History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 88

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

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Mr. Crumling has always been a Republi- can, casting his first vote for President Harri- son. He has served as tax collector, holding that office under the first three-year term in- augurated in the township.

Mr. Crumling is a natural musician and since 1878 has been a member of the Hellam Cornet Band, playing the clarinet. In 1881 he was elected leader and has held that place ever since. Mr. Crumling has composed sev- eral popular marches, among them being "Our York City Post March," which is exceedingly popular, and the "Rambler." which was played at the Snyder Band Reunion at Highland Park, York, in August, 1904. Mr. Crumling's accomplishments do not stop at the clarinet, he being the master of a number of instru- ments.

Benjamin F. Crumling was united in mar- riage, in Wrightsville, by Rev. L. K. Sechrist, pastor of the Lutheran Church, with Miss Anna M. Frey. of Hellam, the daughter of Capt. William Frey. To this union have been born the following children: Stewart Ross, now ( 1906) aged fourteen : Roland Frey. aged eleven : Morgan Ernest, aged eight : Nile Crescent. aged five : and May Elizabeth, aged two.

The ancestors of the Frey family came to this country from Germany, with a party of

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BIOGRAPHICAL

colonists and settled in Pennsylvania. The true to her memory, never marrying again. great-grandfather of Mrs. Crumling, George He died at the age of seventy-five years. He was a Democrat, but was never an office-seeker. In religion he was a Lutheran. George Frey was the father of the following children : Wil- liam, the father of Mrs. Crumling; Eliza, Mrs. Isaac Runk, who died in East York ; John, who married Mary Monaghan, settled in Minneap- olis, Minn., and is now a traveling salesman (he was a member of the 87th Regiment Band, playing the alto horn) ; Charles, who married a Miss Meyers, of York, both being deceased; and Lewis, a stonecutter, who lived and married in Philadelphia, where he died. He was sergeant of a company in the 87th Regiment during the Civil war, and was cap- tured and in prison nine months.

Frey, married Miss Mary Ann Sleeyer, who was born in York. Her father was a soldier in the Hessian army, and at the close of the Revolutionary war settled in York, where he had the following children : John, who settled in East York and carried on brickmaking for many years, was the grandfather of Mrs. Dr. Neffs ( whose husband is a druggist of York), and Emanuel Lehr, of York, and died in East York; Henry, who settled in East York, was a distiller by trade, and the father of Henry Sleeyer, the cabinetmaker of East York; Mary Ann, the great-grandmother of Mrs. Crumling, died at the age of ninety years ; one daughter became Mrs. John Freed, of East York and is deceased; one daughter was Mrs. Thompson, who died in York, and there was another, whose name is not given.

George Frey was one of the following fam- ily of children : Jacob, who died in York, was a hatter by trade; John, a mason, died in East York; Daniel, a small dealer, died in York : George was the great-grandfather of Mrs. Crumling ; Samuel, who died in East York, was the pioneer of Freystown, the town hav- ing been named after him (by trade he was a brickmaker ).

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. George Frey were as follows: Charles, who married Miss Bennett, settled in Newville, Cumberland county, was a mason by trade, and died in East York, while his wife died in Newville; George was the grandfather of Mrs. Crumling: Fred- erick married a Miss Meyers, of Lancaster county, and he died in York, where he had been a horsedealer; Enos married his first cousin, Lydia Sleeyer, the daughter of John Sleeyer, and died in York, where he had been a ma- chinist ; Catherine, Mrs. Israel Fishel, died in York: Mary, Mrs. John Spangler, died in Spring Garden township; and Leah, who mar- ried Charles Spangler, brother of John Spang- ler, still survives in East York, at the age of eighty-five years.

George Frey, the grandfather of Mrs. Crumling was born in Spring Garden town- ship, in that part known as Freystown, which is now a part of York, in 1810 .. He was edu- cated like the boys of his day, and grew up to be an honored and respected citizen. He mar- ried Mary Spangler, who died eleven years years after marriage, and Mr. Frey remained

Capt. William Frey, the father of Mrs. Crumling, was born Feb. 7, 1834, in Freys- town, on the site of the "New Wilmer Hotel." He attended school at different places, and his mother dying when he was nine years old young Frey was put out among the farmers to work his own way in the world. Out of a year he received three months' schooling, while the other nine months he spent at hard farm labor, receiving but $4 per month. Mr. Frey, then seventeen years of age, went to the trade of shoemaker, learning that trade with Daniel Stine, of York, with whom he re- mained three years. This trade he followed five years, but after his return from the war he engaged in butchering, at which he con- tinued for ten years. Capt. Frey then bought a home and farm in Spring Garden township, which he operated for twenty-five years, in April, 1901, locating in Hellam, where he has since resided. The Captain is a stanch Demo- crat in politics, and cast his first vote for Buchanan. In 1876 he was elected treasurer of York county, and served three years in that position. He served as school director in Spring Garden township, and when the town- ship was divided served as school director four years in Springetsbury township, and also served as tax collector there one year.

Children as follows were born to Capt. Frey and his wife: William B., of York, mar- ried May Channell: Flora M. is the widow of John Rouse, of York ; Ferdinand C. married Miss Lydia Ehrhart. of York county ; Emma E. is Mrs. William Christine, of York ; George T., who married Bessie Leiby, lives in this county ; Katie died at the age of ten years ;

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Anna M. is the wife of our subject; Robert E., who married Miss Amanda Myers, lives in Hellam township; Mollie E. is Mrs. Frank- lin Fisher, of York; Hattie M. died at the age of eleven years; Harry S., of Hellam, married Elizabeth Fisher.

JACOB - STONEBACK POSEY, who makes his home in Lower Chanceford town- ship. York county, was born April 9, 1856, in the township named, on the farm now oc- cupied by his brother, William J. Posey. He is a son of Micajah and Catherine (Stone- back) Posey.

Mr. Posey commenced to attend the pub- lic schools at the age of six years and had finished his schooling when he was sixteen years old. He began teaching at the age of seventeen, his first school being in Graham- ville, Chanceford township, which he taught for one term. After this he continued in that profession for twenty-seven years, acquiring quite a reputation as an educator in York county, and teaching the following schools : River Hill, Shaub's, Center and Slab, all in Lower Chanceford township. Mr. Posey was married Aug. 1, 1875, in Lower Chanceford township by the Rev. John Mckinley, pastor of the M. E. Church, to Mary E. McSherry, who was born in Lower Chanceford township, July 23, 1859. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Posey settled on the Isaac Boyd farm, which Mr. Posey purchased from Isaac N. Boyd. The farm consists of 114 acres, and was form- erly a part of the old Kilgore farm, being situated one mile west of McCalls Ferry. There the couple have resided ever since. Mr. Posey is a member of the McKendree M. E. Church at Airville, having united with that body in 1886, has been one of its trustees for many years, and has been class leader and Sunday- school superintendent. He has been very active in church work and has assisted materially in the erection of the new church. In politics Mr. Posey is a stanch Republican, and his first presidential vote was cast for James A. Gar- field. In 1894 Mr. Posey was elected justice of the peace, and was re-elected in 1904; in 1896 he was nominated on the Republican ticket for the Legislature, but after making a hard fight was defeated.

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Posey are as follows: (1) Katie B., born March 5, 1876, married Jessie V. Trout, son of George

V. Trout, of Chanceford township, where they reside. She was educated in the public schools and the York Normal school and taught two terms at Castle Fin, Lower Chanceford town- ship, and one term at Jamison school. (2) Walter W., born Oct. 8, 1877, attended the public schools and the York Normal School, and taught two terms at Guinston, after which he took a course at Wades Business College, Lancaster city, from which he was graduated, and accepted a situation as stenographer in Thompson's Iron Works, Philadelphia, later being promoted to the managership of the works; he married Miss Maggie Skelton, of Airville, daughter of Elwood S. Skelton, an undertaker, and they now live in York. (3) Amanda Mary, born Feb. 4, 1879, resides at home. (4) Lizzie B., born Nov. 28, 1880, married John Montgomery, of Lower Chance- ford township, and they reside on the Grove farm. (5) Margaret Ann, born Feb. 8, 1883, married William Reheard, of Chanceford township. (6) Ada May, born Dec. 5, 1885, was educated in the public schools, the York Normal school and Millersville State Normal school, taught two terms in the public schools of Lower Chanceford township, then took a course in stenography at the Philadelphia Busi- ness college, from which she graduated; she then accepted a position as stenographer in Philadelphia. (7) Emma Laura, born Sept. 6, 1887, resides at home. (8) John B., born March 12, 1891, died at the age of five years. (9) David R. was born Sept. 21, 1892. (10) Jacob S., born May 18, 1894, died at the age of two and one-half years. (II) Mordecai A. was born Sept. 26, 1897. (12) Mary Elizabeth was born April 4, 1901.

Mrs. Posey's ancestors came from Ireland, and settled in York and Adams counties. Her father was the first settler in Airville and the town was originally named after him, Mc- Sherrystown. Mr. McSherry there kept a hotel for about forty years. He was twice married. Bv his first wife, Elizabeth Burkholder, he had children : Mary, who married William Stokes; Barbara; Montia; Sally, who married Benja- inin Fulks, deceased; Susan, now Mrs. Harrison; Jackson, living in Missouri; and Frederick, deceased. Mr. McSherry's second marriage was to Catherine (Bair) Keeports, widow of David Keeports, and sister of John Bair. Mrs. Posey is the only child of Mr. Mc- Sherry's second marriage. Mr. Posey is a citi-

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zen who has the best interests of the commun- ity at heart, and is a man who enjoys the es- teem of all who know him.

GEORGE W. BOWMAN, of the firm of G. W. Bowman & Co., manufacturers of cigars, Hanover, conducts a large and pros -. . perous business, which for many years his father carried on before him. The family is an old one, the grandfather of George W., hav- ing been Charles Bowman, who was born in Newark, N. J., and became one of the early settlers of York. George W. Bowman was born in Hanover, Pa., Feb. 8, 1859, the son of Charles and Dorothy (Grimm) Bowman. The father was a Philadelphian, born Feb. 20, 1831, and died in Hanover in 1898. His wife, Dorothy, was born in Germany about 1835, and died in 1902. They were the parents of five children, namely : George W., Charles E., Benjamin F., Sarah M. and Fannie C., all resi- dents of Hanover.

George WV. Bowman was educated in the public schools of Hanover. When his educa- tion was completed he learned from his father the cigar making trade and remained with him until the latter's death in 1898. George W. succeeded to the business, which has since been conducted under the firm name of G. W. Bow- man & Co. He is a practical cigar-maker, and, combining his knowledge with his excellent business judgment, has built up a large and profitable trade, employing about twenty-five people at his factory, which is located at No. 12 Pleasant street, Hanover.

In 1891 Mr. Bowman married Annie E. Yantis of Hanover, daughter of William and Margaret Yantis, her mother still surviving. To George W. and Annie E. Bowman have been born two children, Helen D. and Robert Willet. Mr. and Mrs. Bowman are active members of Emanuel Reformed Church. He is a member of Patmos Lodge, No. 348, A. F. & A. M .; also a member of Gettysburg Chap- ter and Gettysburg Commandery, K. T .; Bomi Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Baltimore. He is also a member of the B. P. O. E. of Han- over.

JOHN F. ROHRBAUGH, contractor and builder and dealer in building supplies, has for more than a score of years been one of the active business men of Hanover, giving to construction work that energy and persistent

application, without which notable success is impossible. He is a native of York county, and was born in Penn township, Feb. 28, 1858, son of Amos and Fanny ( Forry) Rohrbaugh, and grandson of Henry Rohrbaugh, who mar- ried a Miss Runkel, of German descent. The maternal grandparents of John F. Rohrbaugh were John and Nancy Forry, who lived in York county and had a family of thirteen chil- dren. Amos Rohrbaugh, the father of John F., was born in York county about 1832. He owned a farm of 120 acres of thoroughly culti- vated land, with good buildings, and there he lived, a life-long and prosperous farmer. He died in 1893. In politics he was a Whig and later a Republican. To Amos and Fanny (Forry) Rohrbaugh were born eight children, as follows: John F .; Mary, wife of William Flickinger ; Henry F., a farmer ; Fannie, wife of George Unger, a farmer: Amanda, wife of Henry Baker, a farmer: Catherine, wife of William Mummert; Sarah, wife of Pius Renoll ; and Barbara, wife of Michael Musser, of Silver Spring, Lancaster county.

John F. Rohrbaugh was educated in the public schools of New Baltimore. At the age of sixteen years he left school, and until he attained his majority remained on his father's farm. At twenty-one he married Lucy Miller, daughter of John and Susannah ( Mouse ) Miller. He began housekeeping on a farm and a year later removed to the Miller home- stead. Soon afterward he commenced the busi- ness of contracting and selling builders' sup- plies, in which lines he has since been engaged most successfully. The business which he con- ducts is quite extensive and in its various de- partments he employs about forty men. Mr. Rohrbaugh is also one of the principal stock- holders of the American Foundry and Machine Co. He is the owner of two farms, one of which is a part of his father's homestead and the other a farm of 120 acres in Adams coun- ty. Both farms are in a thorough state of cultivation and possess good buildings. In politics Mr. Rohrbaugh is a Republican. He is a member of Patmos Lodge, No. 348, A. F. & A. M. He has been thrice married. four children being born to his first union-William (deceased), Walter, Miriam and Fanny. His second wife was Alice Heistand, who died without issue. Mr. Rohrbaugh's third and present wife was Emma Wiley, of East Berlin, Pa. To them have been born Elizabeth, Cath-

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

erine, and one that died in infancy. Mr. Rohr- bern Nov. 22, 1871, in Ireland, son of James baugh is a member of the German Baptist E. and Margaret N. Green. Church, of which he is a regular attendant.

ERVIN G. SHEDRICK, one of the younger business men of Newberry township, York county, now filling the position of super- intendent of the York Haven Paper Bag Factory, was born April 22, 1871, at Middle- bury, Vt., son of James and Mary Jane ( Hicken) Shedrick.

Nothing is definitely known of Mr. Shed- rick's grandparents, who were both deceased at the time of his birth. James Shedrick, his father, received a common school education, and he followed axe and scythe making at Ballston, N. Y., where he died. He married Mary Jane Hicken, and the following children were born to this union : Alice, who married William Cornell, superintendent of E. Doug- las's axe plant in Massachusetts; Frank, a painter and paper-hanger at Ballston, N. Y .; Jessie, married to Alfred Young and living in Ballston, N. Y .; Frederick, a painter and paper-hanger with his brother Frank; Ervin G., our subject ; Cora, married to R. B. James, a conductor on the New York Central railroad ; and seven children who are deceased.

Ervin G. Shedrick attended the public schools of New York State until about seven- teen years of age, when he learned the busi- ness of making paper bags of George West, of Ballston, remaining there ten years, the last six years of which he was foreman of the fac- tory. He then went to New York City, where he was engaged as superintendent of the J. J. McClusty bag factory, which position he filled for five years, at that time removing to York Haven, where on April 21, 1901, his services were secured as superintendent of the paper bag factory. Mr. Shedrick has since held that position, and is a very skillful mechanic, and lias charge of from forty to fifty hands.

Mr. Shedrick married Miss Annie Co- baugh, daughter of Jacob Cobaugh, and one child has been born to them, Helen, born Oct. 4, 1904. Both he and his wife are devout members of the Methodist Church. Mr. Shed- rick is a Republican, but has never aspired to public office.

JAMES E. GREEN, JR., cashier of the New Freedom National Bank, of New Free- dom, Shrewsbury township, York county, was

Roger Green, grandfather of our subject, was a physician.

James E. Green is a lawyer by profession, born and reared in Ireland. He came to the United States in .1873, and for many years he has been one of the leading citizens of Baltimore, Md., being auditor of the Roland Park Company of that city, and having served as chief clerk and cashier of the clerk's office of Baltimore county, and as clerk of the county commissioners. To himself and wife have been born the following children: James E .; May S., who married John H. Gill, an at- torney of Baltimore; George L .; Jannett F .; and Stephen R.

James E. Green, Jr., received his early edu- cation in the public schools of Baltimore coun- ty, supplementing this with a term at the Balti- more and Ohio Technical school, of Baltimore, and one year in the Law Department of the University of Maryland. He then became clerk in the First National Bank of Towson, Md., where he remained twelve years, coming to New Freedom, York Co., Pa., in April, I903. He assisted in organizing the New Freedom National Bank, becoming one of its stockholders. Mr. Green was chosen cashier and has since served very acceptably in that position. The bank is in a very prosperous condition, having a capital stock of $50.000, and the directors are: W. D. Bahn, G. F. Mil- ler, Dr. W. C. Stick, George F. Gantz, J. F. Sechrist, George E. Ruhl, J. F. Zeller, J. A. Gillen, H. Krout, W. H. Whitcraft, F. B. Dickmyer and M. Hoshall. In 1904 was built a handsome new brick and stone bank build- ing, thirty by fifty feet, one-story high, which is an ornament to the city.

Mr. Green possesses many of the business attributes which have made his esteemed father so successful, and he has a pleasing manner, which wins both business and personal friends. In religious matters he is connected with the Episcopal Church.

J. NELSON DUNNICK, M. D., of Stew- artstown, Pa., was born July 6, 1872, in Hope- well township, York county, a son of Charles M. and Elizabeth (Leib) Dunnick. The Dun- nick family can be traced to George Dunnick, the paternal grandfather, who was a prominent farmer in York county, where he died leaving

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four children, namely : Nelson S., Charles M., Sarah D., and Jane ( who married Nathaniel Heaps). The Doctor's maternal grandfather was Henry Leib, also a farmer of York county, who had four children, namely : Joseph, John H., Elizabeth (mother of J. Nelson), and Dorcas (wife of ex-Sheriff James Peeling).

Charles M. Dunnick is one of the promi- nent residents of Fawn township, where he is engaged in farming, although he is a carpenter by trade. For a number of years he has been one of the leading members of the Democratic party in that locality, has served as tax collec- tor of Hopewell township, and in July, 1904, was a delegate to the county convention. He belongs to the M. E. Church and has served for several years as superintendent of the local Sunday-school. Charles M. Dunnick married Elizabeth Leib, and they have had a family of thirteen children, as follows: Mary E., Mrs. Sanner : Cora E .; Ida M., wife of Samuel Cra- ley : John H .; Dr. J. Nelson ; Perry E .; Ben- son L .; Dr. Milton C .; Florence V .; Franklin ; Blanche ; Dorcas; and a child who died in in- fancy.

J. Nelson Dunnick spent his early boyhood attending the public schools of Hopewell town- ship. The education thus secured did not sat- isfy his ambitions and he worked until he had earned enough to ensure him one year at the Mt. Pleasant (Md.) school, after which he entered the York County Academy at York, and the academy at Stewartstown. He then began to teach school in order to provide means for his medical education. For two years he proved a very satisfactory educator, at Zion, Hopewell township, as well as for a like period at the Gemmill school in the same township. When prepared to begin his medical education he placed himself under the competent tute- lage of Dr. J. H. Leib, of Mt. Pleasant, Md., and subsequently entered the Baltimore Medi- cal College. From that institution he was graduated April 6, 1899, as second in an unus- ually brilliant class of students. After success- fully passing the Pennsylvania State Board of Examiners he entered into practice at Stew- artstown on Aug. 1, 1899. His success has been rapid and marked, and every indication points to eminence in his profession. He takes advantage of all opportunities offered for extending his scientific knowledge and is a valued member of the York County Medical Association.

Dr. Dunnick was married, in October, 1898, to Mattie C. Hoke, daughter of Samuel Hoke, of Frederick county, Md., and they have three children : Dana D., Estella C. and Inez E. Dr. Dunnick is a consistent member of the M. E. Church and, until so closely occit- pied with the demands of his profession, was very active in its work, serving as a teacher in the Sunday-school and for several years as president of the Zion Epworth League, being the first to hold that office after its organiza- tion. By his professional skill and his good citizenship, his frank and friendly personality, the Doctor has won and retained numerous admirers and friends.

CHARLES.S. BAIR, a prominent and en- terprising young merchant of Laurel, Chance- ford township, who for the past few years has also been engaged in cigar manufacturing at Laurel and Felton, was born in Chanceford township, near Conrad's Cross Roads, Feb. 13, 180, son of Peter and Salome (Shenberger ) Bair.

Isaac Bair, the grandfather of Charles S., was a gunsmith of Lancaster city, and located in York county, being' a lock-tender at Long Level for many years.

Peter Bair, son of Isaac, was born at that place, and is now living retired at Felton. He is a veteran of the Civil war, having served for nine months. He married Salome Shen- berger, sister of John 'K. Shenberger ( de- ceased ), ex-treasurer of York county. Mr. and Mrs. Bair are members of the Evangelical . Church. The following children were born to them : Charlotte married D. W. Detweiler, of Long Level: Francis, of York, married Ocky Moody ; Isaac, of Center county, who re- ceived a common school education, and is now a minister in the U. Evangelical Church, mar- ried Jane Campbell ; Amanda married Thomas Harris of Wrightsville; Oscar, a farmer of Sunnyburn, married Lizzie Snyder; Elmer, a farmer of Muddy Creek Forks, married Miss Rebecca Markel; Hallie married James Adair, of Red Lion; Charles S .; and Harris died young.

Charles S. Bair attended the public schools until nine years of age, when his father re- moved to Felton, where Mr. Bair was a stu- dent at the Science Hill school until the age of sixteen years. He worked on the farm until twenty-one, and then learned the carpenter's

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

trade, which he followed three years. Later I, 124th P. V. I., and later joined the cavalry he was a clerk in the store of Grove & Uffel- man at Brogueville Station, where he re- mained three years, and then was similarly em- ployed in the store of J. D. Hake at Felton. After working one year Mr. Bair bought Mr. Hake out and continued the business at Felton for three years, at which time he removed to Laurel, where he has since remained as a suc- cessful and respected merchant. Mr. Bair is a self-made man, and has taken his place among the first business men of Laurel, winning his way entirely through his own efforts. He has the confidence of the community and has the reputation of being a man of honor and in- tegrity.

On July 16, 1895, Mr. Bair married Min- nie Glassic, of Hopewell township, daughter of John and Agnes (Snyder) Glassic, and one child, Charles Wilber, has been born to this union. Mr. Bair is an esteemed member of the U. Evangelical Church of Felton. In politics he is connected with the Republican party, but has never sought public preferment. Fra- ternally he has affiliated himself with Shrews- bury Lodge, No. 423, F. & A. M., of which he is a popular member.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 88

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