History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 93

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

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ANDREW B. RUDISILL (deceased), one of the honored and well-known pioneers of York county, and at the time of his death a resident of Penn township, was born on the old Rudisill homestead in Heidelberg (now Penn) township, in October, 1820, son of An- drew and Mary ( Bechtel ) Rudisill. The father, a prosperous farmer, was born on the same farm in 1795. and his wife, Mary, was born in Hanover, Pa., in 1794. She died in 1850. She was a faithful wife, a devoted mother and a consistent member of the Lutheran Church. The paternal grandfather of Andrew B. Rudi- sill was also a farmer, and he and his wife, whose maiden name was Wilkinson, were the parents of four boys and five girls. Andrew Rudisill and wife. the parents of Andrew B., had seven children: Mary (deceased), Jake (deceased), George (deceased). Sally (de- ceased ), Elizabeth (who resides in Adams county. Pa.), Mary Ann (deceased), and An- drew B.

Andrew B. Rudisill was reared a farmer boy and sent to the pay school at New Balti- more, where he pursued his studies for a time, later attending a private school at Hanover. After leaving school he engaged actively in work on the farm until he was twenty-one years old. He remained with his father until the latter's death, about 1864, when he took charge of the farm. Soon after his father's death he bought the interests of the other heirs and became sole owner of the homestead, a farm of 123 acres of choice limestone land in a good state of cultivation, and with fine build- ings. The house, a large substantial brick structure, and the bank barn. 50 x 100 feet. in good state of preservation, are among the best in the township. Mr. Rudisill always kept his

farm well stocked with high-grade horses and cattle, and raised a considerable number of mules, buying the latter when colts.

Mr. Rudisill owned another fine farm in Penn township, containing seventy acres of well cultivated land and provided with good buildings. This farm he rented. Though Mr. Rudisill was in his eighty-sixth year at the time of his decease, which occurred April 3, 1906, he managed the home farm with the aid of hired help. Besides carrying on the usual farm work, he also for many years was successfully engaged in feeding hogs and cat- tle. He was the owner of a grist and saw mill which he operated for many years, and which he recently rented. For twenty years he was a stockholder and director of the First Na- tional Bank of Hanover.

In 1893. the Rev. Dr. J. C. Koller officiat- ing, Mr. Rudisill married Miss Margaret For- ry, of York county. Pa., daughter of George and Nancy ( Boyer) Forry. In politics Mr. Rudisill was a pronounced Democrat. He never sought office for himself, but ever took a lively interest in the success of his party and the election of such of his friends as were can- didates. As a man Mr. Rudisill was honest in his dealings, firm in his convictions, and of unquestioned integrity.

Mr. Rudisill was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, of New Baltimore, to which Mrs. Rudisill also belongs.

FRIEZER ALTLAND, ex-county com- missioner of York county, Pa., and a farmer of Paradise township, was born on his father's homestead in that township, Feb. 8, 1859.

Andrew Altland, grandfather of our sub- ject, was reared in this section of York county, his father, Andrew, having come from Ger- many. Grandfather Altland followed farming and wagonmaking, and was a prominent and successful man of his day. He owned a fifty- acre farm near Haystown, and a wagon shop. and most of his life was spent in that section, and there, too, his death occurred. He was twice married, his first wife being a Miss Ot- terman, by whom he had these children : Jolin, Jacob, Christina, Mrs. Stambaugh, and Mrs. Peterman. His second wife, who was the grandmother of our subject, bore the maiden name of Sunday, and she and her husband had two children : Michael and Elias: The land

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BIOGRAPHICAL

upon which the Altland Lutheran meeting- house was built, the first church being of logs, was given by Andrew Altland, but whether the grandfather or his father is not known. One of the Ottermans gave land to the Lu- theran congregation, receiving in return one dollar to make the contract valid.

Elias Altland was born in Paradise town- ship, and when a lad learned the carpenter's trade. This he followed for many years, build- ing many barns and residences in this section. He finally turned his attention to farming, and owned a farm of forty-seven acres, which is now in the possession of his son-in-law, John C. Gruver. His next employment was at cigarmaking, and in this line he continued until his death, Aug. 4, 1899. He was a life- long member of the Paradise Lutheran Church, was treasurer thereof for many years, and also held the office of deacon for a considerable time. In politics he was a stanch Democrat, and he filled many township offices. He was married to Miss Anna Mary Baker, daughter of Peter Baker, and his wife, whose maiden name was Moul. She still survives, being sev- enty years of age, and is still a devoted member of the Paradise Reformed Church. Mr. and Mrs. Atland had five children : Friezer ; Matilda who married Jacob Mummert, of Adams county ; Levi, who died in infancy; Albert, who died at the age of twenty-one years; and Lizzie, Mrs. John C. Gruver, of this town- ship.

Friezer Altland was educated in the town- ship schools, principally at Paradise church, first teacher being Peter Strorbach, and some of the others being Absalom Baker, Henry Williams, Dr. Hollinger (now of Abbotts- town), John and Adam Kinnerman, Peter Burgard and Jackson Foss. He left school at the age of eighteen years, and started life on his father's farm. At the age of twenty-seven years he received the wages that had accumu- lated since the time he was twenty-one years old, and this he spent with Mr. Swartz in erecting a barn near Richmond, Va. His father having been a carpenter our subject had learned much in that line, and was consid- erably skilled with the tools. He was married Aug. 23, 1885, to Miss Mary Jane Harbold, born in Dover township, daughter of Samuel Harbold (who is now living with our subject ). a farmer and mason by trade. Her mother was Harriet March, who is also living. After marriage our subject located on his father's

farm, upon which he now lives, and which he still owns. He rented this farm for half shares for seventeen years, and in 1903 purchased it. It is a fine piece of property of 112 acres, and he has cultivated it to a high state.

Mr. Altland has always taken an active in- terest in politics, and is a tower of strength in the Democratic party of the township. He has served many times as committeeman, and has missed no county convention for sixteen years. He served as school director for two terms, and although never asking or seeking for office has served in many capacities. He was elected county commissioner in the fall of 1899, and served a term of three years, in 1901 serv- ing as president of the board of commission- ers. He has always been religiously inclined, and at the age of sixteen years joined the Para- dise Reformed Church, under Father Dininger. He has attended Sunday-school since he was seven years of age, when the services were held in schoolhouses. He has been very active in church service ever since joining, and for some time was a teacher in the Sunday-school, was deacon for four years, served as trustee, and is now an elder in the church. Fraternally Mr. Altland is connected with the P. O. S. of A. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Alt- land follow : Andrew P., born Nov. 4, 1888, attending school; Annie Estella, born Sept. 20, 1893; and Samuel Elias, born May 18, 1898.

ALLEN M. SEITZ, who is identified with various business and social organiza- tions of Glen Rock, was born Dec. 9, 1863, in Shrewsbury township, son of George F. and Louisa M. (Myers) Seitz.

Nicholas Seitz, the paternal grandfather, was a miller and farmer of York county. He was twice married and by his first wife had children : Stephen, deceased; Rebecca, de- ceased, who married Isaac Dise; and George F. His second wife was a Miss Klinefel- ter, and they were the parents of these chil- dren : Catherine, deceased; Butler H., de- ceased: Cora, who married Rev. A. H. Ir- vin; Clarence; Flavel; Henry, deceased ; and several who died in infancy.

The maternal grandfather of Allen M. Seitz was John Myers, a farmer and wheel- wright, who married a Miss Diehl, and had these children : Louisa M., Henry D., Adam D., Lydia, who married Andrew Brashinger, and Catherine.

George F. Seitz was a miller and farmer,

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

and served as burgess of Glen Rock for one term. In 1889 he met with an accident in a grist mill at Castle Fin, which resulted in his death on Dec. 26th, of that year. Mr. Seitz was a member of the Reformed Church. At his death he left the following children : Barbara E., who married John C. Stover; Robert M .; Allen M .; and Nettie V.

Herbst & Co., of Glen Rock, for about three . of land. His brother was a wealthy merchant

Allen M. Seitz attended public school in Shrewsbury township and Glen Rock bor- ough, supplementing this with one term at the York Normal School. He taught school for one term, and was then employed by Frey, years as bookkeeper. In 1886 he was elected a justice of the peace, and he is now serving his fourth term in that office. Mr. Seitz's de- cisions are so just that they are seldom re- versed by the higher courts. In the fall of 1889 Mr. Seitz was elected on the Democratic ticket to the office of county prothonotary, re- ceiving all but seventeen votes in Glen Rock, which is a Republican town, and he carried the county by 2382 majority, leading the ticket by 176 votes. This will give some idea of the popularity of Mr. Seitz and of the confidence placed in him by the citizens of his community. He has served six years as a member of the school board, and in 1902 was chairman of the York County Democratic Committee. Mr. Seitz has large interests in the Glen Rock Screen Works; is a stockholder in the Ameri- can Wire Cloth Company; also in the Hellam Distilling Co., of which he is the secretary and treasurer and general manager, and other in- dustries.

Fraternally Mr. Seitz is affiliated with Shrewsbury Lodge, No. 423, A. F. & A. M .; Friendly Lodge, No. 287, Knights of Pythias; Rock Council, No. 54, Junior Order of United American Mechanics; York Lodge, No. 213, B. P. O. Elks; and Gideon Grange, P. of H. In all of these societies Mr. Seitz is extremely popular. Since its organization Mr. Seitz has been president of the Glen Rock Hose and Ladder Company, and is vice president of the Pennsylvania Sportsmens Association.

At the age of thirteen Mr. Seitz joined the Glen Rock Musical Association, a well-known organization, which is in a most prosperous condition and in demand all over the country. Since joining the band Mr. Seitz has always played the bass, and takes great pride in his association with this organization.

CHRISTOPHER C. BURG, a successful farmer residing in Hellam township, York county, whose thorough knowledge of his call- ing has made him a recognized authority on matters agricultural, comes of good old Hol- land stock.

His grandfather, George, spelled the family name Borgholthous, but this spelling was changed by an act of the Legislature to Burg. George Borgholthous and his wife Wilhelmina emigrated with their family from the old home in Amsterdam, Holland, to Lower Windsor township, York Co., Pa., settling on 200 acres

in Amsterdam, and as he died leaving no fam- ily his large estate was inherited by his brother, George. To George and Wilhelmina Borghol- thous were born the following family: Fred- erick married a Miss Will, and moved to Free- port, Ill., where he died ; Rickie married George Thomas, moved to Freeport, Ill., and died there; Daniel died in Bartholomew county, Ind., where he owned a section of land ; Hen- ry, who died in Lower Windsor township, mar- ried (first) a Miss Dielinger and ( second) a Mrs. Einstein; Catherine (Kitty) married John Jacobs, and died in Chambersburg, Pa .; Philip W. is mentioned below ; Wilhelmina be- came the wife of Dr. Bittner, of Lancaster county.

Philip W. Burg was born in Amsterdam, Holland, and settled with his parents in Lower Windsor township, York county, he himself eventually becoming the owner of a fine farm in that township. His death occurred at his home April 8, 1856. In his religious faith he was a Lutheran, and in politics a Whig. Philip W. Burg was twice married. His first wife, Eliza Dosch, who was born in York county, daughter of Christopher Dosch, died Jan. 29, 1849. They were the parents of the following children : George, born Nov. 1, 1827, married Sarah Kauffman, of Manor township, Lancas- ter county, and died at Little Washington, Pa., June 4, 1863 : Christopher C. is mentioned be- low : William H., born Dec. 18, 1831, married Miss Hinkle: Mary Jane, born Dec. 9, 1833, died aged eighteen; Caroline, born March 12, 1836, married Benjamin Herr, and resides in Columbia, Pa .; and Washington, born May 31, 1838, married Mary Hines, and lives in Erie, Pa. For his second wife Philip W. Burg married Mary Eckert, who bore him three sons : Horace, who died in infancy; Horace

Con for Burg

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BIOGRAPHICAL

(2), of Northumberland county ; and Sun- mers, who died young. Christopher Dosch, father of Mrs. Eliza (Dosch) Burg, was born in Germany, but after his marriage settled in Lower Windsor township, York county, on 250 acres of land. There his death occurred. His children were: Michael, who died in Lan- caster county; George, who died in York in the summer of 1903; Eliza, Mrs. Burg, and Catherine, who married a Bahn, removed to Juniata county, Pa., and there died.

Christopher C. Burg was born in Lower Windsor township, March 15, 1829, and was brought up on the home farm, receiving a good practical training in agricultural work at the hands of his experienced father. His literary training was acquired in the public school. He was an alert pupil, and possessing an acquisitive mind stored up a good founda- tion for his later acquirements. He delighted in spelling matches, and was always able to hold his own. He taught school two years in Hellam township, and one in Lower Wind- sor. His father owned a mill, and there young Christopher was employed for five years. When he was twenty-four years old he began boating on the canal, and continued that line of work for ten years. In 1872 he began farm- ing for himself, first locating in Spring Garden township, where he spent four years. He then located in Hellam township, on his fine farm of 106 acres.

Mr. Burg's success has attracted consider- able attention, and he is thoroughly posted on the general farming conditions all over the State. He is reporter for the Agricultural De- partment, Washington, D. C., and of the Pennsylvania State Agricultural Department, Harrisburg. He has been active politically in the Republican party since the days of Fre- mont, for whom he cast his first Presidential vote. From 1865 to 1872 he held the office of justice of the peace of Wrightsville, and for twelve years served as school director. He is not a member of any church, but attends dif- ferent ones.

On March 2, 1854, Mr. Burg was married to Mary Hauser, daughter of the late John Hauser. Five children were born to them : (1) Philip WV., born Sept. 26, 1856, is a farm- er in Hellam township: he married Leah Rut- ter, and has four children, Daisy, Walter, Al- bert and Horace. (2) Sarah Eliza, born Jan. 4. 1859, married Augustus Bunn, and has one son, Wilbur ; they reside with her father, (3) 33

Jolin Lincoln, born June 22, 1861, resides at Stony Brook ; he married Catherine Hake, and has two children, Arthur and Grace. (4) Mary Elmira, born Sept. 27, 1863, married Luther Landis, has several children, and lives in Manchester township. (5) Alfred H., born July 29, 1866, married Emma Dare, and lives in Philadelphia. Mrs. Burg, who was born Dec. 5, 1828, died July 25, 1892, and was laid to rest in the Wrightsville cemetery. She was a member of the Lutheran Church.

John Hauser, Sr., grandfather of Mrs. Burg, owned 500 acres of land in Hellam and Spring Garden townships. His death occurred in Hellam township, and his estate was divided between his son John, Jr., and daughter, Mary. The latter, however,. died single, and the former came into possession of the entire property. John Hauser, Jr., was well known and highly esteemed. He married Sarah Strickler, and became the father of eight children: John, Mary, Sarah, Henry, Martha, Eliza, Matilda and Winfield.

RAYMOND ELMER BUTZ, M. D. A successful and popular minister of the Re- formed Church for a period of five years, Dr. Raymond E. Butz, of York, is now equally as popular and quite as successful in minister- ing to the physical ills. A Christian physician is a wonderful power in any community, and as such Dr. Butz stands as a foremost citizen of York today. Of German lineage, he in- herits many of the good qualities of his an- cestors, whose original home was not far from the banks of the picturesque Rhine, and who, seven generations ago, left home and friends and came to a far country across the seas, where, under a new government, and amid strange surroundings, they built for themselves homes at a place called Kutztown. The first of the family to emigrate to America, was John Butz, a farmer who located at "Butz gase" or "Butz place," a name that it bears to this day.

The father of Dr. R. E. Butz was John Butz, a bookkeeper who resided in Allentown, Pa., and who died in 1890 at the age of fifty- one years. He married Maria Ziegler, who died when the Doctor was only five years of age. The children of this union are: Ida, widow of Harry Cooper, of Allentown; Minnie, wife of Lewis A. Peters, an insurance agent of that place ; and Raymond E.

Dr. Raymond Elmer Butz is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in Allentown July

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

6. 1864. His pre-scholastic training was re- ceived in the' Allentown high school, from which he was graduated in 1883. Later he attended Muhlenberg College, graduating in 1887, and the Reformed Theological Seminary at Lancaster, Pa., graduating from the latter in 1890. After having charge of a church in Catawissa, Pa., where he was pastor for five years, he took up the study of medicine. After graduating from the Medico-Chirurgical Col- lege of Philadelphia in 1898, he located in York, where he at once began the practice of medicine. As a member of the York Medical Society, he has been sent as a delegate to the State and the American medical societies, to both of which he belongs. He has been hon- ored by being elected to the vice-presidency of the York Medical Society, and also a member of the board of censors.

On Feb. 26, 1890, Dr. Butz was married to Miss Mary Elizabeth Steinmetz, daughter of Lewis F. Steinmetzz, who resided at Lan- caster at the date of his decease, though for many years a resident of Middletown, Penn- sylvania.

Dr. Butz has always been a deep student of the profession, is a voracious reader of med- ical literature, and at times has written from the depths of his knowledge for the benefit of his fellow practitioners. He makes a specialty of hospital practice, and is ever alert for the discovery of new methods. He is a gentleman of broad and liberal culture, taking advantage of every opportunity to cultivate his mind. Just prior to his marriage he spent some eight months most profitably on a trip to Europe, and has traveled quite extensively in the States. In political faith he favors the Repub- lican party, and still keeps up his interest in the Reformed Church, in whose ministry he began his career. An earnest, conscientious physician, a broad-minded, liberal and schol- arly gentleman, he is a valued adjunct of York's social circles.

WILLIAM F. BUSSER, a retired busi- ness man of York, was born on South Queen street, that city. April 14, 1844, son of John and Matilda ( Reisinger) Busser.

Jacob Busser, his grandfather, came to the United States from Switzerland with his fam- ily early in the last century, and settled on South Queen street, York. He was a brush- maker by trade, and died there in 1850; his

wife, who had been Barbara Swope before marriage, also died in that city.

John Busser, the father of William F., was born in York in 1819, and there he spent his entire life. He was a contractor and builder for many years, and in the fifties en- gaged in the manufacture of candles and soap, following that occupation until his death in 1878. He married Matilda Reisinger, daugh- ter of Samuel Reisinger, a farmer, and later a contractor in excavating. Mrs. Busser died in 1877, aged fifty-six years. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Busser were: William F .; Jacob R., deceased; Barbara S., now Mrs. George Metzger, of Warren, Pa .; Samuel Ed- win, of Berkeley, Cal., superintendent of libraries of the Santa Fe Railroad, a graduate of Yale Theological department, and engaged in the Congregational, and, later, the Episcopal ministry ; Flora R .; Alma S., Mrs. Alfred Sulzbaugh, of York; John H., the well known cigar dealer of York; Oscar W., of Shadle & Busser, photographers of York; and Eliza Mary, Mrs. Richard Davis, of Philadelphia.

William F. Busser, the first born of the family, was educated in the public schools and spent two years at York County Academy. He then served as one of the first letter car- riers under Alexander J. Fry, who was ap- pointed by Lincoln. He received two cents for every letter delivered, and at the end of the nine months resigned his position in favor of his brother, Jacob R., taking a position at the gen- eral delivery window, which he held for two and one-half years. He next learned teleg- raphy at Goldsboro, which he followed for a short time, spending the succeeding eleven years as ticket agent. at the Pennsylvania rail- road station. In 1875 he became a traveling salesman for a candle manufactory. The rail- road company did not wish to accept his resig- nation and raised his salary in an unavailing effort to keep him. He traveled for his father for five years, and at the latter's death reor- ganized the business in association with his brother. Later he sold his interest to David Rupp, and became superintendent of the York Match Factory, a position he held for one year. Mr. Busser then engaged with D. F. Stauffer, a cracker manufacturer, and Stallman & Shet- ter, wholesale tobacconists, maintaining these connections for twenty years. In 1900 he re- tired from active life, having accumulated such a competency that further work is unnecessary.

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Mr. Busser attributes his success to close application to business, being known as one of "the most strictly reliable salesmen on the Pennsylvania circuit. He is the owner of much real estate and a stockholder in a number of companies. He is a member of Zion Lu- theran Church, and one of its most liberal sup- porters. In political matters he is a stanch Re- publican. In 1901 he was the candidate for mayor of York on the Republican ticket, but after a gallant fight was defeated by Mr. Gib- son, by a total of 174 votes. Although he never sought the nomination - it having in fact been forced upon him-Mr. Busser un- selfishly gave his services to his party. His own ward gave him a nice majority, although it had formerly been strongly Democratic.

In 1869 Mr. Busser was married in York to Mary C. Cox, of that city. His wife is the daughter of Selman Cox, of Baltimore county, Md., and before marriage was a telegraph operator on the Pennsylvania railroad. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bus- ser: Frank S., a patent attorney in Phila- delphia ; Ralph C., at attorney of that city; Harry C., with Company F, 3d Cavalry, U. S. A., stationed at Fort Yellowstone, Yellowstone Park; William C., a piano tuner for the Weaver Piano Company; and Mary F., de- ceased.

HARVEY W. HAINES, a well-known educator and former State Senator, is de- scended from an old Philadelphia family, who later became identified with York county.

Henry Haines, grandfather of Harvey W., born in Philadelphia in 1814, of Revolutionary ancestry, removed to York county and bought 300 acres of land in Windsor township, then valued at $50 an acre. The balance of his life was occupied in farming, and he died at the age of sixty-five. His political principles co- incided with those of the Democracy. He was married in Philadelphia to Phoebe Troutman, who was a niece of Gen. Moselle, a soldier in the German army, who died in Germany, and who was of the Irish aristocracy. . Their chil- dren, several of whom were born before they left Philadelphia, were: William, who died in York county; Maria, Mrs. Baltzar Guist, who died in York county; Louisa, wife of Rev. Louis May, deceased; Sarah, Mrs. Zachary Jacobs, who died in New Freedom; Matilda, wife of Rev. Emanuel Kohr; Eliza, Mrs.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 93

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