History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 58

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

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ness and engaged in the grocery and house- furnishing business, in which he continued for twenty-one years, at the end of which time he engaged with the Kay W. Kay department store continuing for five and one-half years, or until 1902. In that year he came to his present place, the well known Bon Ton store. where he has charge of the household goods and furniture.

In 1871 Mr. Wiest was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Fisher, daughter of Jacob E. and Elizabeth (Zimmerman) Fisher, and to this union have been born the following chil- dren : Rev. Charles F., attended the York County Academy, later graduated from the Gettysburg College, and is now a Lutheran minister at Hay City, Kans .; Harry E. is a skilled mechanic living at home; Horace, also a skilled mechanic, married in December. 1905. Miss Mable Gotwalt, daughter of Charles and Deliah Gotwalt, and is residing at No. 220 West Jackson street; and Helen E. Mr. WViest resides at No. 232 West Market street, his father making his home with him. Relig- iously he is a member of Zion Lutheran Church. In political matters he is a stanch Republican.

GEORGE T. SHAULL was born on his present farm in East Hopewell township, Oct. 23, 1860. He received his education in the McLain township school, from which he was graduated by Miss Nettie Wilson, at the age of nineteen years. He began work on tlie home farm, when very young, working for his father until after his marriage, March II. 1891, to Miss Ida Richard, daughter of Isaac and Leah (Mitzel) Richard. After his mar- riage Mr. Shaull located on the place he had received partly by inheritance and partly by purchase, consisting of ninety acres. His home was erected fifty years ago, and he is now building an addition, 18x20, to the origi- nal house. Mr. Shaull and his family are members of the Hopewell Presbyterian Church which Mr. Shanll joined twenty years ago. In politics he is a Democrat. He has two children, Millard R. and Grace L.

George Shaull, the father of our subject. was born in Chanceford township, York coun- ty, and died at his home, in what is now East Hopewell township, in 1903, after a long and

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

useful life of eighty-four years. He was a devout member of the Hopewell Presbyterian Kimmel, who was born in Washington town- Church, and a useful and public-spirited citi- ship, daughter of David and Elizabeth Kim- mel, and three children have been born to this union, of whom Mary Alice and Harvey are

zen, and a prominent and progressive farmer. He was a lifelong Democrat, but was no of- fice seeker. He married Miss Rebecca Wolf, deceased. Abraham C. was married Sept. 4, and they had the following children: Mary 1900, to Elizabeth C. Seifert, who was born in WV. Sechrist, deceased; Joseph; Agnes Shen- berger; William H .; Catherine E .; and George T.

WILLIAM HENRY KEENEY, of War- rington township, York county, a prosperous farmer, was born in Franklin township, Oct. 15, 1849, a son of Abraham and Eliza N. (Slothour) Keeney. His father was of Scotch and his mother of German descent.

Jacob Keeney, his grandfather, died before William Henry Keeney was born, so not much is known of him except that he was a mason by trade, which calling it is presumed he followed all of his life. He was a member of the Pres- byterian Church, and in politics was a Dem- ocrat. He and his wife, who was Leah Slouthour, became the parents of these chil- dren : Jacob, John, Abram, and Annie. Mrs. Keeney died in 1864, aged eighty-five years.

Abram Keeney, the father of William Henry, was born in York county, and after taking the prescribed course in the common schools learned the miller's trade, which call- ing he continued to follow all his life. He be- came an expert in his line, and at his death, in February, 1886, caused by pneumonia, from which his wife also died within two days of his death, he was considered a well-to-do man. In politics he was a Republican. They had children as follows: Lucy; Lizzie; Annie; Sarah; John, deceased; Jacob and George, de- ceased; Jerry, and William Henry.

William Henry Keeney was educated in the district schools of Washington township, and after his school days were over worked at farming. In 1877 he purchased a farm of 124 acres in Warrington township, known as the Henry Speck farm. In 1902 Abraham C. Keeney (son of William Henry) purchased the farm which is now occupied by William Henry Keeney, and formerly known as the William Minear Farm, which consists of fifty- six acres, upon which he carries on general farming.

Mr. Keeney married Oct. 22, 1871, Eliza

Cumberland county, close to Carlisle, daughter of Peter and Sarah Seifert, and they live on the home farm. To this union two children have been born, Sallie Eliza, and Elsie Irene. Mr. Keeney and his wife are members of the United Evangelical Church.

In politics William Henry Keeney is a Republican, and although he always does his full duty as a citizen he has never accepted public office. He is a very successful agri- culturist, and an honest and upright man.

LEITNER J. BECK, chief burgess of Lewisberry borough and president of the coun- cil, was born Sept. 14, 1839, son of Capt. Sam- uel Beck, and grandson of George Beck.

George Beck had these children: John, born Oct. 26, 1799, died Nov. 26, 1879, aged eighty years, one month; Henry, born Feb. 10, 1801, died Oct. 18, 1868, aged sixty-seven years, eight months and eight days; Capt. Samuel, born June 24, 1803, died Feb. 16, 1895, aged ninety-one years, seven months and twenty-two days; Charlotte, twin sister of Samuel, died May 1, 1833; Lydia, born June I, 1805; Julian, born March 25, 1813; George, a half brother of the above, born Dec. 21, 1820, died July 31, 1881, aged sixty years, seven months and seven days; and Sarah, born June They were both members of the U. B. Church. 16, 1818, died Sept. 4, 1862, aged forty-four years, two months and eighteen days.

The late Capt. Samuel Beck was born at Liverpool, now Manchester, York county, and came to Lewisberry in 1830, two years before it became a borough. Here he followed the shoe business all his life. His title came from his commanding a rifle corps at Lewisberry, the name of the organization being the Lafay- ette Rifle Corps. He married, July 4, 1830, Caroline Mahan, born Jan. 17, 1806, and died Feb. 23, 1884, aged seventy-eight years, one months and six days. Their children were : Charles Henry, born April 9, 1831, died Aug. 15, 1845, aged fourteen years, four months and six days; Theodore, born May 11, 1833, died Sept. 21, 1894, aged sixty-one years, four

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months and ten days; Margaret Ann, born erine Dellington; Reuben, also a blacksmith July 14, 1836, married Franklin C. Smith, residing in York, married Annie Eikelberger ; Annie is the wife of Albert Hollinger, living in Fairview township; John, who also follows the trade of blacksmith, in York, married Catherine Dushan ; and Charles, a skilled black- smith employed in the freight department of the Pennsylvania Railroad Co., at Harrisburg, married a Miss Brubaker. died Sept. 27, 1870, aged thirty-four years, two months and thirteen days; Leitner J., of this sketch; Elton L., born June 23, 1842, died Aug. 19, 1885, wife of John B. Laird; Char- lotte D., born Aug. 6, 1844, widow of Dr. William P. Nebinger, of Lewisberry; and Mary Jane, born June 16, 1849, wife of Rob- ert N. Wright, of York.

Except in the days of his old age the late Captain Beck was one of the most active citi- zens of this borough, working for its best inter- ests and bringing credit and honor to the town by the capacity with which he filled numerous offices of responsibility. In his younger days he was a Democrat, then became a Whig and after the formation of the Republican party, was one of its stalwart members. Given more than the usual allotment of years, this vener- able citizen passed away, within sight almost of another century, honored in life and revered in death.

cational advantages to be secured in the a wide circle of friends in business, public and

Leitner J. Beck was afforded the best edu- borough of Lewisberry until he was twelve years old, when he was put to the shoemaker's bench to learn the trade, one with which he has been more or less connected through his whole subsequent business life. In 1864 he entered the Union service, enlisting in Company K, 152nd Pa. Heavy Artillery, and remained out twenty-two months, during thirteen of these doing guard duty.

Upon his return to Lewisberry, Mr. Beck engaged in the shoe business with his brother, and they continued in partnership for a period of six years. Then our subject decided to try a change of occupation, and settled on a farm where he followed agricultural pursuits for the succeeding eighteen years. Upon his second return to Lewisberry he resumed the shoe business, and at the same time assumed the care of his aged father which he continued un- til the latter's death.

In 1863 Mr. Beck was united in marriage with Elizabeth Laird, daughter of Reuben and Elizabeth Laird. She died July 20, 1890, and her burial was in St. John's cemetery, at Lewisberry. The children of this marriage were as follows: Robert, a blacksmith, living in York, married Barbara Benedict: Samuel, a boilermaker, living in York, married Cath-

In politics Mr. Beck is identified with the Republican party and he has been frequently honored by his fellow citizens. On numerous occasions he has served as judge of elections, and at present is holding the responsible posi- tions of chief burgess of the city and president of the council. During his residence in the country, he was supervisor of Newberry town- ship. Mr. Beck is prominent in many social organizations, particularly in the Lewisberry Choral Society, of which he became a member in March, 1904. He has much musical talent, and a voice which is well worth training. Per- sonally, Mr. Beck is a very pleasant man to meet, cordial, friendly and sincere, and he lias private life.

JAMES NELSON KILGORE. Among the prominent citizens and prosperous farmers of York county may be mentioned James Nel- son Kilgore, who resides on his farm in Lower Chanceford township, where he was born Nov. 18, 1862.

The first of this branch of the family to come to America was Matthew Kilgore, who emigrated from one of the British Isles. He and his wife Mary had a daughter Rebecca, who married Samuel Holton, and went to the frontier in Ohio, where they lived in the first cabin in Chillicothe. Mrs. Holton later re- turned to her old home on a visit, and taking her mother with her-each riding a horse- brought her to the new home in the wilderness, where Mrs. Kilgore died at the age of eighty- four years. Matthew Kilgore went out with a party conducted by Mr. Holton, but returned home for the winter months, going back in the spring, and there he died. Mr. Kilgore's chil- dren were: Rebecca, born Oct. 5. 1763. mar- ried Samuel Holton, and died in 1875 ; Thomas, born Aug. 25, 1765, settled and died in West Virginia, in 1851; George, born Ang. 23, 1767, removed to Indiana where he died

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

in 1850; Matthew and James, twins, present sheriff), and died May 17, 1883, in were born Aug. 22, 1770, the former dying in Lower Chanceford township; and John B., born March 6, 1822, died in infancy. 1833 and the latter in 1835; William, born Dec. 31, 1774, went to Ohio, formed a com- pany of militia, was stationed at Lake Erie, and died in 1814; John is mentioned below; and Samuel, born Jan. 2, 1780, died in 1824, near Chillicothe, Ohio.

John Kilgore, the great-grandfather of James Nelson Kilgore, was born March 25, 1777, at McCall's Ferry, in Lower Chanceford township, York Co., Pa., and received his ed- ucation, such as it was, in the schools of his day. He worked on the farm and in the old stone still house which stood on the farm, and hauled whiskey over the mountains to Balti- more. He married Margaret Nelson, Feb. 17, 18or. She was a daughter of Samuel Nelson, who later moved to Licking county, Ohio, where he died. John Kilgore resided on the old home farm for a while, and then sold it and moved to a small place in the township, where he died Dec. 30, 1858. Mr. Kilgore's first wife died July 7, 1850, and he took for his second wife Maria Kerns, who, after the death of Mr. Kilgore, went West, where she lived with a son. Mr. Kilgore's family were all devoted members of the Presbyterian Church, attending at Chanceford. In early life Mr. Kilgore was a Democrat, but later he turned to the Whig party and died a Repub- lican. He was prominent in township affairs and held many local offices. He was a man of striking appearance, being over six feet tall, of powerful build, and the possessor of a fine con- stitution. To Mr. and Mrs. Kilgore the fol- lowing children were born: Samuel N., born Dec. 5, 1801, married Mary Neel, of Lancaster county, and died in Lower Chanceford town- . ship, Sept. 3, 1876; Matthew, born March II, 1804, married Mary Wiley, and settled in Fawn township, where he died Feb. 23, 1872; Rebecca, born Aug. 9, 1808, married Robert Densmore, and died in Peach Bottom town- ship, Dec. 16, 1854; Robert, born Jan. 28, 18II, died July 10, 1877, at Brogueville ; Mary Ann, born April 30, 1813, married John J. Wiley, and died June 19, 1860, in Fawn town- Mr. Kilgore married Mary Neel, and the following children were born to this worthy couple : John Neel, was the father of our sub- ject: Rebecca Ann, born Oct. 1, 1827, mar- ried Robert Duncan, who is now deceased, and she is living in Emerson, Mills Co., Iowa; ship; William H., born Oct. 30, 1815, was a graduate of medicine, studied under Dr. Hol- ler, married Maria Holler, the Doctor's daugh- ter and settled at Delta, where he died Dec. 7, 1886: Margaret Jane, born April 21, 1818, married Alexander Manifold ( uncle to the James R., born in Montgomery county, Md ..

Samuel N. Kilgore, the grandfather of James N. Kilgore, was born in the old stone house on the farm, upon which he grew to man- hood. The advantages for an education were very meager in those days, and Mr. Kilgore would be nearly frozen when he reached the schoolhouse after a walk of three or four miles in the cold. However, he received a good education for that day, though he attended school only in the winter months, while during the summer he worked on the farm. In 1825 Mr. Kilgore rented a part of John Buchanan's farm, which had been taken up by the latter. The farm extended along Muddy creek, next to Chanceford church. James Buchanan, son of John, married a Miss Nelson, an aunt of the grandfather of our subject. The Buchan- ans went West about 1825, having sold part of the original 500 acres. After his term of ren- tal was up Mr. Kilgore went to Montgomery county, Md., and rented a hotel at what is now Neelville, which hotel belonged to Joseph Neel, of Lancaster county, a granduncle of our sub- ject. Mr. Kilgore continued the hotel for two years, during which time he went to Ohio to find a good site for a home, having been very successful in the hotel business. He visited sev- · eral locations in Ohio, but returning home lo- cated his family in Lower Chanceford town- ship, in an old log house near Bridgeton, where he went to farming, on the same tract of 400 acres which he had rented some time before. Here he died Sept. 3, 1876, his wife surviving until 1887. They were interred in the Chance- ford Church cemetery. Both were members of the Chanceford Church, and helped to build the brick church, the brick for which was burned by Mr. Kilgore. For a number of years Mr. Kilgore was a trustee in the church. In politics he was a stanch Republican, and served as school director. He was present at the official starting of work on the Ohio and Chesapeake canal, at which time President Jackson threw the first spadeful of dirt.

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married (first) a widow, Mrs. Wheeler, nee

ceased, and he resides in Harford county, Md., where he follows tanning; Matthew William, born Aug. 27, 1832, married Grace Warner, deceased, and died in Philadelphia, Pa., in May, 1887; Margaret, born Nov. 20, 1834, married Joseph D. Rowan, and resides near Delta; Samuel Nelson, born Nov. 21, 1837, married Martha Simmons, of Harrisburg, and resides in Philadelphia ; Mary Ellen, born May 7, 1843, married George F. Chalfant, and re- sides in Philadelphia.

John Neel Kilgore, the father of James Nelson Kilgore, was born on the old home farm in Lower Chanceford township, June 24, 1825. He went to school in Maryland to an old Dr. Warfield, a rather irascible old gen- tleman, who was over fond of his grog, and of a fiery temper. Young Kilgore managed to get a good education, however, also attending public school in Chanceford until he was twenty-one years old. Mr. Kilgore's first work was driving a team, at the age of ten years. He hauled limestone from York Fur- nace, having a man with him to help load. He remained at home until Feb. 13, 1851, when he married Eliza Jane Wiley and located on ninety acres of the home farm. In 1851 Mr. Kilgore built the main part of the present brick house, in 1867 adding the 20x16 foot addi- tion. He later bought seventy acres and added it to the first tract, having now 100 acres under cultivation. Mr. Kilgore's first wife died at the age of twenty-five years, Feb. 17, 1856, the mother of two children: Mary Agnes, born March 30, 1852, who died at the age of one year; and Eliza A., who was born June 13, 1854.

Mr. Kilgore's second marriage was to Miss Crizzella J. Sides, born Oct. 27, 1832, in Lan- caster county, across from McCall's Ferry. Her parents were Jacob and Rebecca (Neel) Sides, both of Lancaster county. Six children were born to this union, as follows: Alvin E., born Dec. 11, 1858, died June 24, 1863; Mary Ann, born Sept. 18, 1860, died Feb. 2, 1863; James Nelson is mentioned below; Luella May, born Aug. 28, 1866, married Owen Wiley, and re- sides in Hopewell township; Rebecca Emily, born Sept. 25, 1868, is the wife of Harvey Sweeney, of Lower Chanceford township; and Lizzie May, born May 24, 1874, died June 13, 1874.

James Nelson Kilgore has resided on his Holland, and (second) Sue Whitford, de- farm, Locust Lane, and engaged in agricul- tural pursuits all his life. In his youth he at- tended school for five or six months of each year, going first to the home school in Chance- ford, and after leaving the public schools he spent four months at a private school kept by Prof. James Parker, at Delta. After finishing school Mr. Kilgore farmed for his father until his marriage, Nov. 30, 1886, to Miss Mary Catherine Hamer, who was born in Martic township, Lancaster county, daughter of John S. and Lucy (Long) Hamer. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kilgore, namely : John Ralph, Grace Erma, and Charles Wilmer. Mr. Kilgore is one of the prominent men of his community, and aside from being one of the influential citizens of the community is acknowledged to be an authority on things agricultural. He farmed with his father on shares until two years ago, when he bought his present farm, on which he has since resided.

Mr. and Mrs. Kilgore are members of the Pine Grove Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. Kilgore is an elder and secretary of the Sunday-school. In politics he is a Republican, and he has taken much interest in the success of his party; he was recently elected school director of Lower Chanceford township.

REV. JAMES ROSS RAMSAY, a re- tired minister and missionary who served in the Indian Territory for thirty-three years, as missionary to the Creek and Seminole In- dians, was born April 9, 1822, eldest son of the late Robert and Jane ( Whiteford) Ramsay.

Robert Ramsay was the son of John Ram- say, who emigrated from Ireland, and his mother was Margaret (McVey) Cooper widow of William Cooper. They had a daughter. Elizabeth, who married Henry Amrine, who left three daughters, Margaret, Rachel and Mary. Of these, Margaret married William Ramsay, and has five children, Henry, Ida, Mary, Sarah and Anna; Rachel married Ed- ward Paden, and their children numbered eight among whom are two sons in the ministry. Rev. William M., D. D., pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Rev. T. Ross, pastor of a church in Alle- gheny City, Pa. The third daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Amrine, Mary, is unmarried.

Robert Ramsay was left an orphan at an

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early age and learned the trade of tanner, which Md .; John, a merchant and carrier in he followed until his marriage. He served as the same county; Hugh Clarence, a min- a substitute soldier in the war of 1812. Mr. ister and missionary to China; and Charles Ramsay married, March 8, 1821, Jane White- F., cashier in the Stewartstown Bank of York ford, of Harford Co., Md., and after marriage Co., Penn. The family of Joseph Graham Ramsay, deceased, are as follows: Ebenezer Wilson is a railroad employe in Middletown, Pa., and Addie, who married Delmer Thomp- son, a farmer of York county, has five small children, Edith, Gertrude, Graham, Russel and Charles. Sarah Elizabeth Ramsay married John A. Dinsmore, and has four daughters; Rebecca; Jane, who married Edward Everett McConkey, and lives in Philadelphia; Carrie, married to James L. McCaul, of Minneapolis, Minn .; Annie; and Ross. Thomas Cooper Ramsay has three sons and three daughters : Robert Ross, a farmer of York county ; Howard; Russel, teller in the First National Bank, of Delta, Pa .; Louella, who married Hugh Kilgore, a merchant; Jennie, who mar- ried William Malone, a farmer of York county ; and Eveline, who married Porter Johnson, a brickmaker of Harford Co., Maryland. engaged in farming, at which he continued 1111- til the infirmities of age caused him to desist. His wife, Jane Whiteford, was the elder of the two daughters of Hugh and Elizabeth ( Ross) Whiteford, the latter of whom was the daugh- ter of Joseph and Jane ( Graham) Ross. Eliza, the younger daughter of Hugh and Elizabeth Whiteford, was married to Hugh Whiteford, of Harford Co., Md., son of William and Sarah (Slemons) Whiteford, and their children were: William Slemons, Hugh Ross, James Ross, Cunningham, Sarah Slemons and Eliza- beth. On the marriage of her younger daugh- ter, Elizabeth Whiteford, who was the posses- sor of two farms, one in Harford conty, Md., and the one that was her native home in what is now the borough of Delta, gave the former to her younger daughter and the latter, called the old Ross farm, to her elder daughter. In the year 1827, she and her husband, with their children, took possession of this farm, which was the birthplace of Elizabeth Ross and also of her two brothers, James and Hugh. The same house that in 1750 was built and occupied by James Graham, still stands and is now oc- cupied by the sixth generation of his descend- ants. Hugh Ross died young, but his brother, James, lived to attain great distinction in the legal profession, and was promoted by his State to a seat in the United States Senate. He married and had two sons, George and James, who studied law, and he had one daugh- ter, Jane, who married Edward Coleman.

James Ross Ramsay assisted his father with farm work during the summer, and attended school in winter until his twentieth year. In the meanwhile he became a Christian and de- cided to prepare for the ministry. In August, 1842, he commenced studying Latin under the instruction of A. D. Mitchell, and in the fol- lowing November entered the York County Academy, where, under the instruction of the Rev. Stephen Boyer and Daniel Kirkwood, Esq., he studied Latin, Greek, Algebra and Geometry, during one year, after which he taught school for six months in Delta. In May, 1844, he entered Jefferson College, from which he graduated with the degree of A. B., in the autumn of 1846. Returning home, he went at once to Princeton Theological Seminary, and pursuing the regular course of three years study, in May, 1849, prepared to engage in missionary work among the Creek Indians, to which he had been appointed by the Presby- terian Board of Foreign Missions, having been previously licensed by the Presbytery to preach.

Robert Ramsay had nine children : . James Ross: John Cunningham; Hugh Whiteford ; William: Robert Nelson: Joseph Graham; Sarah Elizabeth, who married John A. Dins- more; Thomas Cooper; and Samuel Martin. Six of these children still survive, are married and have reared families. Of these Hugh W. has one daughter, Eliza, living, and he and his wife live with her and her husband, Morgan Whiteford, in the city of Baltimore. He had one son, Edgar, deceased. William Ramsay's On leaving Princeton Mr. Ramsay went to Ohio, and there May 29, 1849, was united in marriage with Miss Jane Martha Livingston. On returning home Mr. Ramsay was ordained to the Gospel ministry by the Presbytery, June family has been already mentioned. Robert Nelson has six sons: Elmer, a farmer of Har- ford Co., Md .; Frederick, telephone superin- tendent of Harford county, Md. ; Albertus, United States mail carrier in Harford county, 20, 1849. Soon after this he started on his

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 58

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