History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 80

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

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in undertaking in Hanover and in this voca- tion he has since continued uninterruptedly. In duration of time he is now the oldest under- taker in Hanover. As funeral director his place of business is located at No. 21 East Middle street.

In 1872 Mr. Thomas married Mary E. Weaver, a native of the town of Manchester, Maryland, daughter of L. H. P. and Helen M. (Eck) Weaver. To George W. and Mary E. Thomas have been born the folowing chil- dren : Dr. C. L., a practicing physician in Philadelphia, Pa., who married Miss Erbin, of that city: Hattie, who married Robert E. Hull, of Haddonfield, N. J .: Oliver C., in Hanover, who married Miss Trout; Lottie May, who married Currin A. Allewelt, form- erly of the Hanover Shoe Factory, and now at home: Austin F., and George E. In politics Mr. Thomas is a Republican and for three terms he has served as city tax collector. He is a member of Major Jenkins Post, No. 99, G. A. R., of Hanover ; also of the K. of P., the Mystic Chain, the Red Men, the Elks, the Brotherhood of Funeral Directors and Friend- ly Circle, Brotherhood of the Union. Both he and his wife are active members of Emanuel Reformed Church, of which he has served as deacon for five years, and as elder five years.

HON. JACOB C. DEVENEY, justice of the peace and ex-representative in the Legis- lature of Pennsylvania. belongs to an old and honored family of York county. He was born Nov. 17. 1848, in Springfield township, son of Levi, and grandson of Dennis Deveney. His great-grandfather came to America, with his family. from Ireland. They located first in Cumberland county, and about 1820 settled in York county, Springfield township, where the head of the family followed his trade of a stone and brick mason. Dennis Deveney. the grandfather, was also a brick mason by trade,

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BIOGRAPHICAL

following that, in connection with school teaching, in Springfield township. He died aged fifty-seven years, and was buried in the Shuster's cemetery, as was also his wife Eliza- beth Shirey. Their children were : Levi, Emanuel, Maria, Jeremiah, Leah, Elizabeth, Caroline and Sarah Ann.

Levi Deveney, the father of Jacob C., was born in Springfield township in 1826, and was also a stone mason by trade. He was thus en- gaged for about twenty years in his native township, being also one of the first in York county to teach in a free school. Levi Deve- ney died in 1884 and was interred in Shuster's cemetery. He married Magdaline Caslow, daughter of Jacob Caslow, and they had these children : Henry Albert, who died in 1890; Ja- cob C .: Nelson, who died in 1882; Andrew, an attorney of York, who died in 1884; Isa- bella, who died young; Emma Jane: Priscilla and Ellen. In political affiliation Mr. De- veney belongs to the Democratic party, and served on the school board, also holding other township offices. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, in which he took an active part, being secretary of the church council, to which position his son, Jacob C., succeeded him on the former's death.

Jacob C. Deveney attended the township schools and a normal school in Seven Valley. He was a teacher for fourteen years, becoming widely and favorably known as an educator throughout Springfield township. In 1871 he married Louise A. Myers, daughter of Jesse and Lucinda (Hamm) Myers. Mr. Deveney now resides on his snug little farm of thirty- four acres near Seven Valley, upon which he has erected a very fine set of buildings. The . children born to Mr. and Mrs. Deveney have been as follows: Harvey, a graduate of the Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg. Pa., class of 1899, is at present bookkeeper with the Prudential Life Insurance Company, of New- ark, N. J., having 109 agents under him ; Cur- die Allen, a graduate of the Shippensburg State Normal school, class of 1900, was prin- cipal of the Stewartstown school for three terms, and is now principal of the school at Jamesburg, N. J. : Jennie married John Rowe, of York : Jesse is of Seven Valley : Lottie is the wife of Albert Leathery, of York: Mazie and Carrie are at home : Rosie is a school teacher ; Minnie is a stenographer and bookkeeper ; Le- roy is attending the York County Academy,

at Seven Valley; and Violet and Earl are at home.

Mr. Deveney is a stanch Democrat, and served in the Pennsylvania House of Repre- sentatives from 1880 to 1884. He was elected justice of the peace in 1876, and still holds that position. Judge Deveney has also served as school director of his township, and as asses- sor. He is a faithful member of the Lutheran Church, and takes an active part in its work.

GEORGE E. LOUCKS, station agent at Hellam, on the Frederick division of the Northern Central railroad ( Pennsylvania sys- tem), was born Dec. 10, 1850, in Spring Gar- den township. York county, a son of Zacha- riah K. and Sarah A. (Ebert) Loucks.

John George Loucks, his great-grandfather, came to the United States from Germany, and settled in Berks county, Pa., at what is known as Tulpehocken, purchasing a tract of land there about 1780. Thence he moved to York county, where on May 13, 1805, he purchased from Rev. Mr. Waggner, the mill and farm where his great-grandson, Edwin W. Loucks, and his grandson, Henry J. Loucks, now re- side. This farm was once the property of a Tory, John Rankin, who on account of his sympathy for the British was compelled to flee from the section. His property was confis- cated and later sold to Rev. Mr. Waggner, who, as already stated, sold it to John George Loucks in 1805. Mr. Loucks was a man of substance and prominent in the early history of York county.

George Loucks, son of John George. was born Aug. 18, 1787, and died Oct. 29. 1849. He combined the occupations of farming and milling and was able to purchase a great deal of real estate, at the time of his death being the owner of the mill property. Like his father before him he was very prominent in the affairs of the county, and he was a men- ber of the German Reformed Church. George Loucks married Susanna Weltzhoffer, of Hel- lam township, and they became the parents of six children, namely: Zachariah K .: George W., who died in the West: Cassandra, who married William H. Kepner. first mayor of Harrisburg; Henrietta, who married George C. Barnitz, of Harrisburg: Susan, who mar- ried William Hoke, of York ; and Henry J., who settled on the okt homestead.

Zachariah K. Loucks, father of George E.,

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was born March 14, 1822, and was educated in the York County Academy under Rev. Ste- phen Boyer, attending there for a number of years. He was a classmate of Prof. Kirk- wood, who became a famous astronomer and mathematician. He commenced his business life in York as a clerk with the firm of Schriver & Loucks & Co., and later entered the employ of Loucks & Becker, at the old Manor Fur- nace, in Chanceford township, where he re- mained a year. He then entered the store of Henry Becker, of York, where he was en- gaged until 1839, in which year he returned to his home in Spring Garden township, at- tending to the duties of the mill and farm until his father's death, after which he and his brother Henry succeeded to the business at the old homestead. But besides milling and farm- ing Mr. Loucks had many other interests, and was one of the most prominent men of his day. In 1863, upon the organization of the First National Bank of York, he was elected a direc- tor, later became vice-president, and in 1877 president of the institution. When the York and Peach Bottom railroad was built he was a director and financier, doing much to make the project a success. He was a life member of the York County Agricultural Association and for many years a member of its board of direc- tors. He was one of the projectors of the Chanceford Turnpike Company and served as president thereof ; served as a director of the York City Market until its completion, when he resigned; and was vice-president of the Penn Mutual Horse Insurance Company of York. His honorable connection with so many important concerns is sufficient evidence of his standing and the confidence reposed in him by his associates.

On Jan. 5. 1843, Mr. Loucks married Sarah Ann Ebert, who was born March 18, 1822, daughter of Col. Michael Ebert, of Spring Garden township, and children as fol- lows were born to this union : Alexander W., of Manchester township, York county ; George E .; Edwin W., who is on the old homestead ; Zachariah K., Jr., an attorney at law of Phila- delphia : Susan and Annie, who died in in- fancy ; and Isabella, who married John W. Kol- ler and died at the age of twenty-seven, having had three sons, Zachariah (who died in in- fancy ), William I. ( secretary and treasurer of the Rockdale Powder Company, York, Pa.).

and Edwin L. (who died at the age of twenty- four years). The mother of tliis family died in February, 1891, the father in April, 1895. Mrs. Loucks was a Lutheran in religious belief, but Mr. Loucks clung to the church of his family, the German Reformed. His political senti- ments were at first those of the Whig party, and he afterward joined the Republicans.

George E. Loucks was educated in the York County Academy and the college at Get- tysburg, Pa. He commenced work with his father, assisting about the farm and mill, until long after he had reached his majority. On April 12, 1878, Mr. Loucks came to Hellam, and on Nov. 18th of the same year he was appointed agent of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, when his father built a neat, cosy station building, including warehouse and tel- egraph office. He sold the first ticket Nov. 18, 1878. He has been in the employ of the Pennsylvania Company and Northern Central Railway ever since as agent there, and is also the agent of the Adams Express Company at that point, performing the duties of both posi- tions with the faithfulness and courtesy which account for his long retention at Hellam.

Mr. Loucks was married, March 7, 1878, to Mary J. S. Myers, daughter of Samuel Myers, of Spring Garden township. They have no children of their own, but have reared two. Addie M. Shelley (a cousin by mar- riage) came to the Loucks household at the age of nine, and remained for eighteen years, or until her marriage, in June, 1898, to Ed- ward A. Kister, by whom she has one child, Mildred ; they reside at New Cumberland, Pa. The other child reared by Mr. and Mrs. Loucks, Wilber H. Myers, was a nephew by marriage, and has lived with them from the age of four years, a period of twenty-one years. The family are members of the Luth- eran Church. Mr. Loucks holds membership with York Lodge, No. 213, B. P. O. E., and the York County Historical Society. He is identified with the Republican party, though he often votes independently. Mr. Loucks is of a literary turn of mind, somewhat of a book worm, loving his home and books be- yond everything else. He is very much in love with scientific literature and the discoy- eries in the scientific world, and he possesses one of the finest private libraries in York county.

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JOSIAH W. GITT, deceased, is promi- nently remembered as one of the sterling busi- ness men of Hanover, who resided there for imore than a half century, and during most of the period was actively and successfully en- gaged in commercial pursuits. He is further remembered as the representative of one of the old and prominent pioneer families of York county, his ancestors having borne well their part in the wresting of the chosen land from its primitive wildness. They left a heri- tage of honorable service to a posterity which is still prominent in the affairs of Hanover.

James Gitt. great-grandfather of Josiah W., was a native of Ireland, who migrated to this vicinity while the red man still lingered in the primeval forests and when the vast soli- tudes of nature reigned there supreme. In this new land he married a young German woman of remarkable character, well fitted to share with him the duties of a pioneer, for she possessed a rare courage, great strength of mind and body and sympathy for the sick and suffering. At times she was called to admin- ister to those who were ill, and, on occasions like these, was accustomed to mount a horse and ride at great speed to the homes of the afflicted. It is related that in all her life she was not ill a day, and she lived to the remark- able age of 103 years. James Gitt was also the representative of a long-lived family, his mother, who was born in 1720, dying at the age of 102 years. James Gitt was a man of superior force of character, even among the sturdy pioneer race. He filled the office of constable under his Britannic Majesty and was also justice of the peace under the Colo- nial government. He left five sons, and his descendants, at the time of his death, num- bered seventy.

William Gitt, the grandfather of Josiah W., also had a family of five children and died at the age of ninety-nine years. One of his sons, George Gitt, was the father of Josiah W. The family of George Gitt consisted of Deli- ah, who married Edward Bair ; Mary A., Mrs. H. W. Emmert : Josiah W .: and George D.

Josiah W. Gitt was born June 10, 1821, in Conewago township, on what was origin- ally the Gitt homestead, but in later years was known as the Kellar place and the O'Bold farm. When a lad he removed with his par- ents to Hanover, and, after acquiring an edu-

cation such as the village then afforded, de- voted himself to commercial pursuits, for which he possessed marked aptitude. He learned the jeweler's trade and at the age of twenty-one years began business for himself in what is now the Gitt building, the site of which . was granted by State rights to his grandfather, William Gitt. He continued suc- cessfully in that line for a number of years, but on April 10, 1847, he entered into partner- ship with H. W. Emmert in the dry-goods and notions business, under the firm name of Gitt & Emmert. This partnership continued unin- terruptedly until June 5, 1863, when Mr. Em- mert retired. As an individual Mr. Gitt then continued the business until 1889, when, after a career of forty-five years as merchant, he re- tired in favor of his two sons, George D., and Harry N .; they prosperously conducted the establishment until 1898, when the J. W. Gitt Company was incorporated, and this firm has continued the record of success up to the pres- ent. To the management of his business Jo- siah W. Gitt applied a memory of remarkable retentiveness and a remarkably sound judg- ment. His honest and upright methods won for his house an enviable reputation, not only in York but throughout the neighboring coun- ties of Adams and Carroll.

In early manhood Josiah W. Gitt married Maria Newman, daughter of the late Jacob and Elizabeth Newman, who at that time re- sided on Carlisle street, Hanover, where John S. Young now lives. Shortly after marriage the young couple began housekeeping in the building, at the corner of Fountain Square and Baltimore street, in which the husband died. To Josiah and Maria (Newman) Gitt were born thirteen children, of whom the following eight survive: George D., of Frederick street : Harry N. and Mrs. A. J. Snively, of Fountain Square: Mrs. Jacob H. Schriver ; Mrs. T. J. O'Neill, of Baltimore street : Mrs. Eugene F. Schmuck, of Franklin street; Mrs. Charles Geiselman, of Spring avenue, and , Mrs. Charles Aiken, of Pine Grove Mills, Cen- ter county. Surviving his worthy helpmate for a number of years, Josiah W. Gitt passed away, Feb. 10. 1898, aged seventy-seven years. He was a consistent and lifelong mem- ber of the M. E. Church and was buried at Mt. Olivet cemetery.

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

ELI HOOVER COCKLIN, a represen- tative farmer and extensive fruit grower of Monaghan township, York county, was born in Monaghan township, March 8, 1835, son of Jacob and Catherine ( Hoover) Cocklin.

The Cocklin family are of French origin, in the common schools of York county and the founder of this branch of the family in the United States spelling the name Caqueline. They were Huguenots and first settled in New London, Conn., spreading into different states. The ancestors of Eli H. first settled in Lan- caster county, and later the great-grandfather came to Cumberland county, where the family has been a prominent one for many years. Jacob Cocklin, the great-grandfather, was born Oct. 15, 1733, in Lancaster county, and was educated in the subscription schools of his day. He owned and occupied a farm in Cum- berland county, and died Nov. 9, 1799, aged sixty-six years, six months and twenty-five days.

Jacob Cocklin (2), son of Jacob and grandfather of Eli H., was born Dec. 14, 1770, and was a farmer. He died in Cumber- land county May 4, 1840, while his wife, Mary Nepler, was born Nov. 6, 1768, died April 22, 1845, in her seventy-fourth year. The children born to this worthy couple were as follows: Michael, March 27, 1795: Jacob, the father of Eli H., Jan. 30, 1797; Mary, May 6, 1798; David and Susannah, March 25, 1802: Catherine, May 3, 1806; Margaret, April 9, 1810; and Christina, May 26, 1812.

Jacob Cocklin (3), the father, was a farmer and printer, and also extensively en- gaged in fruit growing from 1821 until the time of his death. He was a pioneer horticult- urist in Cumberland and York counties, and the site of his first orchard in the former coun- ty was called Castle Ray. Mr. Conklin also carried on distilling to a certain extent, manu- facturing peach brandy and apple jack. He also engaged at one time in the nursery busi- ness and many varieties still to be found in York county are of his introduction. He passed away Dec. 18, 1890, aged ninety- three years, ten months and eighteen days. He and his wife had the following children : Eliz- abeth, born Dec. 25, 1828; Sarah, Aug. 14, 1831 ; Eli H. ; Benjamin F., May 4, 1838, and Michael H. and Jacob H. (twins), born July 29, 1841. Mrs. Cocklin died March 13, 1872, aged seventy-one years, one month and nine

days. Politically Mr. Cocklin was a Demo- crat, but never sought public office outside of his township, where he served as school direc- tor.

Eli Hoover Cocklin received his education with the exception of two years spent in Black Hawk county, Ia., he has been on the old homestead all of his life, where he devotes his entire time to fruit culture, although in pre- vious years he operated a nursery. Mr. Cock- lin makes a specialty of peaches, and the Cock- lin orchards are the most extensive in York county, in 1904 producing 9,000 bushels. Mr. Cocklin's farm consists of about 700 acres of valuable land, all of which is in a high state of cultivation.

On Aug. 9, 1859, in Black Hawk Co., Iowa, Mr. Cocklin married Sarah E. Caley, daughter of Chambers and Docey (Dunn) Caley, and the children born to this union are : Ida M., April 9, 1861 ; Charles C., June 29, 1862; Russell T., Oct. 1, 1864; Benjamin F., July 9, 1867: Alice D., Jan. 31, 1871; John A., April 26, 1873 and Arthur B., Jan. 8, 1888. In religion the family are members of the German Reformed Church, where Mr. Cocklin has served as elder, having been con- nected with that body since 1869. In political matters he is a Republican, but has never con- sented to hold any office except that of school director. Mr. Cocklin is an upright and enter- prising citizen, and is very well known and highly esteemed throughout York county.

CLY SHELLEY, one of the most promi- nent men of York county, Pa., and one of the leading citizens and business men of Cly, Pa., was born in that little village in 1866, a son of Abraham and Anna Mary ( Hess) Shelley.

Abraham Shelley, great-grandfather of our subject, at one time owned what is known as Shelleys Island, containing 350 acres of land. There Abraham Shelley, the grandfather, was born, and there both he and his wife lived and died. They had three children : Christian, de- ceased ; Lydia, who resides at Harrisburg, Pa., at the age of ninety-four; and Abraham, the father of Cly, our subject. Abraham Shelley was born in 1809 on Shelleys Island. In young manhood he came to Newberry town- ship and purchased 300 acres of land near the hamlet of Cly, Pa., engaging in farming, and

boly . Shelley .

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BIOGRAPHICAL

being associated with the well known lumber firm of Frazer at Goldsboro. Abraham Shel- ley was twice married, and had twelve chil- dren born to both unions. He married first Hen- rietta Croll, daughter of John Croll, of York county. She died in 1858, and is buried at Smoketown. The children who survive her are: Henry, a merchant at Steelton, Pa .; Bar- tram, a prosperous farmer at Cly; Walter, a cigar maker at Goldsboro; and Abrahanı, Jr., a merchant in Harrisburg. Mr. Shelley mar- ried, second, Anna Mary Hess, daughter of Frederick Hess, who now resides in the vil- lage of Cly, Pa. Her surviving children are : Mrs. John O. Kraft ; Louis, a paper-maker of Cly, Pa. ; William S., also a papermaker ; Ella, wife of Daniel Cassell, of York Haven, Pa .; Herr M. and Mina, at home; and Cly, our subject. Abraham Shelley, father of our sub- ject, died in the village of Cly, Pa., in 1895, at the age of eighty-five years.

Cly Shelley attended the common schools in Newberry township until the age of thirteen years, and then went to John O. Kraft of Strinestown, Pa., and served an apprentice- ship of six months at cigarmaking. Then he accepted a position as a cigarmaker with the well known firm of Dugan & Funk, cigar man- ufacturers of Goldsboro, Pa., for whom he worked thirteen successive years, resigning his position and going into the mercantile business in Cly, Pa., which has been successfully con- tinued the past eleven years. Later he went into the cigar business as a member of the firm of Shelley & Gray, and subsequently bought Mr. Gray's interest, continuing the business himself. Mainly through his efforts the hamlet grew into a village. In 1894 Mr. Shelley ap- plied to the Northern Central Railroad Com- pany for the establishment of a station at the little hamlet that he had founded, and this re- quest was immediately granted by the corpora- tion. In 1898 he applied to the government for the establishment of a post office, which was immediately granted also, Mr. Shelley being appointed postmaster, in which incumbency he has now been serving the people for eight years. In honor of its founder the United States government named the post- office Cly. In 1891 Mr. Shelley applied to the Adams Express Company for the establish- ment of an express office, which was immedi- ately granted, and he was appointed agent, with the same name and honor, as the post office.

Turn where you will in this hustling little vil- lage you will find that Mr. Shelley has been prominent in all its enterprises. He was active in securing a public school building here. He has built quite a number of houses and owns other real estate. He is a stockholder in the York Telephone Company, York, Pa .; York Haven Canning Company, York Haven, Pa .; the Chase Felt & Paper Company, and the Sus- quehanna Roofing Manufacturing Company, of Cly, Pa., and the West End Roofing Company, Harrisburg, Pa. Mr. Shelley is a director in the four last named companies, and is secretary of the Chase Felt & Paper Company.

Mr. Shelley, in the fall of 1905, made ap- plication to the fourth assistant postmaster gen- eral at Washington, D. C., for the establish- ment of a rural free delivery route from Cly, and in April, 1906, received authority to estab- lish same, which he did at once. R. B. Zigner was appointed carrier, and 120 families, or about six hundred people, are served, who ap- preciate the service very much.

Politically Mr. Shelley is a Republican, has served his party on township and county com- mittees, served three years as township treas- urer, and was also a state delegate.

In 1889 Mr. Shelley married Miss Clara E. Free, daughter of Eli H. and Catherine ( Cas- sell) Free. They have four children: Cather- ine L., Otto C., now students at York County Academy ; Guy E. and Clara F., at home.

ANDREW S. HUTTON was for a num- ber of years, actively engaged in general farm- ing on his 154-acre farm in Lewisberry. He was born July 15, 1842, in Monaghan town- ship, York county, son of Jacob and Jane (Strominger) Hutton.

John Hutton, the grandfather of Andrew S., was born in York county, of English de- scent. He followed farming in Fishing Creek Valley, Newberry township, for a time, then located in Monaghan township, and later re- moved to Fairview township, where he en- gaged in general farming until his death, which occurred in his seventy-fifth year; he was interred at Andersontown. John Hut- ton married a Miss Keister, who was a mem- ber of one of York county's old and respected families. Mrs. Hutton died at the age of forty-two years, and was buried at Smoke- town, Newberry township. The children born

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to this worthy couple were : Elijah, a farmer of Wooster, Ohio, where he died; Jacob, father of Andrew S .; Eliza, who married Daniel Kann, and died in Fairview township; John, who died in Monaghan township.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 80

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