History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 65

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

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B. FRANK STINE. The farm until the spring of 1906, owned by B. Frank Stine, and since then the property of his brother, has been in the possession of the family for over a cen- tury. and four generations have successively made it their home, until today there is scarce- ly a spot within its well-ordered limits which has not been endeared to its occupants by some association or memory.

Ludwig Stine, the original purchaser of the property came from Germany, and settled first west of York. The greater part of his life was spent on the old homestead in Windsor town- ship, and there he died. He belonged to the Dunkards. His wife, Catherine Weigle, bore him seven children, viz .: John, who died in York township; Daniel, who died in Longs- town ; Henry ; and four daughters.

Henry Stine was born in 1801, and died in August, 1870. His wife whose maiden name was Julia Ann Slenker, was born in 1800, and died in 1877. She was the daughter of Mar- tin Slenker, who married a Miss Mellinger. Henry Stine spent his life on the farm, which became his own property on the death of his father. It consisted of 120 acres, and at first had two log houses on it, in one of which Lud- wig Stine lived, and in the other Henry. The latter built the present house, a fine residence in 1849. Nine years before that he had built a good barn, but it was struck by lightning and burned in July, 1852, so that he was obliged to build another, the present structure in that same year. He had a family of six, namely : Henry, deceased, formerly of York- ana; Charlotte, Mrs. Henry Paules, deceased ; John; Joseph. who resided near York; Julia Ann, Mrs. Josiah Bailey; and Zachariah, of Lower Windsor township.

John Stine was born on the Stine home- stead, March 17, 1833. Until he was eighteen he attended school, going to the Freysville school, which was first on a. subscription basis, and later free. The term lasted only four months of each year, and the rest of the time was spent helping in the work of the farm. With his brother Henry, John Stine learned the carpenter's trade and worked at it for a couple of years, but then turned his attention to farming instead, and lived on the farm now owned by C. W. Shenberger. After the death of his father in 1870, he moved to the old farm, which has since been his home. In politics he is a Republican, while his religious connection is with the Freysville Lutheran Church. He was married, in 1854, to Miss Lucy Ann Schmuck, born in Windsor town- ship in 1834, daughter of Peter and Magdalena (Smith) Schmuck. Five sons and two daugh- ters have been born to this union. as follows : John W., of Windsor township: Reuben D., deceased : William Henry, who died at the age

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

of seventeen; B. Frank; Moses, of Red Lion; spring of 1902, he was elected school director and Julia Ann and Mary Jane, deceased in in- for a term of three years, upon the expiration fancy.

B. Frank Stine was born in 1861 on the farm where his parents began their house- keeping. He was sent to the public schools, attending first in the old building that stood on the Stine farm, and his first teacher was David Stauffer, while the last one there was F. Z. Stauffer. At nineteen he had finished in the local schools, and then he entered the York Normal, where he spent one session under Profs. Seitz and Hays. With this preparation for teaching Mr. Stine secured the home school, and taught there the following winter, the last year that a session was held in that building. The following year he entered the Millers- ville Normal School and spent two years there, after which he taught the Fairview school in his own township for four years, the Cedar Hill school a similar period, and the Freys- ville school for two terms. At this point in his career Mr. Stine decided to give up teach- ing, and accordingly entered the mercantile business at Holtz, where for three years he carried on the store and post office, the former of which Moses C. Holtzinger has since bought. On leaving Holtz, he returned home, bought the farm from his father, and has ever since been carrying it on. For seven years he again taught school during the winters in the dis- tricts where he taught before, and his services as teacher have always been in demand. In 1891, Mr. Stine engaged in the fertilizing busi- ness, combining that and farming. In the spring of 1906 he sold the homestead farm to his brother, J. W. Stine, and he and his family moved to York.

Mr. Stine has been married for over twenty years, his union to Miss Ida B. Frey having occurred July 5, 1885. Miss Frey was born in Lower Windsor township, May 16, 1867, daughter of John and Mary (Hengst) Frey. Mr. and Mrs. Stine have had a family of six children: Carrie Belle, Cozie May, John Nevin, Laura Flo, Mary Ann and Henry M. Stanley. Mr. Stine, as well as his wife, is a member of the Freysville Lutheran Church, in which he has been deacon for four years. In politics he was at first a Republican, and cast his first vote for Blaine, but in 1892 he changed to the ranks of the Democrats. . and has supported that party since then. In the

of which time he was re-elected for a similar period, a position which his education and ex- perience abundantly qualify him to fill most cap- ably. He was appointed deputy prothonotary of York county, Pa., and entered upon the du- ties of the office, under George W. Maish, pro- thonotary, Jan. 1, 1906. He is a member of Washington Camp, No. 176, P. O. S. of A., of Windsorville, and he formerly belonged to the Mystic Chain. He also belongs to York Eyrie, No. 183, F. O. E., and various other or- ganizations in the city of York. He is prom- inent and influential in the community, and is a man universally esteemed and respected.

JOHN K. WALKER, an old and promi- nent farmer citizen of Lower Chanceford town- ship, York county, was born Feb. 17. 1837, at Cross Keys Farm, Fulton township, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania.

Timothy Walker, his grandfather, came to America from England with his wife and per- haps some of his children, and settled in Cecil county, Md., close to the Pennsylvania line. He was a soldier in the American Revolution and often told of having lain on the ground in camp when it was so cold his hair would freeze to the ground. Subsequently he moved to Lan- caster county and died there. Of his children we have record only of Timothy, who located in Belmont county, Ohio; Sally, who died un- married, and William, father of John K.

William Walker, father of John K., was a farmer all his life except during the years he kept the "Cross Keys Hotel," between Lan- caster and Port Deposit. He lived in Cecil county one year after his marriage and then took charge of the above named hotel, where he saved a little money, but not caring to sell whiskey, he went to farming in Lancaster county, where he lived for seven years, then removing to York county. He bought a farm of 100 acres two and one-half miles from the city of York, on which he lived until he sold it to our subject, buying another place of thirty- five acres on which he died in 1870, aged sev- enty-five years. He was a lifelong Democrat.

William Walker married Martha McCue, who was born in Cecil county, Md., a daughter of Dominick McChe, who came from Ireland with his wife before the birth of any of their

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children. Mrs. Walker died on the farm in 1890, aged seventy-five years. William Walk- er's children were as follows: Andrew, who died aged twelve years; John, who died young ; Elias who died small; William, a soldier of the Civil war, deceased in August, 1904, who mar- ried in Lower Chanceford township ( first ) Je- mima Arbuckle and (second) Mrs. Jane Mur- phy ; John K., the subject of this sketch; Mary Ann, Mrs. Alexander Ire, who died in Lan- caster ; Martha, Mrs. James Kilgore, who died in Lower Chanceford township; Margaret, Mrs. John Donohue, who died in Lancaster; and Andrew, of Havre de Grace, Maryland.

John K. Walker was eight years old when he came to Lower Chanceford township with his parents, and completed his education here at the age of sixteen years. He was always more inclined toward work than books and was his father's best assistant on the farm, remain- ing at home and later buying the place as men- tioned above. Later he moved to Pesutia Is- land, Md., and farmed a year there, afterward farming four years at Stony Point, Md., one year at Sandy Hill, Md., and two years at Purgatory, Md. He then came back to Lower Chanceford township and lived on the old home place until 1900, when he came to his present farm, formerly known as the John Shaub farm.

Mr. Walker was married Nov. 17, 1868, at York, to Sarah A. Wise, born Feb. 15, 1848, in Lower Chanceford township. Her father, Henry Wise, was a brother of John Wise, of near Red Lion, Windsor township, and spent his whole life on the homestead. He married Nancy Sweigart, who was born near Bethel Church. Chanceford township, and they both died on their home farm. They had children, as follows: John Andrew, deceased: Mary, Mrs. Andrew Douglas, of Chanceford town- ship: Sarah A., wife of our subject : Henry, of near Delta, married to Katy Kenedy: Daniel. near Delta : and Becky, widow of Dr. Mordecai Posey, of Collinsville.

Children as follows were born to Mr. and Mrs. Walker: Laura, who was a successful teacher prior to her marriage to Samuel W. Taylor, of Lower Chanceford township: Ber- tha. Mrs. Jack Kenedy, of the same township; Mattie MI., wife of Fillmore Grove, of Getch- ville, this county; Maggie, Mrs. Albert Rein- ecker, of North Point. Md. : Blanche. Mrs. John Barrett, who was a successful teacher for four

years prior to marriage; Alice, Mrs. David Keeports, of Lower Chanceford township; Nan who resides at home; Thomas Neely, who mar- ried Hester Keeports and resides in Lower Chanceford township; William Howard, re- siding at home; John E., of Lower Chance- ford township; Octavia, who died aged seven years; Arabella, who died aged three years ; and two children who died in infancy. Mr. Walker has also an adopted son, John W. W. Herman. This large and interesting family is prominent in this section of the county.

Mr. Walker, like his father, has always been identified with the Democratic party, but he has never consented to hold office. Both he and his estimable wife are worthy members of the McKendree M. E. Church.

JAMES E. MANIFOLD, of East Hope- well township. York Co., Pa., is a descendant of Benjamin Manifold, the emigrant ancestor of the family in this country, who came from Ireland to the United States. Mr. Manifold is connected with many of the oldest families of his section, and was born in his present home, which was erected by his father a short time prior to his birth, Feb. 10, 1848.

Salem Rowe Manifold, the father, was born Dec. 6, 1799, close to Fawn Grove, in Fawn township, on a farm owned by one Mar- steller, and there grew to manhood. He mar- ried Eliza Turner Manifold, who was born and reared on the farm now owned by J. J. Mani- fold. daughter of "Long" Henry Manifold and Elizabeth Turner, the former receiving his nickname to distinguish him from Henry Manifold, of Fawn township, whose pseudonym was "Short." After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Salem R. Manifold lived in Fawn township for a time, and then removed to the Charles Grove farm, near the Hopewell township line. He then purchased a farm of 225 acres from Samuel Grove, who had purchased it from John Helling. Mr. Manifold paid $600 for this farm, upon which there was not enough land cleared to make a garden. His home was an old log house of two rooms, in one of which Mrs. Manifold had her spinning-wheel and wove clothing for her children, also mak- ing coverlets and table cloths. Mr. Manifold built the present brick residence in 1847. The barn erected in 1842. by "Jim" Gemmill, con- tractor, was the largest in the township at that

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

time. Mr. Manifold's early crops of wheat of the Round Hill Presbyterian Church, which were only enough to feed his family, six bush- he joined in 1861. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and has served as school director and held other township offices. To Mr. and Mrs. Manifold have been born: Marian Ger- trude, now Mrs. Springer Lanius of Fawn township; and Henry Rowe and Jennie Irwin at home. els being the first year's yield. He was a mem- ber of Prospect M. E. Church, while his wife attended Round Hill Presbyterian Church. Politically Mr. Manifold was first a Whig, and later a Republican. His death occurred in 1883, and his wife passed away in 1895. They had the following named children: John A. married Emmeline Dillinger, of Indiana, and ANDREW ELLIS, a prominent citizen of Red Lion, Chanceford township, York county, was born Nov. 20, 1828, in Chanceford town- ship, and is of French and German descent. died in East Hopewell township; B. Franklin is a resident of Baltimore county, Md .; Eliza- beth Turner died unmarried as did Mary; Jo- seph Edward died in a camp hospital at An- George Ellis, his grandfather, located in Chanceford township, and died on the farm on which our subject was born, having been a farmer all of his life. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, serving seven years as a private, and his rifle is now in the possession of his grandson, Andrew. tietam, while a soldier in the 187th P. V. I .; Belinda Jane married Cornelius Collins, and died on the Plank Road; Henry, a member of, the 130th Cavalry, died in service ( his regi- ment's horses were taken away and the men were ordered'to proceed to a certain point on foot ; he took to bleeding at the nose, and went into battle in that condition, dying from the strain ) ; Margaret died when young; Henry (2) died in childhood ; James E. is our subject.

James E. Manifold received his early educa- tion in the local schoolhouse, his first teacher being Archie Fullerton, and he left school un- der Thomas Wilson. He then attended one year at the Stewartstown Academy under Prof. James A. Murphy. When young he had a great desire to go into the cattle dealing busi- ness, and had many chances to go West to bring in cattle, but though his father was will- ing that he should go his mother objected to it, so he remained at home. When the Civil war broke out, he, being the only help on the farm, was compelled to remain at home, and his whole life has been spent in farming. When he was fourteen years old it is said that he was able to swing a cradle as well as any, being also able to tie wheat as rapidly and well as his elders. His father often said that he could "mow to Baltimore without straightening up if someone wanted him to," as he never knew what backache was.

Mr. Manifold was married Jan. 17, 1878, to Miss Belle W. Irwin, who was born in Fawn township in 1855, daughter of Robert and Eliza (Wiley) Irwin, and after marriage settled on his 100-acre tract, upon which stands the residence. Most of his land was cleared, and he has raised some of the best crops in the section. He and his family are members

David Ellis, the father of Andrew, was born on the same farm and received an ordi- nary common school education, and became a teacher, having a school in the house in which he lived, for the benefit of the neighbors' chil- dren during the winter for a number of years. He married Catherine Schall, a native of Mary- land, whence her father moved to what is now Lower Chanceford township, where he bought 700 or 800 acres of land. Of this Mr. Ellis got 188 acres. Mrs. Ellis died on the home farm, aged ninety-seven years, and Mr. Ellis passed away in his sixty-second year. These good people were Presbyterians. In politics he was an old line Whig. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Ellis were: Michael, who died in Windsor township; Catherine, who married Adam Arnold, and died in Windsor township; John, who died in Chanceford township; An- nie, who married Michael Bloure, and died in the same township; Henry, who died in either Maryland or Virginia; Philip, who died in Chanceford township George, who died in Chanceford township; Mary, who married George Bullock and died in Columbia ; Fannie, who married Jacob Houghmatter, and died in Chanceford township; Benjamin, who died in Chanceford township, and Andrew.

Andrew Ellis was taught by subscription teachers first, and later went to the public schools, but the advantages for his education were slight, as his father died when he was but ten years old, and he was compelled to go

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to work for the neighbors. The first wages he received were twenty-five cents per day, and he was then paid six dollars per month, working at hay making and harvesting. For work with a hand scythe and rake he received sixty- five cents per day, and he kept at this work for a few years, and then engaged in team work for John Detweiler, hauling wood to the canal at fifty cents per day, handling sixteen loads per day. Mr. Ellis and his brother Henry cut wood for two years, winter and summer, for Robert Huston of Columbia, and then bought a team and hauled the wood to the canal for Mr. Huston. The land from which the wood was hauled was covered with brush, stumps and stones, and the brothers made an agreement to haul so many loads of wood for the farm. They hauled the required number of loads and received the land, upon which they built a stone house, thirty feet square and two stories high, and a temporary barn later building a barn 40x100 feet. The land consisted of 133 acres or more, and in a short time Mr. Ellis bought out his brother, and later sold off forty acres of the land, the rest of which he cleared and cultivated, selling it in the spring of 1905, and removing to Red Lion, where he has since lived.

Mr. Ellis married Margaret Leiphart, and the following children have been born to them : George: Ida, who married Frank Koons, of Lower Windsor; Olivia, who married Amos Kocns, of Chanceford township; Ellen, who married Emanuel Smueltzer, of Windsor town- ship; Lilly, who married William E. Burkins, of Red Lion ; and Cora, who married Jeremiah Arnold of Chanceford township. Mr. Ellis is very highly respected in the community in which he resides and is a very useful and pro- gressive citizen. In politics he is a Democrat.

CHARLES LEESE, justice of the peace in North Codorus township, York Co., Pa., was born in that township, Aug. 14. 1832, son of Daniel and Mary (Emig) Leese.

Valentine Leese, the grandfather, came to America from Germany and settled in Man- chester township, York county. He was a tailor and followed his trade all his life.

Daniel Leese. the father, learned the trade of shoemaker. He owned a small farm of thirty acres in North Codorus township, and this he cultivated when not engaged in public

duties as he was a justice of the peace, a con- stable, and also did surveying. He married (first ) Mary Emig, who died in June, 1860, and ( second) Mary Klinedinst, who died in 1895. He died in 1875, at the age of seventy-four years and six months, and was buried in the Moravian cemetery at York. His children were: John W., a shoemaker and farmer ; Susan, deceased; Benjamin, deceased, who served Jefferson borough as justice of the peace and surveyor; George L., deceased, a wheel- wright by trade; Lydia, who died in Baltimore ; Charles ; and Daniel, a civil engineer, residing at New Albany, Indiana.

Charles Leese attended the township schools, the first one being at Stoverstown, and the next Seven Valley, and the last of his school days were passed at the Leeses school in Northi Codorus township. when he was seventeen years of age. He then learned the millwright trade in Jackson township which he followed for thirty-five years in different parts of York county, five years being spent at Emigsville. Manchester township. In 1860 he came to North Codorus township and bought a small property, which he sold at a later date and bought his present farm of fifty acres of Jolin Myers. This he has converted into a first-class truck farm, and it is one of the finest in this part of the State. He also grows fruit ex- tensively, and has fine bee hives. He has had the same stall in the Farmers' Market for the past thirty-three years, and there are many households which depend upon his choice com- modities for the greater part of their purchases.

Charles Leese was married Feb. 19, 1857, to Margaret Schuler, daughter of George Schuler, a butcher in Manchester township, who died in 1860, and was buried at the Union Church- at Manchester. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Leese settled at Emigsville and lived there for three years, and then came to Northi Codorus township. In 1883 he was elected justice of the peace, an office in which he has served ever since with satisfaction to all con- cerned. In all these years he has returned but two cases to court, his judgment making it possible for him to settle all the others. In addition to his other duties, he has been en- gaged in surveying for the last twenty years.

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Leese were as follows : Ida who died aged two years ; Listie A., who married ( first) Joseph Hoke

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

and ( second) Milton Heman, and lives in J. Sneeringer purchased the plant and became York: Andrew G., who married Jennie Sag- ner: Ellen, wife of George M. Mummert, and living at Menges Mills ; Charles, who died aged seven years ; Daniel G., married to Fannie Kes- sler and living in Paradise township; Benja- min. who married Elsie Messersmith and lives in York; Edward, who married Millie Bollinger and has been a teacher and surveyor in North Codorus township for eight years; Harry, who died aged two days; and Carrie N., who married John Shutt, of Spring Grove.

Few men are better known in this section than 'Squire Leese. He served for twelve years on the school board and for eleven years was its secretary. He is one of the stockhold- ers and a director of the Codorus Canning Company, of Jefferson, which he did much to organize.

FRANK J. SNEERINGER, manufacturer of cigar boxes at Hanover, sole proprietor of a thriving manufactory with which he has been connected almost since its inception, first as an employee, evinces by his career the potency of personality in the management of a business. Ambitious and energetic, he thoroughly ac- quired the details of the business, and then when the opportunity presented itself for the operation of the plant in his own name, he was well-equipped for the undertaking. And though still a young man he has shown the possession of superior business qualifications. Mr. Sneeringer was born near Conewago Chapel, Adams Co., Pa .. June 5, 1875, son of Frank G. and Sallie (Jenkins) Sneeringer, both now deceased. The father was a native of Adams county, and was for a number of years interested in business for himself. He had been prominent in politics and had served a term in the State Legislature.

Frank J. Sneeringer received his primary education in the public schools. He then en- tered Mt. St. Mary's College at Emmitsburg, Md., where he pursued his studies for several Abraham Whisler, grandfather of Martin, a native of Lancaster county, was the first of his name to settle in Cumberland county, where he owned a farm. He was twice married. His son Peter was born in the later home, and con- years. After leaving school Mr. Sneeringer, possessing a taste for mercantile life, started a general store at Edge Grove, Adams county, and while there lie was appointed postmaster. In 1889 the Penn Cigar Box Company, Ltd., tinued to reside in that county until his death through J. A. Poist & Bro., established a in 1858. His wife, Ester, who was born in manufactory at Hanover. F. G. Sneeringer Lancaster county in 1816, was the daughter of Jacob and Mary ( Nicewarner) Martin, and succeeded to the ownership, and in 1894 Frank

the manufacturer of cigar boxes. The present factory, a brick structure, 50x120 feet, was erected by Mr. Sneeringer in 1905. The main building is supplemented by sheds and ware- houses for storing material, and also the fin- ished product. A force of forty men and wo- men are employed at the factory, which is equipped with late and improved machinery, the product finding a market in many States. Mr. Sneeringer has been connected with the box factory a large part of the time since it was started. He is thoroughly acquainted with the work in every department, and as proprietor lie has conducted the business with marked success. Mr. Sneeringer is also a member of the company known as the Cen- tennial Cigar Co., at Centennial, Pa., where one hundred cigar makers are employed. He is also the owner of one of the best farms in Adams county-situated near the town of New Oxford.

Aside from his own business Mr. Sneer- inger finds time to devote to the interests and welfare of Hanover. He is vice-president of the Hanover Mattress Company, a concern that is doing a thriving business. It was in- corporated in 1905 with H. A. Bair, president ; F. J. Sneeringer, vice-president; E. A. Michael, secretary; H. B. Schultz, treasurer ; and Herman Leonard, manager.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 65

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