History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 73

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

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MICHAEL GROSS, who lived retired in the borough of Manchester for over thirty years prior to his recent decease, was the oldest citizen of that place, and held a high position in the affectionate regard of its residents gen- erally. He led a life of practical usefulness, having been interested as a worker in the va- rious activities of the community from the time he took up his residence there.

The Gross family has been established in the neighborhood of Manchester for several generations, Samuel Gross, the grandfather of Michael, having emigrated thither in 1777. He was a native of Germany, and on coming to York county first located in Manchester . township on the farm where Jacob Free re- sides near Emigsville. After a short residence there he bought the farm afterward owned and occupied by his grandson. Benjamin Gross, about one mile from the village of Manchester, the date of the purchase being Feb. 8, 1777; Frederick Zorger, of Newberry township, was

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the former owner. There Samuel Gross en- gaged in farming and distilling to the end of his days, and there he died; he is buried in Manchester township. His family consisted of seven children : George, Samuel, John, Daniel (who married Elizabeth Myers), Eve ( wife of Michael Beltzhover, of Cumberland county), one daughter who became the wife of Rev. Mr. Schmucker, of York, and Mrs. John Strayer, of Dover township.

John Gross, father of Michael, was born in Manchester township, and there passed his entire life. Like his father he devoted himself to farming and distilling, and made quite a suc- cess of both industries, becoming a large land- owner. He was a man of fine character, and died much respected at the age of sixty-six years. He is buried at Manchester borough. John Gross married Barbara Melhorn, daugh- ter of Michael Melhorn, and she, too, lived to be sixty-six years of age, and is buried at Man- chester. They were the parents of six chil- dren, namely : ( I) Catherine died unmarried, and is buried at Manchester. (2) Samuel, born May 25, 1812, in Manchester township, first married Susan Wolf, by whom he had six children, Mary, Amanda, John, George, Emma and Susan (deceased). His second wife was Lena Gotwalt, daughter of John and Catherine (Wilt) Gotwalt, of Dover township, and they had one child, Alice S. Mr. Gross died at Man- chester and is buried there. (3) Michael is mentioned below. (4) Eliza married Peter Diehl, and after his death became the wife of P. A. Spahr. She died at Mt. Wolf, and is buried at Manchester. (5) George was born Feb. 16, 1817, followed farming all his life, and died at Manchester, where he is buried. He married Eliza Rutter, and they had fourteen children-Ellen, Albert, Emma, George, An- drew, Adam (all deceased), Zacharia, William, Sarah, Kate, Edward, Charles, Eliza and Jen- nie. (6) Sarah, who became the wife of Charles Diehl, died at Mt. Wolf and is buried at Manchester.

eral farming there for thirty years. He re- mained there, in fact, until his retirement in 1874, after which he lived in the borough of Manchester, where he purchased a fine resi- dence. Mr. Gross continued to own a greater part of the farm, which comprised 180 acres, in 1903 the York Traction Company buying thirty acres of the tract for a park. The place is known as Cold Springs Park because of the fine springs which are numerous on the land, and it is one of the finest spots in that section of the country.

Mr. Gross was content to exert liis influ- ence in a quiet way and was never a seeker after office, though he served efficiently as school director. He was a prominent member of the Lutheran Church, in which he held all the offices, and was one of its best workers for many years. He affiliated with the Republi- can party.

Mr. Gross was married to Leah Hake, daughter of Jacob and Lydia Ann (Miller) Hake, of Conewago township, York Co., Pa., and she passed away at the age of sixty-one years. She is buried at Manchester. Chil- dren as follows blessed this union : Eliza mar- ried Jacob King, and is living at Star View, in Manchester township; John W. married Annie Sprenkle, and died at the age of forty- five years, his widow now living in Manchester township (he is buried at Manchester) ; Eli first married Clara Bear, and later Elmira Bush, and they are living in the borough of Manchester, where he is engaged in the livery business; Miss Sarah A. is living at home ; Lydia is the wife of Harry Wilt, of Steelton, Pa., where he is engaged in the undertaking and furniture business; Lewis, of Goldsboro, York county, married Elmira Reeser, and after her death married Dora Spangler (he is en- gaged in the furniture and undertaking busi- ness) ; Leah married Peter Friser, and is living in York.

BARTHOLOMEW HACKENYOS (de- ceased) was a native of Germany, his birth oc- curring in Baden, that country, May 31, 1833. He ivas a son of John Hackenyos, a shoemaker who followed his trade in Baden, where he clied.

Michael Gross was born Jan. 15, 1814, in Manchester township, and received his early instruction. in the township school. Later he attended the York County Academy. He was reared on the farm, and when he commenced agricultural pursuits on his own account lo- Bartholomew Hackenyos learned the shoe- maker's trade with his father, and left his na- cated on a tract which his father bought for him, near Manchester, being engaged in gen- tive country at the age of nineteen years to

B. Hackeryos

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come to America, where he first settled in New York City. There he remained three months, at the end of which time he removed to Wash- ington, D. C., and after a number of years came to York, Pa. Here he engaged in shoe- making, and later in merchandising, also own- ing and operating a farm in connection with his mercantile business, and he was very suc- cessful. Mr. Hackenyos died in July, 1901. He was married (first) to Mary Byerly, who died July 10, 1881, and (second) to Wilhel- mina Kindsvogel, daughter of John and Mar- garet (Getz) Kindsvogel, the former a con- tractor in Germany. Both the parents of Mrs. Hackenyos died at an early age, and she came to America at the age of nineteen years. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hack- enyos, namely : John B., a safemaker by trade; Harry; Frederick; and Gustie Elizabeth, who died when three years old. Mrs. Hackenyos resides at her home, No. 122 North Pine street, York. Since her husband's death she has made one visit to her native land.

JOSEPH M. PROWELL, of Conewago township, York county, who is living retired in Strinestown, is a survivor of the Civil war, and for many years was a farmer of Newberry township. Mr. Prowell is a son of James N. Prowell, and was born July 2. 1839, in New- berry township.

James N. Prowell was born in 1816, in Fairview township, and received a common- school education. After his marriage he lo- cated in Newberry township, where he re- mained four years, and then removed to Fair- view township, and later bought a farm at Smoketown, remaining at the latter place seven years. He next removed to Fishing Creek Valley, Fairview township, where he stayed four years before removing to Yocumtown, his home for eleven years. He finally located in Harrisburg, where occurred the death of his wife. Hannah Miller, born Aug. 20, 1820, daughter of Peter Miller. Mr. Prowell mar- ried (second) a Mrs. Neater, and she also died in Harrisburg. and after her death Mr. Prowell went to live with his children. He died in 1902, and is buried at Salem Church in Fairview township. His children were as follows: Jo- seph M .; Elizabeth, born in 1840, died at the age of sixty years: Peter N., born in 1842. married (first) a Miss Prowell and ( second) Miss Annie Good, and resides at Yocumtown :

David, born in 1844, died in 1877, and was buried at Salem Church; Nancy, born in 1847, died young; Jeremiah, born in 1849, married Amanda Hartman, and lives at Steelton, Dauphin county ; Mary A., born in 1850, mar- ried George W. Parks and lives in Steelton; Webster, born in 1855, married Annie Reed; Sarah Ellen, born in 1858, died young ; Ed- ward, born in 1862, married Emma Lease, and lives in New Cumberland, Cumberland county ; and Lucinda, born in 1856, married Herman Goodyear, and they are living in New Cumber- land, Cumberland county.

Joseph M. Prowell attended school in New- berry and Fairview townships until the age of twenty years, and then started working in the lime-kilns and quarries. In 1862 Mr. Prowell removed to Dauphin county, and followed trucking for a number of years. In August, 1864. he enlisted in Co. D, 201st P. V. I., being mustered in at Harrisburg. Mr. Prowell did guard duty and served ten months, and, after receiving his discharge returned to Newberry township and went to farming. In 1877 Mr. Prowell located near Strinestown, Conewago township, and Nov. 18, 1902, bought a home in Strinestown, where he is now living retired.

In 1867 Mr. Prowell married Miss Eliza- beth Ann Crider, daughter of Reuben and Mary (Hoffman) Crider, of York county, and the children born to them have been : Ross, who married Ida Westheffer, and lives in Strines- town ; Rebecca, who married Andrew Fink, and lives in Conewago township ; Martin, who mar- ried Anna Hoffman, and lives at Falls, York county ; Grant, who married Amelia Sweitzer, and lives at Falls : Agnes, who married George Bear, and lives at Zion's View ; Cora, who died at the age of nineteen, and is buried in Man- chester township: Bertha, who married Isaac Bupp, of York; Emma, who married George Strine, of Strinestown: Mary Jane, who mar- ried George Sheaffer, of York ; and George W., a baker at York. :

In politics Mr. Prowell is a Republican, and for two years has been supervisor, and has also served as judge of election.

WILLIAM C. SEITZ, M. D., a represen- tative of the school of Homeopathy in York county, is established in the practice of his pro- fession at Glen Rock. He is a native son of York county, and a descendant of pioneer stock, the name being historically identified

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

with that section of the Keystone State since very early in the eighteenth century. The first representative of the family in York county was John Seitz, great-grandfather of the Doctor, who was born and reared in Germany and who was a resident of Maryland for a time before coming hither. He located near what is now the thriving city of York and took up a tract of wild land, a considerable portion of which he reclaimed to cultivation, becoming one of the prominent pioneer farmers of this locality. He had three sons, Andrew, John and Lewis-the first two named continuing to be permanent res- idents of Pennsylvania, while Lewis removed to Ohio, where he was undoubtedly the first to represent the family.

William Seitz, father of the Doctor, was born in Harford county, Md., where his par- ents had taken up their residence a few years previously, and the year of his nativity was 1821. He was educated partly in Maryland and partly in York county, where he grew to man- hood. He became a prominent and influential farmer of Shrewsbury township, was a man of exalted principles and ever commanded the highest respect. He died in 1871, being sur- vived a score of years by his wife, whose death occurred in 1891. Her maiden name was Magdalena Zeigler, and she was born and reared in York county, being likewise a repre- sentative of one of its sterling pioneer families. Both she and her husband were members of the Lutheran church, in whose faith they reared their children, concerning whom is recorded the following : Eli married Mary Overmiller, and is engaged in milling at Glen Rock, York coun- ty ; Emanuel, who married Mary Burkhardt, is employed by the Pennsylvania Steel Co .; Eliza J., deceased, was the wife of Samuel Mace, of Shrewsbury township : Cyrus is deceased ; Jus-

tina E. is unmarried; Oliver died in infancy ; William C. was the next in order of birth; and Roland F., who married Martha Heathcote, is a musician.

Michael Zeigler, the maternal grandfather cf Dr. Seitz, came of stanch German lineage, and was a member of a family early founded in Pennsylvania. He devoted the greater por- tion of his life to agricultural pursuits and was one of the worthy and substantial citizens of York county, where both he and his wife died. They had six children, namely: Michael, George, John, Mary (who became the wife of Michael Seitz), Magdalena (mother of Will- iam C.), and Andrew.

Andrew Seitz, grandfather of William C., days on the old homestead farm, continuing to was born on the old homestead farm, in York township, and the major portion of his active career was devoted to agricultural pursuits. He removed to Maryland after his marriage and there continued to reside for a few years, after which he returned to York county, where both he and his wife ( whose maiden name was Catharine Klinefelter: born Aug. 23, 1784, died Aug. 21, 1859) passed the remainder of their lives. They became the parents of seven children, all of whom attained years of ma- turity.

Dr. William C. Seitz passed his boyhood assist in its work according to the measure of his powers until he had attained the age of fourteen years, and having in the meanwhile duly availed himself of the advantages of the public schools of his native township of Shrews- bury, where he was born March 18, 1864. He then entered upon an apprenticeship at the printer's trade, in the office of the Glen Rock Item, where he duly familiarized himself with the mysteries and intricacies of the "art pre- servative of all arts," and in which he continued to be actively engaged until he was about twenty-one years of age. He had in the mean- while determined upon a professional career, and he forthwith began preparations for enter- ing the medical profession by taking up a course of technical reading under the precep- torship of Dr. H. W. Fair, of Seitzland, with whom he remained as a student for three years. At the expiration of that period, in the autumn of 1885, he was matriculated at Hahnemann Medical College, Philadelphia, one of the lead- ing Homeopathic medical schools of the Union, where he completed the prescribed course and was graduated with his degree 011 the 6th of April, 1888, coming forth well equipped for the active work and responsibilities of the profession in which he has since attained such marked prestige and success. Soon after his graduation Dr. Seitz located at Steelton, Dauphin county, Pa., where he remained in practice until March of the following year, when he located at Glen Rock, where he lias since been established in practice. He has se- cured a representative clientage, and is the only Homeopathic practitioner in that section be-

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tween York and the city of Baltimore. He is a member of the American Institute of Homeo- pathy, and finds his identification with this national association of much practical value. while he keeps in close touch with the advances made in his profession, by the proper utilization of the best standard and periodical literature of a technical order. He is also a member of the State Homeopathic Society and the Tri-County Homeopathic (Goodno) Society.

In politics Dr. Seitz give allegiance to the Republican party, and he has ever manifest- ed a loyal interest in public affairs of a local na- ture, while for the past three years he has been a valued and zealous member of the board of education of his home town. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with the Improved Order of Red Men, the Junior Order of United Ameri- can Mechanics, the Knights of Malta and the Heptasophs, while both he and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church. He has shown distinctive public spirit, and that he has .lent his aid in the promotion of enterprises hay- ing a marked bearing upon the commercial and industrial status of the community is indicated in the fact that he was one of the organizers of the American Wire Cloth Co., of Glen Rock, that he is a stockholder in the Glen Rock Stamp- ing Co., and was one of the organizers, stock- holders and directors of the Glen Rock Wire Screen Works.

The Doctor has marked musical talent, both vocal and instrumental, and displays in that line a predilection that seems to be char- acteristic of the family, eleven of whose mem- bers have been enrolled upon the membership list of the Glen Rock Musical Association, of which he is the director, while he is also known as a skillful clarinetist.

On March 26, 1890, was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Seitz to Sarah C. Heathcote, who was born and reared in York county, be- ing a daughter of James and Christina' Heath- cote and a granddaughter of William Heath- cote. Dr. and Mrs. Seitz have two children- James S. and Grace L.

AMBROSE SCHMIDT. Possessed of that temperament (dominant in so many of the German emigrants to America) which leads to success and to an honored place in a new land, Ambrose Schmidt, for more than half a century a resident of York county, attained a substan-

tial business reputation and position, and by his useful and active life, rounded out for himself a career that is most creditable. He was eighteen years of age, when, in 1842, he set- tled at York, Pa., with his parents, Andrew and Catherine ( Meissner) Schmidt, just after their arrival from the Fatherland, where Am- brose was born in 1824. In Germany he had acquired the trade of a stone-mason by a com- plete apprenticeship, and thus equipped he be- gan life at York, following the trade indus- triously for a period of twenty-four years. Dur- ing that time he was employed on many of the notable improvements that were made at the county seat. He aided in demolishing the old county jail, which stood at the northeast corner of George and King streets, and in 1855 he as- sisted in the construction of the large jail lo- cated in the northeast part of York. In 1866 Mr. Schmidt removed from York to Hanover, where he embarked in the brewing business, in 1878, adding thereto beer bottling and the manufacture of soda water. This business he conducted successfully for twenty-two years, or until 1888, when he disposed of the business to his son, Ambrose, and his son-in-law, Nich- olas Wagner, and retired at the age of sixty- four years.

Mr. Schmidt was married Aug. 2, 1849, to Catherine Boll of York, and to them were born six children, as follows: Catherine, deceased ; Margaret, who married Nicholas Wagner, now a merchant tailor of Hanover; Adam E., de- ceased; Mary, who married Henry Klunk, of Hanover ; Ambrose, deceased ; and John J., of Hanover. The father died in that city in 1898, at the age of seventy-four years, and ten years after his retirement from active life, his faith- ful wife surviving until 1902. They were de- vout members of St. Joseph's Catholic Church of Hanover, and when the present handsome edifice of the congregation on Baltimore street was erected in 1877, Mr. Schmidt was a mem- ber of the building committee. He was highly esteemed for his many good qualities and is re- membered by a wide circle of friends.

JOHN J. SCHMIDT, son of Ambrose and Catherine ( Boll) Schmidt, and an ex-chief bur- gess of Hanover, was born in York Aug. 14, 1859. When about seven years of age he re- moved with his parents from York to Hanover, and his education was received in the parochial schools at Hanover. When his school-days

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

were ended, John J. acquired the tinner's trade, which he followed for a number of years, but in 1882 he became interested in the bottling works of his father at Hanover, and a little later purchased the "City Hotel," which he conduct- ed about nine years, when he purchased the bottling business formerly conducted by his father. In 1894 he associated with himself as partner Julius C. Helb, which connection con- tinued until 1900. In that year they sold the works to Victor K. and W. F. Jordan. Mr. Schmidt was the founder of the Hanover Bend- ing works, which he subsequently sold. For several years he has served as a director in the Hanover Savings Fund Society, the oldest banking institution in the town. He has pros- pered in all his business enterprises, and has ac- quired a considerable amount of real estate. He built for himself, in 1900, a fine residence on Middle street, and in addition owns several other residence properties in Hanover.

Mr. Schmidt has also taken an active part in politics, serving as a delegate to both county and State conventions. For six years he was a member of the Hanover borough council and for three years a competent and efficient chief burgess. During his term of office as chief burgess he was instrumental in the adoption of many measures for the improvement of the borough, resulting in superior sanitary condi- tions and the general welfare of the city. Among the fraternal orders, Mr. Schmidt holds membership in the Order of Heptasophs, the St. Joseph Knights of St. Paul and the B. P. O. E. He was married in 1882 to Mary, daughter of Henry and Anna Kampeter of York. Six children have been born to them, and of these five survive, namely : Annie, Ger- trude, Hilda, Marie, and Florence. Henry, the only son, died at the age of ten years. Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt are members of St. Joseph's Catholic Church.

JOHN W. MINNICH. When it is stated that the name borne by John W. Minnich has been identified with the annals of York county for more than a century, further mention of the family prestige in connection with the develop- ment and civic and material progress of that favored section is scarcely demanded. As one generation has here followed another upon the stage of life's activities, there have been found in the Minnich family men of sturdy integrity,

marked pragmatic ability and invincible spirit, while the women have been endowed with gracious attributes and have played well their part in home and social life. Industry and tenacity of purpose have been dominating char- acteristics of the Minnich family, whose mem- bers seem to have invariably held no obstacle as insuperable when interposed in the path of am- bition and definite accomplishment in their re- spective fields of endeavor. They have also evinced a high sense of stewardship and an un- equivocal loyalty to the duties of citizenship, so that it is needless to say that the family has ever maintained a high standing in York county. The prestige of the name has been well upheld by the subject under special consideration, who possesses in a significant degree the sterling characteristics noted above, as indicative of the family attributes, and who is one of the in- fluential citizens and most prominent business men of the borough of Dallastown, where his capitalistic interests are of wide scope and var- iety. He has done much to further the indus -. trial and commercial precedence of the com- munity and is one of the most popular and highly esteemed business men of his native county.

John Wesley Minnich was born on a farm three miles east of Dallastown, in York town- ship, this county, Jan. 21, 1861, a son of Gran- ville and Mary ( Spatz) Minnich, both of whom were likewise born and reared in York county. the latter having been a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Daugherty) Spatz, so that the lineage of Mr. Minnich has a strain of Irish blood com- mingled with that of the sturdy German ex- traction. The father of John W. Minnich was a farmer and died in the prime of life, passing away in 1863, at the age of twenty-five years, and leaving his widow in straitened circum- stances with two young sons dependent upon her. The devoted mother survived her husband not many years, being sum- moned into eternal rest in 1873, at the age of thirty years. She was a zeal- ous member of the United Brethren Church, Ivas 2 woman of noble attributes, and held in affectionate regard by a wide circle of appreciative friends. Owing to the conditions noted in this connection, John W. and his brother early began to fight the battle of life and it is most gratifying to note the dis- tinctive success which each has attained, the

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brother, William H., M. D., being one of the representative members of the medical profes- sion at Dallastown, York county. He is a thoroughly schooled physician and surgeon, is a member of numerous medical societies, and prominent both professionally and socially. The two orphaned lads bravely faced the world, undaunted by the unpropitious environments and circumstances of their childhood, and both have fought their way to the front. having never violated by one jot or tittle their legiti- mate claim to the confidence and respect of their fellowmen.

John W. Minnich secured his educational discipline in the public schools of his native township, completing his specific school work as a student in the high school at Dallastown, and having, in the meanwhile, bent his energies to incidental labors which rendered financial re- turns of greater or less amounts. In 1879, at the age of eighteen years, he entered upon an apprenticeship at the trade of cigar-making, in Dallastown. He soon became a skilled work- man, and continued to be employed at his trade until 1882. when he gave inception to his inde- pendent business career by engaging in the same line of enterprise on his own responsibil- ity, beginning operations on a modest scale and giving employment to three assistants. This little factory was the nucleus of his present ex- tensive industry in the line, the business having been developed through well directed energy and correct methods and being now conducted under the title of J. W. Minnich & Son. In the finely equipped factory employment is afforded to an average force of 125 workmen, and the output of cigars is the largest of all the factories in York county, more than twelve million repre- senting the average annual product of the con- cern. York county, as is well-known, main- tains high prestige in the growing and manu- facture of tobacco, through which is maintained one of the leading industrial activities of that section, and thus there is no little significance in the above statements as to the relative status of the enterprise built up and maintained by Mr. Minnich.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 73

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