History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 86

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

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William J. Arnold was educated in the public schools of Lancaster and York counties, Pa., and of Cecil county, Md., and attended school until he was nineteen. For a few years following he worked on a farm, and then was employed at various capacities, as auctioneer, clerk in a mercantile establishment, in the quarries, and on the canal. After his father's death he returned home, took charge of the family and has ever since been engaged there in farming. A lifelong Republican, Mr. Arnold has been active in politics and has held a null- ber of local offices of honor and trust, all of which he has filled most acceptably ; a director on the school board for six years, he has also served as township auditor for nine years, jus- tice of the peace for sixteen years (and still holding that office), has been inspector and clerk of elections several times, and in 1900 was employed as census enumerator for the

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

southern part of Peach Bottom township and the borough of Delta. Mr. Arnold was a charter member of the local Jr. O. U. A. M. and has been an honored member ever since. He has also belonged for nineteen years to the I. O. O. F.

On Nov. 18, 1858, Mr. Arnold was mar- ried to Miss Amanda Priscilla Brosius, daugh- ter of Abner and Letitia ( Wilkinson) Bro- sius, of Lancaster county. To this union five children have been born, namely: Isaac Clin- ton, a practicing lawyer in Lancaster, who mar- ried Lucy Harris and has two children-Har- ris and William B .; Ephraim Willard, em- ployed by the Northern Pacific Railway Com- pany at Portland, Ore .; Alice R., who mar- ried William Henry Evans, a farmer of Peach Bottom, and has one daughter, Elizabeth; Clarence E., who married Louise V. (Thomas ) Rugg, daughter of J. H. Thomas, a lawyer in San Francisco, Cal .; Mabel B., who is teaching near Philadelphia. Mrs. Arnold is a Quaker, but her husband has no pronounced religious views.

Beginning with April 12, 1857, Mr. Ar- nold began to record the minutest details of each day under the title of a "Land-Lubber's Log Book," and has kept it carefully from that time until now. He has been successful in his farm management, and his place of sixty-six acres, a portion of which is in timber, is in very good condition and reflects much credit upon the owner.

SAMUEL P. CASKEY was born in Dru- more township, Lancaster Co., Pa., Feb. 18, 1824, son of John and Hannah (Hickey) Caskey.

Jolın Caskey, his paternal grandfather, was a native of County Derry, Ireland, where he was engaged in farming. He was the father of nine children, seven sons and two daughters: William, who died in Baltimore; Samuel, who died in the West; Joseph, who died in Peach Bottom township, York Co., Pa .; Robert, who died in New Market, Baltimore Co., Md .; Da- vid, who died at the age of eighteen in Peach Bottom township; a son who died in infancy; John, father of Samuel P. Caskey; Mary, who married Richard Nelson, and died in Lancas- ter county ; and Elizabeth, who married Ed- ward Breece, of England, and lived in Balti- more, Md., but she died in Philadelphia, while on a visit.

John Caskey (2) was born in Hopewell . township Jan. 10, 1795. He was given a com- mon school education and then worked as a farm laborer. Later he bought the place where his son now lives, and was engaged there in farming until his death, Nov. 25, 1863. He was buried in Slateville cemetery, as was also his wife, who died March 2, 1871. Mrs. Caskey was Hannah Hickey, daughter of Tim- othy Hickey, of Wales, and their marriage oc- curred about 1818. They became the parents of four children: (1) Elizabeth J. died at the age of eighty-one years. (2) Robert married Miss Amelia Preece, and of their four children two are living, John Grant and Elizabeth P. The last named married William Chenoweth, and had nine children : Arthur ; William ; John ; Amelia ; Edgar; Floyd; Roberta, who died in 1884, aged seven months, twenty-five days; Harry Milton, who died in 1898, aged thir- teen years, seven months; and Mary Mabel, who died in 1895, aged four months. (3) Sam- 11el P. is mentioned below. (4) Joseph died® Sept. 2, 1875, at the home of his brother Sam- uel P.

Samuel P. Caskey attended the public schools in Peach Bottom township until he was twenty-one, and then worked for his father until the latter's death. The farm then became his property, and he has ever since been en- gaged in its cultivation. He was married, Jan. 3. 1878, to Mrs. Margaretta (McConkey) Wiley, daughter of Andrew and Letitia ( Ram- say) McConkey, of Peach Bottom township. Their married life was not of long duration, as Mrs. Caskey died April 25, 1880, and was buried in the Slateville cemetery.

Mr. Caskey is a member of the Slateville Presbyterian Church, in which he was for thir- ty years a trustee and is now an elder; he hauled the first load of stone for the founda- tion of the church, in 1849. He belongs to the I. O. O. F., and has been noble grand, trustee and treasurer. A Democrat in politics, he served one term as judge of elections, but has never sought to hold office. Mr. Caskey is a man of good standing in the community, where he has held for many years the respect and confidence of his fellow-townsmen.

CORNELIUS STRAYER. a prosperous farmer of Windsor township, is a native of that vicinity, born Jan. 23, 1854, on what is now called the John Wise farm, near Red Lion.

Samuel OP Caskey

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He was the son of Joseph and Harriet Strayer and is descended from a family of agriculturists for several generations back.

Jacob Strayer, grandfather of Cornelius, passed his life on a farm near Loganville, and there died. He and his wife were the parents of the following named children : Harry; Katy, Mrs. Henry Howard; Elizabetlı, Mrs. Brillhart; Sarah, Mrs. Henry Neff, of York township; John; Jacob; Joseph; Mrs. Henry Grove; Dinah, Mrs. Noah Seitz, and Daniel. Mrs. Neff only is alive.

Joseph Strayer was born on the Logan- ville farm, in 1828, and, like his father, was a life-long farmer. For some time he worked on the family homestead. He was then em- ployed on the John Wise farm, which lie bought, later moving to other property which he had acquired, and operating it until his death in June, 1899, at the age of seventy-two. He married Miss Harriet Raymer, who was born and reared near his own birthplace, and they became the parents of four children : Cor- nelius ; James Henry, of Windsor township, who married Miss Amanda Smeach ; Melinda, Mrs. Titus Grove, of Chanceford township; and William A., of Windsor township, who married Miss Ellen Smeach. Mrs. Strayer died Feb. 21, 1905, aged seventy-five years, and twenty-six days. Joseph Strayer was all his life a strong supporter of the Republican party, while in his religious belief he was a member first of the Evangelical, and later of the United Evangelical Church.

Cornelius Strayer was six years old when he began his schooling, but while he attended from that age until he was eighteen, he was able to enjoy only three months each year, al- though the full terms were four months. He went to the Miller school and was first taught by Valentine Gable, his last instructor being Thomas Stewart. From early boyhood he had worked hard for his father on the farm and remained with him one year after his marriage. He was twelve years old when Joseph Strayer moved to his later home near Bethlehem Church, and had reached the age of twenty-six when he next located on the Samuel Sprenkle farm, which he bought and which has been his home ever since. The place consists of sixty acres of fine land, with good buildings, and Mr. Strayer carries on general farming there with most successful results.

lius Strayer to Miss Julia Ann Miller, of Windsor township, the daughter of David and Rebecca (Gohn) Miller. Four sons have been born to this union : William A., Scott E., Ir- vin C. and Charles H., all at home. Mr. Strayer is a Republican in his politics, and has served three years as tax collector. Although not a member, he attends the United Evangel- ical Church. A self-made man, he has forged his way steadily ahead, until his thrifty man- agement and industry have gained their just. reward, not only in material success but in the respect of his fellow townsmen. He was one of the organizers of the Farmers and Mer- chants Bank of Red Lion, and was elected to the office of president, having filled that posi- tion since the bank was incorporated in 1903.

J. GRANT WALLACE, of High Rock, was born there March 28, 1865, son of John T. and Millie Ann (Gibson) Wallace. James Wallace, his grandfather, died in Hopewell township.

John T. Wallace, the father, was born in 1826 in Hopewell township, and during most of his life was a farmer, but for a time op- erated an oil-mill and owned a gristmill at High Rock, which he had formerly used as a sawmill. His death occurred Nov. 2. 1890, in his sixty-fourth year. His wife, Millie A. Gibson, who was born in Hopewell township, daughter of Robert and Millie (Durris) Gib- son, died in 1901. They were the parents of the following children : Robert G., of Hope- well township; Katie, married to David Col- lins, of Hopewell township; Annie, married to R. E. Smith, of Chanceford township; Nettie, wife of Samuel .Collins, of Stewartstown; J. Grant; Margaret and Emma (twins), the former married to H. C. Manifold, of High Rock, and the latter to William J. Reed, of Chanceford township; Andrew, of. Collins- ville, who married a Miss Tosh; William G., of High Rock; Thomas, married to a Miss McDonald; Samuel, of Allegheny, who mar- ried a Miss Barnett ; Elizabeth, who married Harry Grove; and Florence, residing in High Rock.

J. Grant Wallace received his education in the public schools and the Pleasant Grove Academy, continuing his education until he was twenty-two years of age and working as a farmer until five years ago, when he began

In 1879 occurred the marriage of Corne- clerking for H. C. Manifold, becoming his

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

partner in the spring of 1904. They started business under the firm name of Manifold & Wallace, and bought property upon which they erected their store, a creamery, a warehouse and two dwellings. Mr. Wallace is a stock- holder with his partner in the new canning factory which was erected at High Rock in 1904.

In 1889 Mr. Wallace married Maggie Mc- Alister, daughter of William N. McAlister, and two children have been born to them, Nel- lie May and Mattie Gibson. The family are connected with the Hopewell U. P. Church. Mr. Wallace is a stanch Republican, and has always taken an active interest in the success of his party. Further, he is a well known and very popular citizen of High Rock, his up- rightness of character, his genial manner and his friendly spirit having attracted many sin- cere friends.

HARRY WEBSTER POSEY, M. D., who has built up a large practice in Sunny- burn and adjacent villages, was born Oct. 17, 1865. at Monmouth, Warren county, Ill., son of David and Mary (Groft) Posey. His father was born in Cecil county, Maryland, and received a common-school education there and in the schools of York county, Pa. For a time he clerked in the mercantile store of John Baer, at York Furnace, and then removed to Monmouth, Ill., where he engaged in mercan- tile business for himself, later returning to York Furnace, where he became associated with John Baer under the firm name of Baer & Posey. After Robert C. Baer was admitted the firm became John Baer & Co., and Mr. Posey continued with this company until his death, in 1882. Mr. Posey was a Republican in political sentiment. He married Mary Groft, of Lancaster county, who died about 1884.

Harry Webster Posey attended the country school at York Furnace until seventeen years of age and then entered Millersville State Nor- mal School, at which he spent one vear. He then commenced clerking in John Baer & Son's store, at which he continued four years. Under his uncle, Dr. M. A. Posey, of Collinsville, Harry W. Posey read medicine, and he en- tered Jefferson Medical College in 1890, being graduated with the class of 1893. He im- mediately began practice at Sunnyburn, where he has since been very successful as a

general practitioner of the regular school of medicine. Dr. Posey is not only held in the highest esteem by the profession, but by the public in general. His present fine property, bought in 1901, is known as the Elizabeth Ann Scott farm, and consists of 130 acres. Dr. Posey is a stanch Republican.

In 1888 the Doctor married Miss Maggie A. Riale, daughter of John and Ann ( Bar- icker) Riale, and one child has been born to the union, Chester R.

HENRY E. HILDEBRAND, of Glen Rock, Shrewsbury township, is one of the town's leading citizens and is a descendant of one of York county's old pioneer families.

The authentic record of the Hildebrand family reaches back as far as Felix Hildebrand, the great-great-grandfather, a farmer of Hope- well township, who was buried at Sadler's church. His son was Adam, who followed his father's occupation at the same place and who, with his wife, was also buried at Sadler's church.

Jesse Hildebrand, grandfather of Henry E., was a farmer of York county. He was married twice and reared a large family. His first marriage was to Leah Stermer, by whom he had the following children : Artemus; Amos; William; Jesse; Frank; Susanna; Rose, who married S. K. Diehl; Eliza, de- ceased; Mary, married to Henry Smith; Kate, who married John Althouse; and Maggie. By his second wife, Sarah Stermer, the sister of his first wife, he had one child, Belle, who is deceased.

William Hildebrand, the father of Henry E., was a farmer and died when the latter was three years old. In religion he was a member of the Reformed Church. His wife was Lou- isa Smith, who was a daughter of Henry Smith, a farmer of York county who emi- grated from Germany. The children born to him were: Henry; Annie, who married George Diehl; Mary, wife of Henry Seaks; Louisa, the mother of Henry E .; Kate, who married Augustus Sonneman, and Charlotte, Mrs. Henry Schaffer.

Henry E. Hildebrand attended the public schools and, until the age of twenty-three years, worked on the farm of Jacob Neuhaus. In February, 1891, he removed to Glen Rock, where he engaged in the manufacture of fur- niture, as a partner in the Enterprise Furniture

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Co., which business engaged about thirty-five hands. In 1895 Mr. Hildebrand entered into partnership with James M. Grove in the In- dustrial Sewing Machine Company, the former being the machinist of the firm. Mr. Hilde- brand has other business interests, being a stockholder in the Glen Rock Stamping Com- pany, and having mining interests in the Mex- ico Gold Mine Company.

Mr. Hildebrand married Lizzie Bowman, daughter of John Bowman, of Hopewell town- ship. and five children have been born to them -Paul, Lloyd, Louise, Marie and Roy. Mr. Hildebrand has been a member of the council, being in that body when the water-works were built. His religious connection is with the Reformed Church. He is a progressive, public spirited man, and a most worthy representative of the old pioneer stock of which York county is justly proud.

ISAAC J. BRENDLE. Favorable en- vironment is not essential to success in life. This truism has been demonstrated many times. An excellent example of the fact is furnished by the life of Isaac J. Brendle, one of the energetic and experienced business men of Hanover. Bereft of parents at a tender age and reared among strangers, Mr. Brendle thoroughly acquired the details of the business in which he is engaged, then started for him- self a few years ago at Hanover, and he has since steadily risen in the ranks of the mer- chants of that city. For a number of years he was manager of the High Street Produce Company, which was established in 1897 by himself and C. S. Newman, and at present holds the same responsible position with the Pennsylvania Produce Company, which is owned by New York parties.

Mr. Brendle was born in Lancaster county, Pa., in 1867. After the death of his parents he went to Philadelphia, where for a time he at- tended school and later was employed by the Electric Lighting Company of that city. It was in Philadelphia that he learned the produce business. He was there employed for nine years by J. H. Kellar, who conducted a large produce business, and he acquired a complete knowledge of all departments. In 1897 Mi. Brendle came to Hanover and associated him- self in business with C. S. Newman, as a part- ner in the High Street Produce Company. The building in which their business is con- ducted is 28x60 feet in size, with three sepa-

rate warehouses equipped with improved stor- age facilities. Mr. Brendle acted as manager of the company from its formation until his appointment to superintend the even more im- portant interests of the Pennsylvania Produce Company, and he is recognized as a keen and active business man, who, although a resident of the city for comparatively a few years has already won a prominent standing in the mer- cantile world. Mr. Brendle is married to Miss Anna Ebersole of Lancaster county. They have four children-Harry, Walter, Irene and Louisa. Mr. Brendle is a Republican in poli- tics.

WILLIAM G. KRAFT, manufacturer of and dealer in flour, grain and feed, and pro- prietor of the Heidelberg Roller Mills, Por- ters Sideling, York Co., Pa., was born Feb. 3, 1864, in Jefferson borough, son of Jesse Kraft, a representative of one of the old fami- lies of York.

The great-great-grandfather of William G. Kraft, was born on the ocean, when his parents were emigrating to America. They settled in Baltimore, where they landed.

Frederick Kraft, great-grandfather of Wil- liam G., was born in Baltimore Dec. 6, 1773. and was proprietor of a hotel there until 1810, when he came to York county, Pa., and found- ed the town of Kraftstown, which since the days of President Jefferson has been called Jefferson. He died July 20, 1836.

George Kraft, son of Frederick, was ten years of age when his parents removed to Jef- ferson. He was married in 1823 to Mary Loucks, and soon afterward commenced teach- ing. Subsequently he removed to Manheim township, and continued teaching, also engag- ing in mercantile business. He remained in Manheim some ten years, and then returned to Jefferson and opened up a general store, being associated in business with his son-in- law, Jacob Spangler. He later retired from active business, and was so living at the time of his death, in 1868, at the age of sixty-eight. He was a prominent Democrat, and at one time represented his district in the State Leg- islature. His wife died in 1872. They were the parents of the following named children : Jesse : Albert, deceased ; Margaret, who mar- ried George Snodgrass, now deceased; Leran- da, deceased, wife of Jacob Spangler, of Hei- delberg township.

Jesse Kraft, son of George and father of

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

William G., was third in the order of birth in stead, which had been in the family for many the above family, and was born in Manheim years. Through his father, Adam, he was descended from the grandfather, John, and the great-grandfather, Casper Lehr. township Aug. 5, 1828. His early life was passed in assisting his father, and he received his education in the schools of the neighbor- hood. He farmed for about ten years near Jef- ferson, and then exchanged his farm for the Mummert Hill property, lying in Heidelberg township, where he lived actively engaged in farming and milling until 1888, when he re- tired, and since then has made his home with his son, William G. He was a prominent member of the Lutheran Church at Jefferson, and has been deacon and elder at different times for the last forty odd years. In politics he is a Democrat, but not active in party work. In 1851 Mr. Kraft married Lucinda Baugh- man, of Manheim township, and they became the parents of the following children : Emma, wife of Levi Bange, of Glenville, Pa .; Alice, wife of George Wagner, of Spring Grove; George H., who married Clara Weind, and is in the hardware business at Spring Grove; Sarah, wife of Albert Moul, of West York borough ; Mary M., wife of Daniel Klinedinst, of West York borough; Mcclellan B., who married Lizzie Gladfelter, and is the telegraph operator and station agent at Spring Grove; William G .; Annie E., wife of Howard Jones, of Spring Grove; and Ella L., wife of John E. Senft, of Menges Mills.

William G. Kraft attended the township schools until nineteen years of age, and then, with his father, learned the milling business, beginning on his own account in 1886. He rented the mill from his father until 1892, in which year he purchased it, and established the roller process, his mill being equipped with all the latest machinery. He is the manufacturer of the well-known "Pride Brand," and has a large business, finding a market for most of his goods in Baltimore and New York City, the remainder being disposed of among the lo- cal trade.

Mr. Kraft married Miss Emma Garrett, and they have one son, Ira C., who is attending school. Mr. Kraft is a Democrat, and for a number of years served as township treasurer. He is a member of the Lutheran Church at Jefferson borough.

JOHN A. LEHR, formerly a prosper- ous farmer of Manchester township, was born there April 1, 1863, on the old family home-

Adam Lehr was born in 1829 on the home- stead, where he remained till he was sixty- seven years of age, engaged in farming. He then moved in the same township to where he is now living a retired life. Mr. Lehr was twice married, first to Miss Sarah Free, daugli- ter of Adam Free, of York county. She died in 1865, and was buried in Prospect Hill cent- etery. She was the mother of children as fol- lows: One that died in infancy; Lucinda, Mrs. Adam Stare, who died at the age of twenty-two; Philip, a farmer in Conewago township, who married Miss Lydia Hoover; Adam, who married Miss Ellen Lehr; Bar- bara, who died July 1, 1905, the widow of John Croes, of South Dakota, who died Dec. 25, 1900; Albert, married (first) to Miss Mary Strickler and (second) to Miss Vinetta Metzel, by occupation a farmer near York ana, and a teacher in York county for twenty- one years, mainly in Manchester township; and John A. The second wife of Adam Lehr was Miss Sarah Lecrone, daughter of Leonard Lecrone, of Manchester township. The chil- . dren born to this union were: Sarah, who married John A. Koller, a merchant in York; Daniel, a farmer in Manchester township. married to Miss Emma Bruaw ; Flora, wife of Jacob Rentzel, a farmer in Manchester town- ship; Frances, Mrs. Henry March, of York; Harriet, Mrs. Frank Lehr, of Manchester township; George, a Manchester farmer, mar- ried to Miss Annie Quickel; Augustus, a car- penter in York, married to Miss Maria Strine: and Minnie, Mrs. Charles March, who died aged twenty-two.

John A. Lehr first attended school in Man- chester township, then went to the Emigsville Academy. He afterward took a course of telegraphy in the Pennsylvania & New Jersey Telegraph College at Philadelphia, and has taught it, although never using it profession- ally. Much of his attention has been given to farming combined with cigar making, but a natural aptitude for mechanical devices has also led him into work of that nature, and one of his inventions has been patented. This is a block signaling apparatus for railroads, in- tended to avoid head-on or rear-end collisions, and to keep trains from running into open

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BIOGRAPHICAL

switches or drawbridges. The device is auto- matic, needing no operator to attend to it. Further, wherever trains get within the same block the engineers can telephone to each other while sitting in their cabs and thus find out the trouble. Another important feature is the arrangement whereby operators, if they give wrong orders or get orders too late, may re- call a train in an instant. The patent for this important invention was granted to Mr. Lehr April 26, 1904. He resided on his farm in Manchester township until ten years ago.

The union of John A. Lehr to Miss Sadie Bear, whom he chose for his life partner, oc- curred in 1884. Mrs. Lehr is a daughter of Henry and Henrietta (Shelley) Bear, of Mt. Wolf. They have a large family of children, namely : Laura; Harry; John; Chester, who died young ; Myrtle; Alma; Carrie, who died at the age of three; Violet; Raymond; Robert; Pansy; Henrietta; and Nellie, all at home. The family attend the Lutheran Church. In politics Mr. Lehr is a Republi- can, and is prominent in the local councils. In 1899 he was elected justice of the peace, was reelected in 1901 and has filled that office with much ability and to the satisfaction of constituents. He is now clerk and acting deputy in the office of the register of wills of York county.

JACOB RHOADS, an enterprising and prosperous merchant of East Manchester town- ship, York county, was born May 5. 1853, in Manchester township, son of William and grandson of Christian Rhoads.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 86

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