History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 83

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

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Charles J. Delone in his boyhood attended the parochial schools of his native village, and prepared for college under the tutorship of Prof. L. R. Baugher. In 1883 he entered the Freshman class at Harvard University and graduated therefrom in the Class of 1887. Entering the Law Department of the same uni- versity he completed the three years course, and graduated in 1890. Mr. Delone practiced his profession for a year in New York City, then opened an office in Hanover, his native city, where he has since been actively and suc- cessfully engaged in the practice of his pro- fession. He formerly had an office at York, and his present thriving business extends well throughout the county. In politics Mr. Delone is a Democrat. He is devoted to the principles of the party to such extent as his increasing practice will permit, and he takes an active part in its affairs in York county. Like his father he is a member of the Catholic Church.

On April 26, 1904, Mr. Delone married Helen S. Winebrenner, daughter of D. E. Winebrenner.

THOMAS M. CURRAN, M. D., one of the oldest and most esteemed medical practi- tioners of Hopewell township, whose services have been given to the citizens of Cross Roads

for many years, was born Jan. 19, 1838, in Windsor township, York county, a son of. James and Saralı ( Hetzer ) Curran.

James Curran, the paternal grandfather of. Dr. Curran, was a native of the North of Ire- land, where prior to emigrating to the United States he was in business as a linen manufac- turer. His first location in America was Charleston, S. C., but later he moved to Lan- caster county, Pa., and embarked in the iron business at Strasburg, subsequently becoming the manager of various iron furnaces. His two children were James and Margaret, the latter of whom became the wife of Daniel McCurdy.

James Curran, father of Dr. Curran, was engaged in the manufacture of iron during his entire life, and was considered an expert in the management of the business. His period was before' the discovery of new and better methods, and he used the old charcoal furnaces of liis time. James Curran was a most estima- ble man, being for a number of years an ac- cepted local preacher in the M. E. Church and one of the most active workers in that religious body. The early flourishing condition of the church in that locality, its large Sunday-school and its good effect on the community in general must be attributed, in great measure, to the Christian character and example of James Cur- ran. He was twice married, the children by his first wife being : James ; Margaret, who mar- ried Henry Poff, and Annie, who married Mi- chael Loucks. Mr. Curran married for his sec- ond wife Saralı Hetzer, and they had children as follows: Dr. Thomas M .; Sarah E., who married Joshua Warfield; Hugh A. ; and Ma- tilda and Virginia, both deceased. The father died in 1877 and the mother in 1897. She: also was a consistent member of the M. E. Church.

Thomas M. Curran was educated in the public schools of his native township and the Oxford ( Pa.) school, where he was afforded both literary and medical instruction. After four years there he entered the medical depart- ment of the University of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in 1867. He first entered the university in 1860, but the outbreak of the Civil war, after one term there, changed the current of his life for' some years. He entered the Union army as assistant surgeon of the 68th P. V. I., but the duties imposed on the young medico were too

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

strenuous and his health broke under the strain. The name of Curran is, in fact, synonymous His resignation of the post was accepted, and in York county with eminent medical skill and a very high standard of citizenship. after convalescence hie settled at Cross Roads, York county, where he practiced until early in 1865, when he again entered the army. Dr. EDWARD C. PEELING. The annals of York county will refer to many fearless men who have administered the office of sheriff of the county, but to none who have done so with greater fearlessness and efficiency than ex- Sheriff Edward C. Peeling, whose term of office expired in January, 1905. Curran was then assigned to Herward Hos- pital, near Washington, D. C., where he con- tinted to care for the sick and wounded until the close of the war. After his second return he re-entered the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, where he took a post graduate course. He located permanently at Cross Roads, where he had made many friends and where he has since enjoyed all the practice to which he has been able to attend. Dr. Curran is known throughout the county, his advice is in constant demand, and he is in- vited to consult with the leading physicians over a wide extent of country. The Doctor is a valued member of Felton Post, G. A. R. He has long been united with the M. E. Church.

In 1860 Dr. Curran was married to Mary A. Blake, daughter of Nathan Blake, of Lan- caster county, Pa., and children as follows were born to them: James M .; Carrie, who married Prof. D. K. Stamey; O. G .; Thomas H. ; and several children who died in infancy. It has been gratifying to Dr. Curran to have two of his sons adopt the medical profession, and their success he has welcomed as his own. The three physicians are not partners, each con- trolling a large practice of his own.

JAMES M. CURRAN is a graduate of Mary- land Medical College and has been in active work for the past twenty years. His medical reading was conducted under his father's su- pervision and he spent 1880-81 in Bellevue Medical College and Hospital, New York, and the year 1882 at the University of Pennsyl- vania. He practiced with his father until . 1900 and then re-entered the Maryland Medical College, from which he was graduated. Dr. James M. Curran is prominent in fraternal so- cieties, being a 32d degree Mason and a mem- ber of the K. of P., I. O. O. F., Jr. O. U. A. M. and Elks. In Masonry he belongs to Geth- semane Commandery, No 75, of York, Har- risburg Consistory, and Zembo Shrine, A. A. O. N. M. S.

DR. O. G. CURRAN is also a prominent member of this medical family. He has been in active practice for ten years and is also a graduate of the Baltimore Medical College.

Mr. Peeling was born at Dallastown, York Co., Pa., March 4, 1859. His education was received in the public schools of the county, which he attended until he had acquired a good common-school education. After leaving school he secured a position as clerk in a hotel, and later went into the hotel business on his own account, continuing in that line for twenty years. Thus it was that he developed that ur- bane character which has made him so popular in public office. Two of the hotels in which Mr. Peeling acted in the capacity of proprie- tor were the "Reever House" and "Hotel La- fayette," both of York, he having been the owner of the latter for seven years and proprie- tor for four years. In November, 1901, he was elected sheriff of the county on the Democratic ticket, and two months later. at the beginning of the new year, he left the hotel business and assumed the duties of his office.

On March 11, 1879, Mr. Peeling was mar- ried to Miss Aggie Miller, daughter of Joseph Miller, of York. To this union have been born four children: Gertrude, a graduate of the York high school ; Maud May, who died at the age of fourteen months ; Henry Patterson ; and Nettie F.

Though a Democrat in politics and elected to office by virtue of the suffrages of that party, Mr. Peeling is popular among all classes, as lie administers his office for the good of the whole people. He was absolutely fearless in the discharge of his duties, and for that reason holds the respect of all. He is a liberal sup- porter of the Trinity Reformed Church, of which his family are worthy members.

Mr. Peeling is of Irish descent, his ances- tors coming to America from Ireland genera- tions ago. Robert Peeling, his great-grand- father, came to America and settled in Vir- ginia, and his son, James Peeling, grandfather of Edward C., was the first member of the family to move to Pennsylvania. He first

Edwardle. Peling

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BIOGRAPHICAL

moved to Delaware and then to York county, where the family has since resided.

Josiah Peeling and his wife, parents of ex- Sheriff Peeling, are both living ( 1906). The mother was Miss Fanny Craley, daughter of Christian Craley, a farmer in Chanceford town- ship, York county. Nine of their twelve chil- dren are now living :: Edward C .; Harry A., a horse dealer of York; James B., proprietor of the "Hotel Lafayette"; Robert D., a clerk in York ; Emma, wife of Charles Kinderfather, a baker of York; Dora, wife of Grant Owens, of York; Flora, wife of Thomas Gore, a sign painter, of Covington, Ky .; Fanny, also living in Covington, Ky .; and Harvey D., a hotel clerk.

HENRY MCELROY, one of the organizers of the Wrightsville Hardware Manufacturing Company, of which he is manager, comes of a family of Scotch-Irish ancestry whose Ameri- can progenitor was Edward McElroy, grand- father of Henry. He came to this country be- fore the Revolutionary war, during which con- flict he operated a ferry across the river at Har- risburg. He married in York county, and there spent the remainder of his life.

Edward McElroy, son of Edward, was a carpenter and cabinet maker, and settled in early manhood at Marietta, Lancaster county, where he died at the age of ninety-three. He was thrice married, having, by his first union, four children : Henry ; Susan, Mrs. John Dick- over, of Wrightsville: Catherine, Mrs. Eman- uel Longnecker, of Wichita, Kan., and Em- meline. Mrs. George Krump, of Marietta. Ed- ward McElroy married for his second wife Anna Sands, of Lancaster county, and her children were as follows: Edward, of Mari- etta. Pa .; John, of Marietta; Samuel, of Ten- nessee ; and two others, deceased. To his third marriage the following children were born: Elmer, of Lebanon, Pa .; Aaron, of Marietta; Annie, unmarried : and one that died in infancy.

Henry McElroy was born in Marietta, Lancaster county, on Christmas Day, 1837. His boyhood was spent at Marietta and Har- risburg, but he obtained little schooling, not more than three winters' terms of three months each. His first money was earned doing odd jobs, and at fifteen he entered the employ of E. Haldeman & Co. in their blast furnace at Chickies, Lancaster county. There he re-

mained seven years, rising through the various grades of the business to the rank of master machinist. In 1859 he went as master machin- ist to the Donegal Furnaces in Lancaster county, where he remained until 1868, when he came to Wrightsville. The Rohrer Furnaces were just beginning operations and Mr. Mc- Elroy obtained a position there as mechanical engineer and assistant superintendent. He later became superintendent of the blast fur- naces, and he retained that position until 1893, when he resigned to become manager of the Wrightsville Hardware Manufacturing Com- pany, of which he was one of the promoters. In the establishment of this plant Mr. McElroy was associated with the late Colonel Magee, Henry Bernstock, Harry Kauffelt and the late George D. Ebert.

The Wrightsville Hardware Manufactur- ing Company was established in 1880, with Colonel Magee as president, and George K. Shenberger as secretary and treasurer. It was capitalized at $5,000, and conducted at first on the co-operative plan. The first foundry building was 50 x 60 feet in dimensions, and employment was given twelve molders. The original building has given place to inodern brick structures, and today about two hundred and twenty-five men are employed. During the first year the output was valued at $17,000; now it reaches to $260,000. Although Mr. Mc- Elroy did not become manager until 1893. he had virtually been in control of the business since 1888, and at the same time was manager of the Wrightsville Iron Works.

Mr. McElroy was married in 1858, in Lan- caster county, to Mary Lockhard, of that county, daughter of Charles and Mary ( Esen- berger) Lockhard. The following children were born to this marriage: Annie E., who is deceased : Mary A., deceased ; Harry, master machinist, secretary of the Wrightsville Hard- ware Manufacturing Company, married to Ma- hala Crumling ; Catherine, married to Howard L. Keller, foreman of one of the foundries of the Hardware Manufacturing Company ; Ella, married to Reuben Kline, of Wrightsville ; Rutherford A., living at home, a brass pattern- maker, married to Minnie Hinkle; and Edith, married to Charles Bernstock, of Wrightsville.

Mr. McElroy is a Republican in politics. He is a charter member of Riverside Lodge, No. 503, F. & A. M., Wrightsville. He and

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his family are members of the Wrightsville Nov. 8, 1846. (6) Peter is mentioned below. Methodist Church.

ELIAS DIETZ is a prosperous farmer of Hellam township and a descendant of one of the old settled families of that part of the country.

George Dietz, great-grandfather of Elis, came to this country from Germany, and be- came the owner of over 300 acres of land in Hellam township, now the property of George Roff. This land was virgin forest when Mr. Dietz settled on it. and he cleared off the tim- ber and built a log house for the family home. He and his wife are buried in the old graveyard on part of the old farm. It was still forest when they were laid there.

Grandfather George Dietz was born Nov. 6. 1737. on his father's farm. He was one of the younger children. and was left an orphan, without brother or sister, at the age of nine. He became the owner of another tract of 300 acres near that which his father had owned: this property is now divided into two farms. and is owned by Michael Dietz. Georgt Dietz married Magdalena Smith, who was born in 1743. They lived and died on their farm; Mrs. Dietz passed away Jan. 4, 1805, her husband March 10, 1823. They were members of the Reformed Church. Mr. Dietz was a Democrat in politics. All members of the Dietz family in Pennsylvania trace their descent to George and Magdalena (Smith) Dietz. Some of the name are settled in Cum- berland county. The children born to this union were as follows : (I) George, born June 14, 1762, married Elizabeth Yeagle, born July 8, 1863. He died Aug. 19. 1822, and she died Nov. 23. 1843. They were the grandparents of William Dietz, of Hellam township, whose sketch appears elsewhere. (2) Henry, born in 1764, married Miss Grestwight. daughter of a Reformed Church minister. They moved to Springfield, Ohio, and later settled between Columbus and Lancaster, Ohio. (3) Conrad, died March 22. 1829, aged sixty-five years, eight months and two days. His wife, Anna M., died Sept. 24, 1854, at the age of eighty-seven years and four months. (4) John, born Nov. 5. 1766, died March 21, 1843. unmarried. (5) Jacob, born Sept. 28, 1768, died March 21. 1840. He married Magdalena Leipart, who was born Jan. 12, 1781, and died

(7) Anna Maria, born May 2. 1772. died March 25, 1842, unmarried. (8) Michael, born Jan. 30, 1774. died March 31, 1843, un- married .. (9) Daniel, born June 3. 1776, died May 25, 1866, unmarried. (10) Elizabeth, born in 1779, married Michael Rudy, and died in Spring Garden township April 20, 1851. (II) Magdalena, born Oct. 29. 1780, married George Gohn, who was born April 15. 1780. He died Feb. 7, 1861.

Peter Dietz, father of Elias, was born on his father's farm in Hellam township, Aug. 30, 1770. He grew up on the farm and most of his education was obtained in the subscription school of the neighborhood, where the language used was "Pennsylvania Dutch." He remained at home, carrying on the farm, for seventeen years after his marriage, and in 1825 bought the farm on which his son Elias now lives. This originally consisted of 148 acres, of which sixty acres have been sold to Alfred Bixler. The substantial stone dwelling house was built in 1811, the contractor being David Landis of York, and the builder David Lepport. In addi- tion to farming, Peter Dietz for seventeen years carried on a distillery on his land. The old still house is standing today. used for a wash house, and for storage purposes. Mr. Dietz was a life long Democrat, and held many town- ship offices. He was a good farmer, and a highly esteemed citizen, a man of great influ- ence in his community. He was a devout member of the Reformed Church. Peter Dietz married, May 8, 1808. Susanna Teison, who was born Sept. 1, 1787. Her father was Squire Teison, of Windsor township, where he lived and died. He was for many years a State Senator, a school teacher and justice of the peace. For his legislative services at Har- risburg, he received one dollar a day. His wife was a native of Lititz, Lancaster county. Peter Dietz died in April, 1859, and his wife died April 20, 1871. Their children were as follows: (1) Henry, born July 3, 1809, mar- ried Susanna Lehman: he farmed for Daniel Dietz the old farm that had been his grand- father's, and there died Oct. 3, 1842. (2) Jo- seph, born Oct. 28, 1810, married Eliza- beth Strickler, daughter of Benjamin Joseph Strickler. He settled on a farm owned by his father near the Spring Garden township line, and died there in 1894. (3) Peter, born July

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14, 1812, married Mary Leppart, sister of John Milton, born April 22, 1853, married Cas- Leppart, an old settler, now living in Lower sie Landis, and died at Columbia, Pa., May 10, 1895. (2) Annie, born July 18, 1854, died March 9, 1857. (3) Elias Rudy, born Jan. 10, 1856, married Amanda Shue, and died in York, Feb. 10, 1898. (4) Leah, born May 3, 1857, is at home. (5) Albert, born Sept. II, 1859, is at home. (6) Reuben, born Aug. Aug. 10, 1861, is at home. (7) Melinda, born March 1, 1863, died Nov. 16, 1866. (8) Ja- cob, born July 13, 1864, died March 16, 1865. (9) Lavinia, born June 9, 1866, is deceased. (10) Ida, born April 12, 1871, is Mrs. Albert Sechrist of Hellam. (11) Carrie, born July 28, 1878, died July 17, 1895. Windsor, aged ninety-two years. Peter set- tled on the original Dietz farm which he bought after the death of Daniel Dietz, and where he died in the fall of 1902. (4) Sarah, born Oct. 8, 1814, married Adam Daron, and died in Hellam township at the age of twenty- one, leaving two children. (5) Daniel, born Oct. 29, 1816, married Lucinda Deihl, and died in 1846 on the old Hoover farm, adjoining that of Elias Dietz. (6) John, born Nov. 17, 1818, married Eliza Myers, moved to Elkhart county, Ind., and finally retired to Goshen, where he died in 1901. (7) Susanna, born March I, 1821, married Frederick Sakemiller, and died in York, April 2. 1893. (8) Elias is mentioned below. (9) Jacob, born Oct. 3. 1826, who married Sarah Louch, died in Hellam town- ship in February, 1893.

Elias Dietz was born March 8, 1823, on his grandfather's farm, and when he was two years old his father moved to the farm on which he has ever since lived. He began farming in 1851, taking entire charge on the death of his father in 1860, and was actively engaged in this work for fifty-two years, retiring in 1903. His education was obtained in the subscription schools at Kreutz Creek Church, and other places, his principal teacher being William Stough. Although he went to school until he was twenty years old, he often had but tivo months' schooling in a year. He and his brothers helped their father on the farm, and when they reached the age of twenty-one, wages were paid at the rate of seventy-five dol- lars a year. From his first year's earnings Elias saved fifty dollars, which he put out at interest, and in 1860 he was able to buy the home farm. His early wheat crops were all cut with scythe and cradle, a slow process com- pared with that of today. He sold his wheat in York, in the early days; later he took it to Wrightsville, and now he markets it in Hel- lam.

On Oct. 7, 1851. Mr. Dietz married Leah Rudy, daughter of Jacob and Catherine ( Reis- inger) Rudy. She was born Oct. 31. 1831, on the farm adjoining that of her husband in Hellam township. Her grandfather, Michael Rudy, came to Hellam from Lancaster county. His wife was a Shreiner. Mr. and Mrs. Dietz are the parents of the following children : (1)

Mr. Dietz has never missed voting for a Democratic candidate since he cast his first presidential vote for Polk in 1844. He has served three years as school director, one year as township auditor, and has declined many other local offices. He is a devout member of Kreutz Creek Reformed Church, to the build- ing of which he was a large contributor. His grandfather helped build the original log church, and his father assisted in the building of the second church, which was of stone. The present structure is of brick. Mrs. Dietz is a Lutheran, but attends the same church as her husband, as it is a union church. The Dietz home is a hospitable one, and its owner is a man of intelligence, widely known and honored in the community. Mr. Dietz keeps abreast of the times, and enjoys conversing on topics of current interest.

NATHAN STAMBAUGH. For the practice of his profession, veterinary surgery. Nathan Stambaugh, of Hanover, was well prepared both by careful study and by practical experience gained in years of observation under the direction of his uncle, who had a wide practice as a veterinary surgeon. Dr. Stambaugh is one of the leading practitioners of the profession in Hanover, where he has been located since 1872. He was born on the Gettysburg pike, in York county, in 1840. son of Henry and Leah ( Myers) Stambaugh, and grandson of Jacob Stambaugh, who nearly a century ago was a leading farmer and distiller of Paradise township. York county.

Henry Stambaugh, the father of Nathan. was born in Paradise township. York county, in 1813. He married Leah, daughter of Henry Myers, who reared a family of fifteen children.

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of whom three survive, namely: Jacob M., a resident of York; Emanuel, a resident of Illi- nois ; and Amanda, who married Samuel Neis- ter, of York county. Henry Stambaugh died in 1856, at the comparatively early age of forty-three years; his wife Leah died in 1872.

Nathan Stambaugh spent his boyhood on the farm and at York Springs, Adams county, where he remained for fourteen years. Later he made his home with his uncle, George Stan- baugh, a veterinary surgeon of Cumberland county, Pa., under whose direction he studied, assisting his uncle for three years. He then engaged in the practice for himself, locating first at East Berlin, York county, and remov- ing thence to Hanover in 1872. Here he has since conducted a veterinary practice which ex- tends over a considerable portion of York and Adams counties, a region in which the Doctor is well known.

In 1872 he married Miss Catherine Lichty, of New Oxford, Adams county, daughter of William Lichty, a well known and highly re- spected citizen of that town. Their commo- dious and attractive residence is at No. 30 Baltimore street. Dr. Stambaugh is a mem- ber of Hanover Lodge, No. 327, I. O. O. F.

During the Civil war Nathan Stambaugh enlisted in the 165th Regiment, P. V. I., and served for eighteen montlis. His regiment was commanded by Col. Albright, of Schuyl- kill county, and he participated in the battle of Gettysburg, besides several minor engage- ments, including one near Norfolk, Va., and fighting in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia.

JOHN L. MYERS, of Monaghan town- ship, York county, born Dec. 5, 1852, is a prosperous farmer and also carries on an ex- tensive grocery business at Harrisburg.

William Myers, his father, was born in Warrington township, York county, and when a young man settled in Monaghan township, engaging in agricultural pursuits in the vicin- ity of Andersontown. He became one of the well-to-do farmers of that section, and fol- lowed farming all of his active life. He was known for his many good traits of character, having been honest and upright in all his deal- ings, and was regarded as one of the good prac- tical farmers of the township. At the time of his death, which occurred when he was seven- ty-seven years old, he was living on the farm now owned by his son-in-law, Daniel Wood,

and his wife, Margaret ( Menges) Myers, died in 1902, aged eighty-two years. Mr. and Mrs. Myers were the parents of the following chil- dren : Levi, Mrs. Elizabeth Kline, Mrs. Caro- line Stauffer, Emanuel, Mrs. Susan Stauffer, Mrs. Margaret Laird, William, Mrs. Amanda Wood, John L. and Samuel. The parents were members of the Church of God. Mr. Myers was a stanch Democrat.

John L. Myers received his education in the public schools of Monaghan township, and remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age. He chose farming as his life occupation, and has successfully followed agri- cultural pursuits, making a specialty of gen- eral farming and fruit growing ;. his farm of 160 acres includes a tract of timberland. In 1898 Mr. Myers embarked in the grocery busi- ness at Harrisburg, in which venture he has been eminently successful. He carries a full line of choice family groceries and farm pro- duce and receives his full share of the public patronage.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 83

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