History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 67

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

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a few improvements of a permanent nature, in- cluding the erection of a large and substantial barn and tobacco shed, the raising of tobacco being one of the important branches of his agricultural enterprises. For about a decade Mr. Hartman operated a threshing outfit in the county, but he now gives his undivided at- tention to his attractive and model farm. He takes a lively interest in all that touches the welfare of the community and is essentially progressive and public-spirited in his attitude, while to him is accorded the fullest measure of popular confidence and regard. In politics he gives an unswerving allegiance to the Demo- cratic party and he has been called upon to serve in the various township offices, includ- ing those of auditor and school director of his district, having held the latter office for nine years. Mr. Hartman was a delegate to the State Democratic convention, held in Allen- town in 1896. He is now a candidate for county commissioner on the Democratic ticket. He was reared in the faith of the United Brethren Church, his wife being a member of the Reformed Church.

On the 5th of. Dec., 1880, Mr. Hartman was united in marriage to Miss Julia Flinch- baugh, who was born and reared in York town- ship, being a daughter of John and Julia (Flinchbaugh) Flinchbaugh, members of old and honored families of York county. Mr. and Mrs. Hartman have five children, all of whom remain beneath the home roof, namely : Idella, who is the widow of William E. Ness; Charles F., who is a cigarmaker by vocation ; and Lillie, Elsie, and Jennings B.

DR. NATHAN C. WALLACE was born in Dover township Sept. 23, 1855, and is of Scotch and German descent. His paternal great-grandfather, Adam Wallace (Dec. 9, 1777-Nov. II, 1858). and his wife. Barbara (Godfrey) Wallace (May 5, 1770-March 16. 1855), bought, May 18. 1811, for 57 pounds and 12 shillings, in gold and silver, a home- stead of three acres and ninety-six perches, sit- uated in Dover township about two miles east from Dover, and resided thereon for forty-four years. They were the parents of seven chil- dren : Elizabeth, married to John Sweitzer; Rebecca, married to Henry Heltzel; Catharine, married to Daniel Lehman; Nancy, married to Samuel Billet ; Polly, married to Israel Hof-

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feins; Michael, married to Sarah Heltzel; and class of 1879. During the summers of 1880, Daniel (Jan. 17, 1809-Jan. 22, 1879), who 1881 and 1883, while studying medicine, he taught a select school in Dover for the prepara- tion of teachers, and so successful was he that for a number of years nearly all the schools of Dover township were taught by "graduates of his college," some of whom are still in the pro- fession after twenty-five years of continuous teaching. He entered Jefferson Medical Col- lege in the fall of 1881, and graduated from that institution in 1883. After taking a post- graduate course of one year in Philadelphia he located in the spring of 1884 in Dover, where he has been in continuous and successful prac- tice to the present time among those who have known him from childhood. married Mary Bentzel (Jan. 13, 1807-July 14, 1868). The latter were the grandparents of the subject of this sketch, and they had eleven children : Adam, (Aug. 23, 1830-Aug. 6, 1876) married Mary Ann Billet; Catharine (Dec. 31, 1831) married Jacob Speidle; Bar- bara (March 17, 1833-Nov. 18, 1868) mar- ried Henry Mummert; Samuel B. (Dec. 7, 1836-Nov. 1, 1906) married Eliza Ann Keasey; Daniel (Sept. 4, 1838) married Ma- tilda Rauhouser; Elias (March 18, 1840) mar- ried Mary Messerly; Mary (March 3, 1842) married Henry Shaffner; David (Dec. 2, 1843- May 2, 1865) was killed in the Civil war; Levi (May 20, 1847) married Anna Becker; Caroline (April 29, 1850) married Zacharias Seiple, and Henry (March 21, 1835-Nov. 24, 1881) married Salome Huber (May 22, 1833). Henry and Salome (Huber) Wallace are our subject's parents. They had six children: Nathan C., Alice J., Moses M., Lucy A., How- ard H. and Emma S. The maternal grand- parents of Dr. Wallace were Moses Huber (July 13, 1791-Oct. 9, 1860) and his wife Elizabeth (Gross) Huber (June 7, 1808-Feb. 3, 1834). .

Dr. Nathan C. Wallace was married to Clara Ann Aughenbaugh, born May 30, 1863, who was a daughter of Samuel H. Aughen- baugh, who belonged to a well-known York county family. To this union have been born two children : Charles Chester (June 10, 1880), at present a student in Jefferson Medical Col- lege, in Philadelphia; and Mabel Florence (Aug. 9, 1882), a graduate of the State Normal School at Millersville, Pa., class of 1905, who is at present successfully engaged in teaching.

Dr. Wallace early in life manifested a great desire for knowledge. He attended the public schools of Dover and Conewago townships un- der the instruction of his father, who was a teacher. After attending a session at Union Seminary, New Berlin, Union Co., Pa., and another at a select school for boys at Mechan- icsburg, Cumberland Co., Pa., he began to teach at a public school at fifteen years of age. John Bair, the father of Henry A., was born in New Oxford, Adams county, Pa., in the year 1807 ; his wife, Julia Ann Snyder, was born in the borough of Hanover in 1814. In the earlier years of his adult life John Bair was For several years following his time was occu- pied alternately teaching during the winter and attending the State Normal School at Millers- ville during the summer, and he finally grad- uated from that institution of learning in the by occupation a farmer, but later formed a co-

The Doctor began life without any pe- cuniary advantages, but by dint of hard work and the practice of self-denial and economy worked his way through school and college, and won a competence in life. He is an active member and a past president of the York County Medical Society, and has served as a member of its board of censors. He was a. member of the Dover town council and was borough treasurer for five years, and postmas- ter of Dover for eleven years. He is a mem- ber of the Board of Health and has served as delegate to County and State conventions a number of times. In politics he is a Repub- lican, in religion a Lutheran, but conservative in both. He is a past president and a trustee of Washington Camp, No. 55, P. O. S. of A., located in Dover, and he is also a member of. the Masonic fraternity.

HENRY A. BAIR, president of the Peo- ple's Bank of Hanover, has been a prominent business man of that town for many years. From the prosecution of a trade he has arisen to his present honorable and responsible posi- tion in the commercial and financial world. He is a native of the borough of Hanover, where he was born Sept. II, 1836, the son of John and Julia Ann (Snyder) Bair, and the grand- son of Jacob and Jane (Zellers) Bair. The grandparents were natives of Maryland, from which State they migrated to Pennsylvania.

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partnership in the tanning business with Gettysburg; York Commandery, No. 21, George Nace, a prominent citizen of Hanover, Knights Templar, and the A. A. O. N. M. S. of Reading. His long and varied busi- ness experiences at Hanover, his clear judgment and firmness of purpose, his activity in various public enterprises making for the betterment of the community in which he lives, combine to constitute in him one of the most valuable citizens of Hanover and have won for him a place of high esteem in the hearts and minds of his many friends. who afterward disposed of his interest in the tannery to Geo. Thomas, with whom Mr. Bair continued business under the firm name of Bair & Thomas. They were large shippers of leather to Philadelphia, Baltimore and other Eastern markets, and continued a successful business until the death of Mr. Bair, the senior partner, which occurred in 1872, his wife sur- viving him ten years. In politics John Bair was a Whig and later a Republican. He was a consistent member of the Lutheran Church and for many years a representative on the school board from the borough of Hanover. To John and Julia Ann Bair were born four children, namely: Jacob, William, Henry A., and George.

Henry A. Bair was reared in his native borough and attended the public schools until the age of fifteen, when he learned the carpen- ter's trade with Mr. Steffy at Hanover. His trade acquired, Mr. Bair traveled for a few years as a journeyman, working both at Balti- more and at Washington, D. C. Returning to Hanover he there engaged in the work of his trade. In 1860 he began the manufacture of cigar boxes and continued successfully until 1874, when he sold his manufactory to his son William Bair, and to his son-in-law, Charles Sourber. Mr. Bair became interested in the People's Bank of Hanover soon after it was founded. In 1899 he was elected vice-presi- dent of the institution which active position he filled until January, 1904, when at the death of John C. Allewalt he was elected to the presi- dency of the bank. Mr. Bair is also president of the Hanover Building and Loan Association and is director of the Board of Mt. Olivet cemetery.

Henry A. Bair was married in 1858 at Han- over, to Margaret, daughter of Peter and Anna Balmberger, and to them were born two chil- dren-William A., now deceased; and Annie M., who married Charles Sourber, of Hanover. Mr. Sourber died in 1899, his widow and three children surviving. Mr. Bair is a prominent member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church, of which he has served as elder since 1899. He is a leader also in the fraternal orders. He is a member of Patmos Lodge, No. 348, A. F. & A. M., of Hanover; Good Samaritan Chapter of Gettysburg, Pa .; Royal Arch Masons of

ELI FREE GROVE, the able and popu- lar manager of Southern Pennsylvania for the Singer Sewing Machine Company, resides in a beautiful and hospitable home at No. 137 East Market street, York. Mr. Grove is a de- scendant in direct line from Hans Graff, a most notable pioneer of Pennsylvania, whose descendants, numbering many thousands, have been prime factors in the settlement and de- velopment of this Commonwealth. Especially, in a supreme degree, have the members of the family participated in the material, moral and religious uplifting of the County of York.

Peter Graff, an ancestor of Eli F. Grove, was in the days of the early pioneers a resident of Groff's Run, Lancaster county, and the old mansion in which he lived still stands, in quite a remarkable state of preservation. Another progenitor was a patriot of the Revolution, fur- nishing large stores of ammunition to the Con- tinental army, and thus entitling his descend- ants to membership in the Sons of the Ameri- can Revolution.

Eli Free Grove was born on the old home- stead, son of Henry Grove, a farmer of Hope- well township, York county. He was educated in the schools of the district. After spending a year in the West he returned to Pennsyl- vania, locating in the city of York, and be- coming manager for the Singer Sewing Ma- chine Company. For more than a quarter of a century in their employ, he has been steadily advancing, and since 1892 has been manager of the southern 'Pennsylvania district, which now has about thirty offices within its juris- diction. For the effective discharge of its duties the position requires both tact and ex- ecutive ability, and these qualities are possessed by Mr. Grove in an unusual degree.

Outside of his business and domestic re- lations Mr. Grove is interested in the work of

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the First Presbyterian Church, of which he is an earnest member. He is also connected with the Lafayette Outdoor and Country Clubs. In a word, he is a sociable, affable gentleman, conscientious and generous in his dealings with his fellows, an able, energetic business man and a model citizen.

Mr. Grove's wife was formerly Miss Lucy Peeling, daughter of John Peeling, of York. Their only child, F. Marie, is a student in Miss Anable's Finishing School, Broad and Pine streets, Philadelphia. Mrs. Grove also comes of American stock distinguished for its close connections with the historical events which mark the founding of the national life. Some of her ancestors held office under the Colonial government, thus entitling her to membership in the Society of Colonial Dames. Robert Peeling, her great-grandfather, in 1776 fought in the battle of Long Island as a member of the Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment, and was one of the signers of the petition addressed to the committee of safety of the Province of Penn- sylvania, praying for an investigation of the grievances and hardships of his fellow soldiers. Such facts as these have entitled Mrs. Grove to place her name on the roll of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

SMITH. The Smiths of York county are of Scotch descent, but little is known of the family history prior to their emigration to Pennsylvania. Their name was, however, orig- inally Macdonald, and the particular branch now represented in York county by James Herr and Calvin Grier Smith participated in that great exodus from Scotland to the North of Ireland in the time of James I. Near the close of the Seventeenth century, in the north- eastern part of Ireland, dwelt the father of John Smith, the emigrant,who planted the family in Pennsylvania. Like many of the country folk of his day this ancestor, at that time known as Macdonald, was something of a blacksmith. Just before the battle of the Boyne, the horse of King William III, who personally led his troops in battle, cast a shoe. Macdonald, in the absence of a skilled farrier, offered to replace it. After his service for the king whose cause he espoused his neighbors called him "the Smith," thus distinguishing him from the many others of the name Macdonald.

name thus linked with that of his ruler, and in so great a battle as that of Boynewater, this sturdy son of the clan Macdonald accepted his new name, and handed it down to his posterity. The industry of the Scots in clearing homes in Ireland won them peace and prosperity, but their success invited the interference of the English government, which insisted on the payment of tithes to the Established Church and attempted to establish uniformity of ritual. As Presby- terians these attempts excited the Scots to rebel, and as the exactions grew and the discrimina- tions against them became more and more ex- acting, the sturdy colonists determined to seek new homes under the kindly Penn in the New World.

Among the first of these emigrants were John and Susanna Smith, who in 1720, after a long and stormy voyage, landed at Philadel- phia, with their son, Robert, born at sea. In their party were some of the best Scotch set- tlers in Ireland, men of property and education. clergymen and scholars, whose learning and ac- complishments did so much for the classical and theological schools of southeastern Penn- sylvania, in which they became teachers. Push- ing westward into Chester county, they took up lands in the hilly country of Uwchlan township, long known as the Brandywine settlement. With John and Susanna Smith came his sister Mary, who married Alexander Fulton, and moved to Little Britain, Lancaster county, and they became the parents of Robert Fulton, Sr., whose son was Robert Fulton, of imperishable fame. John Smith died in 1760, and his wife Susanna, in 1767. Their three older sons had sought homes elsewhere, so to their son Robert fell the homestead.

Robert Smith's early life was doubtless like that of all other boys of his time and locality, and of it we have no record. In 1757 the pub- lic records show that Sergeant Robert Smith went to "Reading to be qualified." This was during the war between the French and Eng- lish, when the Indians all along the border were restless and aggressive. At the opening of the Revolution in August, 1775, he again comes into prominence by being placed in charge of the proposed defences to be sunk in the Dela- .ware for the protection of Philadelphia. Dur- ing the years he was in charge there he planned land fortifications, and in January, 1777, was

Proud to have his one to advise with the Committee of Safety re-

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garding the necessary defences. He was a member of the convention that, Sept. 28, 1776, . adopted the first State constitution of Pennsyl- vania. On March 12, 1777, the Supreme exe- cutive council called him to the post of lieuten- ant of Chester county. This gave him the rank of colonel, and the onerous task of raising, arming and provisioning the military contin- gent of his district, the troops remaining under his command until they were called into active service. During the time he was county lieu- tenant he was elected, March 29, 1777, sheriff of Chester county, and March 31, 1777, justice of the peace holding the latter office a number of years. He was re-elected sheriff Nov. 21, 1778, but, owing to the conscientious dis- charge of his duties, incurred some unpopular- ity and was not again chosen to the office for five years. He was untiring in the discharge of his duty, and his patriotism was so great that his own private fortune melted away in gifts to the soldiers, or their needy families. His work was well done, and there seemed, during the progress of the war, no thought otherwise. But after peace had been declared, those less patriotic than himself, who felt chagrined at the exactions made upon them, called his actions into question. He was suni- moned to appear before the Supreme execu- tive council and removed from office March 6, 1786, but this action was reconsidered and he was reappointed on March 15, following. The enemies he had made were powerful, and they rallied again, succeeding in having his reap- pointment revoked March 21st. At the same time lie retired from all his offices, except that of trustee of the State Loan Office, which he retained for a year. In 1785 he served in the State Assembly, and in 1787, at the age of six- ty-seven, he retired to his farm. His death, in 1803, was caused by paralysis. A man of up- right and firm character, though of genial man- ners, his long public career gave his word great weight, and he was often sought as an arbitra- tor in disputes, and as an adviser in times of trouble. He was a great reader, and was one of the foremost men of his day. In religion, a Presbyterian, he was an elder and pillar in the church of that stanch old patriot, Rev. John Carmichael. Daily reading of the Scriptures and prayer were a part of his routine, and a large portion of every Sunday was devoted to the study of the Bible and the Westminster

Catechism. He owned two fine farms on the Conestoga.

On Dec. 20, 1758, Robert Smith married Margaret Vaughen, daughter of John Vauglien of Red Lion, Chester county ; she died in Phil- adelphia in 1822, at the age of eighty-seven. Of their children, Jonathan was for many years connected with the First and Second United States Banks, and the Bank of Pennsylvania, as cashier ; John, an ironmaster, was the owner of Joanna Furnace; Joseph was an iron and shipping merchant in Philadelphia; and Isaac was the sixth son. There are no records of the other children.

Isaac Smith, sixth son of Robert and Mar- garet (Vaughen) Smith, born July 20, 1773, grew to manhood in the stirring times of the early days of the republic. He inherited from his parents the sterling traits that char- acterized his race, and under the influences of a Christian home imbibed the Presbyterianism of his ancestors, tempered with the broader char- ity that so marked his father's calm, even tem- per and genial manner. Like him, too, he was strict in the discharge of duty, and like him, died (Oct. 8, 1840) honored and respected of men. On April 19, 1804, he married Mar- garet Fleming; she was born Nov. 6, 1774. and died July 10, 1820. The following four children were born to them : Robert Washing- ton is mentioned below; James Fleming, born Jan. 1, 1807, married Elizabeth, daughter of James and Elizabeth Schall, of York, Pa., and died Aug. 17, 1854; Jonathan Vaughen, born Feb. 22, 1808, died Sept. 28, 1828; and Sam- uel Mckean, born May 21, 1812, married Eliza, daughter of John and Mary Kauffelt, at Wrightsville, Pa., and died Feb. 24, 1879.

Robert Washington Smith, eldest of the children of Isaac Smith, was born in Chester county, Jan. 10, 1805, and he died in Philadel- phia, at the home of his son, J. Futhey, Oct. 21, 1884. He married Martha Herr, daughter of Rudolph and Martha Herr, of Hellam town- ship, York county, and nine children were born to this union: (1) Henrietta Fleming, who married William Steel Boyd, had five chil- dren : Ida Martha, who died Aug. 31, 1887; William Smith, who married Lillian Pauline Zurflich ; Ella Mary ; Anna Eliza ; and Charles Robert. (2) James, died in infancy. (3) James Herr. (4) John Futhey, married Mary McFetrich. (5) Robert Wirt. (6) Calvin

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Grier. (7) Martha Herr, married Frank J. Magee. and has two children, Robert Smith and Martha Helen. (8) Margaret Fleming. (9) Charles Persifer, married Hannah Ger- trude Kern, and has had four children: John Futhey, Charles Kern, Helen Gertrude (de- ceased), and Persifer.

The death of Robert Washington Smith, while on a visit to his son, was a sad loss to the community, and it caused profound sorrow. Although lacking less than three months of the four-score mark, his dignified bearing and well-groomed appearance, together with his unimpaired faculties, gave him the air of a much younger man. To most of the citizens of Wrightsville, where he had lived for half a century, he was known as 'Squire Smith, from his forty years' service as justice of the peace, his commission being first signed by Governor Ritner, in 1835, and he resigned in 1875, be- cause of advancing years. His boyhood was passed at Castle Fin, York county, and he was but a young man when he became identified with the best interests of Wrightsville. At the time the borough was incorporated in 1834, he was elected a member of the first town council, and was chosen its president.

In 1854, seeing the need of a newspaper, Mr. Smith founded the York County Star and continued its publication until in 1861, when all his employees enlisted in the service of their country, and he was obliged to suspend work. After the close of the war he sold the material to a stock company, and for a few years contin- ued with the paper as editor. After the paper was purchased by Messrs. Magee & Smith, he still manifested a warm interest in its welfare, and was a frequent contributor to its columns.

On July 21, 1832, Mr. Smith professed faith, and united with the Presbyterian Church, and continued faithful and consistent in his membership. A constant and earnest student of the Scriptures, he was rigid in observing pri- vate devotions, as well as church attendance, and he was a great lover of sacred music. In his broad sympathy and deep comprehension, those laboring in the Master's cause found in him an intelligent friend, who knew and felt the trials, the disappointments and the heart- aches, as well as the holy joys, that attend the faithful devoted workers, striving to spread the beneficent story of the Gospel to all people. He filled various offices in the church, includ- ing that of ruling elder.

JAMES HERR SMITH, son of Robert Washington and Martha ( Herr) Smith, was born in Wrightsville, Dec. 5, 1833. The vil- lage schools of his native town afforded him his only education, other than that he has acquired by self-study and in the great school of exper- ience. He worked with his father on the Star, and at an early age entered the general store of his uncle, James Fleming Smith, then a promi- nent business man, for a mercantile training, after spending several years in a wholesale house in Philadelphia. After his marriage he worked at Wrightsville in the general store of Smith & Harris, until at the organization of the Wrightsville Iron Company. he became its cashier and bookkeeper. In 1863 he was ap- pointed to a clerkship in the War Department. a position he resigned June 23d, after a brief service, to rejoin his family at Wrightsville, which place was captured by Gen. Gordon's brigade of Confederates on Sunday, June 28. At that time Mr. Smith was clerk of the town council, and the burgess, James F. McGee, sum- moned the council to meet in the clerk's office to consider what action, if any, should be taken, the enemy then being in advance upon York. While considering the question, Major Haller, of the United States army, with a small force, made up of State troops and invalid soldiers from the hospitals at York, gathered to guard the bridge across the Susquehanna, appeared before the council, and declared Wrightsville under martial law, at the same time appointing Capt. Samuel H. Mann provost marshal, and forbidding any action by the town council. All male citizens were summoned for duty in erecting barricades in the streets, and the wo- men were asked to cook provisions for the troops. Mr. Smith was appointed assistant provost. At about three o'clock in the after- noon the enemy made an attack, shelling the town and forcing the Northern soldiers to re- treat across the bridge, which they burned, to- gether with considerable property on Front street. As they could not cross the river, the Confederates abandoned the town next day, and retreated to York, thence in a few days to Gettysburg, where they met defeat in the ter- rible battles there. During the shelling of Wrightsville, Mr. Smith, realizing that his home (a frame dwelling) would furnish little protection to his family, took his wife, children and sister to the brick dwelling of D. S. Cook opposite. These buildings were in the direct

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 67

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