.

CHARLES GROTHEY, a veteran of the Civil war, now living retired in York, after a life of industry, was born May 10. 1828, at Hanover, Germany, son of Ernest Henry and Charlotte Grothey.

Ernest Henry Grothey was a tanner and shoemaker in his native land. After the death of his wife in Germany, he came to America, where he lived a retired life until his death at the age of eighty-seven years. He was in- terred in the Prospect Hill cemetery.

Charles Grothey learned the brushmaking trade in Germany, and .became a skilled me- chanic. When twenty-three years old he came to America and landed in Baltimore, where he lived some four years, and while there en- listed in the State Guards, and was made an officer, serving with that organization for three years. He then came to New Salem, York county, and bought a home but in the following year he removed to Glatfelter's Sta- tion, where he followed farming for some seven years. Later he sold this farm and bought a home on North Penn street, in which he lived for five years. During this time he en- listed in Company H, 200th P. V. I., and was out ten months, participating in several im- portant engagements, namely: Fort Stead- man, Petersburg and others. Much of the time during his army service he had charge of the pickets, his faithful attention to duty making his services at all times valuable.

Mr. Grothey spent seven years in a mer- cantile business at Fairfield, in Adams county, and still owns a store property there, and also has a fine farm in North Codorus township. The latter is operated by his grandson, he hav- ing retired in 1893, and he is spending the evening of life in comfort and ease at his pleasant home at No. 519 Princess street, York.

Mr. Grothey was married (first) in Balti- more, to Elizabeth Marker, who was born in Hessen, Germany. She died May 2, 1896, aged seventy-one years, seven months and twenty-seven days, and is buried in the Ziegler Church cemetery in North Codorus township. The children of this marriage were: Charles, a farmer, married Annie R. Rosenzweig. and they live in North Codorus township; Mollie is the wife of Charles Deig, of Wiscon- sin : Henry married Laura Dingle, and they live in North York; Auguste married Henry Keener, of Fairfield, Adams county: Bertha died aged two years, four weeks; and An- nie married Dr. William Long, of Frederick City, Md. Mr. Grothey was married ( second) Oct. 12, 1896, by Rev. Walker. to Mrs. Annie E. Stoops, who had these children : Mary

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Bishop; Susan, deceased; William, of Ohio; ship and at a select school. When he reached Sarah, of Ohio; Cordelia, of Maryland, and the age of nineteen he received a certificate and Minnie, of Baltimore. In politics Mr. Grothey is a Republican, and both he and his wife be- long to St. Paul's Lutheran Church at York.

GEORGE W. HOLTZINGER, Repub- lican county commissioner, elected in 1905, a leading citizen of Windsor township, was born in that township July 2, 1847, on the farm now owned by M. B. Spahr, of York.

Mr. Holtzinger comes of a family long identified with York county, being a grandson of John and Barbara (Wolf) Holtzinger, who were of German extraction, but natives of Pennsylvania. John Holtzinger was a shoe- maker by trade, and followed that calling prin- cipally during his active years, living in the neighborhood of Stonybrook, a short distance east of York, where he died about 1844. Of his large family of children, we have the names of John, George, Jacob, Daniel, Benjamin, Nancy, Catherine, Elizabeth, Susan and Mary.

George Holtzinger, father of George W., was born in York county, and received his edu- cation in the subscription schools in vogue here during his boyhood. He learned shoe- making from his father, and worked at that trade, and also acquired a knowledge of lime burning, at which he was engaged for about five years. Turning his attention to agricul- tural pursuits, he devoted his energies to same during the remainder of his active years. He purchased the farm in Windsor township now owned by M. B. Spahr, and later selling that place bought the one in the same township now owned by M. P. Smith. Here he passed his remaining years, and died at the age of sixty- four. He was a member of the Winebrenner- ian Church. Mr. Holtzinger married (first) Elizabeth Heindel, by whom he had six chil- dren namely : Lydia, Catherine, Elizabeth, Re- becca, Mary and Susan. The mother of these was a member of the Reformed Church. After her death Mr. Holtzinger married Susannah Stauffer, a native of York county, who died in 1879, at the age of sixty years. She was a Mennonite in religious faith. To this union were born four children, George W., David S., John and Sarah, of whom the last named died in infancy.

George W. Holtzinger obtained his edu- cation in the public schools of his native town-

engaged in teaching for a period of three years. In the meantime he learned the car- penter's trade, following that occupation dur- ing the summer months. He then engaged in the cigar manufacturing business where the village of Holtz is now situated, at that place and at branch cigar factories employing about forty workmen. He continued in this business until 1902, meantime acquiring other interests in the locality. About 1895 he embarked in the mercantile business at the old Sechrist stand in Holtz, carrying on the store success- fully four years. During the Harrison admin- istration a post office was established at Holtz, and Mr. Holtzinger served four years as post- master, having the office in his store. Since 1902, when he abandoned the manufacture of cigars, Mr. Holtzinger has given his attention to farming, to his duties as secretary of the Western Mutual Fire Insurance Company of York County, and to selling commercial fer- tilizers. He owns the homestead farm of twenty-four acres, and the Sechrist property containing thirty-six acres, and what was known as the Slenker farm of 136 acres. These farms are cultivated by his sons, John, Henry, and David. His other son, Moses, conducts the merchandising business at Holtz. Mr. Holtzinger became a director of the Drovers and Mechanics National Bank at York on its organization, in 1882, and has continued as such ever since. The Red Lion Canning Com- pany, of which he is president, was organized in 1905. He has taken an active interest in public affairs, advocating the policy and prin- ciples of the Republican party. He served three years as jury commissioner, to which of- fice he was elected in 1876; and in 1905 he was nominated and elected one of the commis- sioners for York county. He entered upon the duties of that responsible position in Jan- uary, 1906, for which his many years of suc- cessful business experience have thoroughly fitted him.

In 1869 Mr. Holtzinger was married to Anna E. Keller, daughter of John and Eliza Keller, representative farming people of Low- er Windsor township, and fourteen children were born to this union, five of whom died in infancy, and eight survive; Emma, who be- came the wife of H. A. Kinard, having died in

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1903, leaving three children, Carrie, Norman liam. He remained with his brother a few and Paul. The survivors are: John C., who years, afterward starting in business for him- married Ellen Paules, and has three children, self, carpentering, and so continuing from 1858 until 1898. Mr. Willis engaged in the undertaking business in 1879, and has con- tinued in that line ever since. He has a fine home, and owns fourteen acres of land upon which he carries on farming. Carrie, Mabel and Charles D .; Henry, who operates a gristmill and feedmill run by water- power, who married Annie Slenker, and has one child, Grace Irene, who is now ( 1905) twelve years old, five feet, five inches tall, and weighs 142 pounds ; Moses, who married Mary E. Smith, and has one child, Thomas; David, who married Cora Sechrist, and has one child, Stewart; Mary M., who married Irvin Paules, and has two children, Sterling and Orie; and Cora, Ivan and Elsie, who are unmarried. Mr. and Mrs. Holtzinger are members of the Lu- theran Church.

WEBSTER WILLIS, of Newberry town- ship, was born in 1832, in Fairview township, son of Joseph and Susan (Kreiger) Willis.

William Willis was born in 1777, in Dauphin county, and died April 14, 1843, be- ing one of the first to be buried at Yocumtown cemetery. During life Mr. Willis was a stone and brick mason, which trade he followed through Fairview township. Mr. Willis mar- ried a Miss Taylor and she died and is buried at Newberrytown. The children born to Wil- liam Willis and his wife were: William, Joseph, John, Thomas, George and Hannah, all of whom are deceased.

Joseph Willis was born in Fairview town- ship, Jan. 10, 1801. He received a common school education, and was a farmer all of his life. He married Susan Kreiger, born Sept. 21, 1802, who died May 21, 1872. Mr. Willis survived until 1873, when he died, and he and his wife are buried at Yocumtown cemetery, where a magnificent monument marks their last resting place. The children born to this worthy couple are as follows: William, who died at Goldsboro: Jacob, who died April 15, 1891, aged sixty-six years; Harriet, born Dec. 6. 1826, who married Samuel N. Prowell, father of Prof. George R. Prowell, and died Oct. 8, 1894. being buried at the Yocumtown cemetery : Mary, who died single; John, who died in 1900, aged seventy years; Webster ; Joseph, in the shoe business at Strinestown ; Elizabeth, Adeline and Harrison, deceased.

In 1858 Mr. Willis married Annie E. Bru- baker, daughter of Henry and Susan (Zorger) Brubaker, and these children have been born to this union: Washington, who resides at home; Susan, who married William Bamber- ger, and lives at Goldsboro borough; Mi- nerva, who died at the age of twenty-two years; Minnie, who married John Upede- graph, of Newberry township; Elizabeth, de- ceased, who married Henry Funk; Carrie, who married Lawrence Fetrow, and lives at New Cumberland, Cumberland county ; Mary, who married Daniel Koller, of Yocumtown; Maggie, residing at home; Myrtle, who mar- ried William Krone, and lives in Warrington township; Joseph, who married Blance Householder, and lives at Elkwood, Cumber- land county.

In politics Mr. Willis is a Republican, but has never sought public office. He is very highly esteemed throughout the community.

PROF. E. M. STAHL, one of the lead- ing educators of southeastern Pennsylvania, who is now in charge of the academy at Glen- ville, York county, was born Aug. 14, 1864, in Somerset county, Pa., a member of an old established family of that section.

George Stahl, his great-grandfather, mar- ried a Miss Baker, and is said to have gone from York county to Somerset county shortly after the Revolution, perhaps between 1795 and 1800.

William G. Stahl, grandfather of Prof. Stahl, was a blacksmith by trade. He lived to the age of eighty-five years, being retired some years prior to his decease. He married Eliza- beth Ohler, and both are buried at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, in Somerset county. Their children were: George, a veteran of the Civil war, who died at City Point, Va., during that struggle; Samuel, living at Pine Hill, Pa .;

Webster Willis attended the schools of Susan, wife of Henry C. Wahl, a veteran of Fairview and Newberry townships until he the Civil war: Catherine, wife of Ananias reached the age of twenty, and then learned Gloss : and John. the carpenter's trade, with his brother, Wil-

John Stahl, son of William G., was born

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

in Somerset county, Pa., and learned the black- smith's trade which he followed for some years, and then engaged in farming for thirty years. His death occurred March 7, 1901, when he was aged sixty-two years. He mar- ried Adeline Hay, daughter of John and Sarah (Musser) Hay, and they had children as fol- lows: Prof. E. M .; Sarah, wife of Ephraim Bauman, a carpenter and surveyor; William R., a minister in the Lutheran Church, and who died at Shanksville, Somerset Co., Pa., Oct. II, 1905, aged thirty-seven years (he was a graduate of Gettysburg College, and was married to Bertha Tholan) ; J. Franklin, the and farmer on the home farm; Charles H., an artist of ability. who died in April, 1897; Irvin P., a music teacher, who was a student with the distinguished Hutchinson, Goodwin and Boise at Peabody Institute, Baltimore, Md., and died Sept. 17, 1905; Susan M., at home ; and Robert M., a student at the Frank- lin and Marshall College, at Lancaster, Penn- sylvania.

Prof. Stahl belongs to a family of more than usual intellectual attainments. He com- pleted his early schooling at the age of fifteen years, and then taught school in Somerset county until he was twenty-one years of age. In 1886 he went to Iowa, where he taught country schools for two years. Then he en- tered Iowa College at Grinnell, Iowa, com- pleting the sophomore. year, and then for a number of years filled positions as high school teacher until he entered Gettysburg College, where he was graduated in 1894. He returned to Somerset county and spent two years in study, making a specialty of minerals and fos- sils and plants of Somerset county, of which he has a collection of several thousand. In 1896 he came to Glenville and accepted charge of the academy. In addition to academic studies this school is conducted as the only township high school in York county. The fine school which has been built up mainly under the excellent and intelligent management of Prof. Stahl de- serves a history of its own, which will be found elsewhere. The number of pupils averages from seventy to seventy-five.

Prof. Stahl married Lydia Hamm, daugh- ter of Daniel and Salome Hamm, of York county. They have two children: William J. and Mary A. In his political principles Prof. Stahl is a Democrat. He is one of the leading members of the Lutheran Church at Pine Hill, Somerset county. It seems peculiar that after one hundred years Prof. Stahl should come back to the home of his ancestors and so firmly establish himself in the estima- tion and affection of the people.

DR. MERCER R. GIRVIN, a physician surgeon practicing at Grahamville, Chanceford township, York county, was born June 27, 1868. He is of blended Scotch, Irish and German descent, and is a son of Elias and Lydia A. Girvin. Elias Girvin was a large land owner of Lancaster county, and later lived retired in Lancaster city.

Mrs. Adeline (Hay) Stahl was a great- great-granddaughter of Simeon Hay, who is supposed to have gone from York county, or . medicine with Dr. Charles E. Helm of Bart, its immediate vicinity, to Somerset county about 1780.

The subject of this sketch received his edu- cation in the common schools and at Octo- raro Academy. For a time he was employed in the insurance business in Reading and Phila- delphia. Tiring of that he began the study of Pa., who was one of the most prominent physi- cians of Lancaster county. In 1890 he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Bal- timore, and graduated in 1893. He began practice at Marticville, Lancaster county. where he remained for a period of three years, and then removed to Grahamville, where he has ever since been in active and lucrative practice.

In the spring of 1894 Dr. Girvin married Miss Lillie M. Shenk, of Martic township, Lancaster Co., daughter of Tobias and Isa- belle Shenk, and two children have been born to this union : Chester T. and Harry M., the latter having died in infancy. Dr. Girvin is a member of the Reformed Church. In politics he is liberal in his views, voting rather for good interests than for party. He has been very successful professionally, and has gained a position of importance in his line. While never seeking office he has always taken a pub- lic-spirited interest in the town and commun- ity, and has generously supported every bene- ficial movement for its welfare.

REV. EMANUEL GOCHENAUER, one of the most highly esteemed residents of

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Washington township, York county, and a be-

The family was established in York coun- ty, Pa., by the great-grandfather of Rev. Emanuel, who emigrated from Germany. The grandfather, Jacob Gochenauer, was born June 19, 1757, and died Aug. 1, 1834, at the age of seventy-seven years and two months. His wife Eva was born March 20, 1768, and died June 7, 1847, aged seventy- nine years, two months and eighteen days. Both were buried in the Mennonite cemetery in Dover township. He owned a farm in that township and erected buildings thereon. His children were: Jacob, Joseph, Michael, John, Daniel, Mary (wife of Christian Bushey) and Mrs. Witmer.

Daniel Gochenauer, father of Rev. Eman- uel, was born on the old homestead in Dover township, July 15, 1804, and died Nov. 20, ' 1834, aged thirty years and four months. He married Katie Weigel, who died June 13, 1867, at the age of fifty-eight years, four months and nine days, and her remains were laid away at Strayer's Church in Dover town- ship. His burial took place in the Mennonite cemetery in the same township. He was a life- long farmer and purchased his father's farm of 137 acres, on which he spent his life. The children of Daniel and Katie Gochenauer were: Lavina, who died in York, wife of Jacob Sunday; Sophia, who died in Dover township, wife of William Gerber; Delilah, who died in East Berlin, Adams county, wife of John Deardorff ; and Emanuel.

Emanuel Gochenaner was educated in the schools of Dover township, but the death of his father while he was still a lad, prevented him from pursuing a more advanced course than that supplied by the district schools. He helped his mother according to his best judg- ment and boyish strength, and when he mar- ried he bought the homestead and lived upon it for five years. Then he came to Washing- ton township and bought his father-in-law's farm of 143 acres, and still later purchased an- other farm containing ninety-five acres, and now owns two of the finest farms in the town- ship. He has been a resident of this township since 1859, and has lived retired since 1884.

In 1870 Mr. Gochenauer was ordained a loved and useful minister of the Dunkard minister in the Dunkard Church, at Lower Church, was born in 1833, in Dover township, son of Daniel and grandson of Jacob Goch- enauer. Conewago, in Washington township. He served on the building committee when the church was erected, and is an elder in that church now. His estimable wife is also an active member of this religious body, and they both enjoy the esteem and affection of all who know them. They are now spending the evening of life in a small but comfortable home, near their large farms, in the vicinity of Mulberry postoffice.

Mr. Gochenauer married Susan Deardorff, daughter of John and Susan (Baker) Dear- dorff and their children are: Katie, wife of John Boserman, lives in Reading township, Adams county ; John, who is engaged in the sawmill business with his residence at Dills- burg, married Susan Firestone; Daniel, who lives in Dover township, married Susan Moul ; Mary married Samuel Aldinger, of West York borough ; Emanuel, Jr., a paper hanger living in York, married Emma Wolfort; Amanda married Charles H. Altland, and they live on one of our subject's farms in Washington township: Jacob S .; and William E.

Jacob S. Gochenauer is a graduate of the Milersville Normal School, in Lancaster county. He taught school for a number of years in York county, and in the meantime prepared himself and subsequently entered Harvard College, where he was graduated with credit. He continued in the educational field and taught in a number of well-known insti- tutions of learning, including the Westchester State Normal School and Bucknell, and later became principal of the schools of Dubuque, Iowa. At present he is located in St. Louis. He is a man of great scholarly attainments. He married Florence Flory.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 51

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