History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 94

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

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George Oberdorff, deceased ; George, an Evan- gelical preacher, who died in Allentown; Charles ; Harvey, who died in Red Lion; Julia Ann, Mrs. Fry, who died in Lower Windsor township. Henry Haines had a brother, John, who conducted the old and famous hotel at Frankiort, near Philadelphia, and also ran stages between different towns in the State. He was the father of George Haines, a large importer on Chestnut street, Philadelphia.

Charles Haines was born on the Windsor farm in 1814, and died at the same old home, June 5, 1898, a lifelong farmer and carpenter. He was a member of the Evangelical Church; in politics a Democrat, he was active in local affairs and served one term as county commis- sioner. He married Miss Barbara Funk, who was born in Lancaster county in 1815, and died in Windsor township in 1890. The chil- dren born to this union were as follows : Mary Ann, who died unmarried; Harvey W .; Sarah, Mrs. John B. Baughman, of York; Matilda; Louisa, Mrs. William Smith, deceased ; George W., a business man of Los Angeles, Cal., who married a Miss Maish; Charles F., of Phila- delphia ; and Agnes, wife of Dwight Lee, su- perintendent of a railroad in Colorado.

Harvey W. Haines was born on a farm near Columbiana, Ohio, Oct. 1I, 1838, but was only a year old when his parents returned to Windsor township, York county, and set- tled on a farm a mile from Mr. Haines' present home. He grew up there, attending the town- ship schools until he was eighteen, and then was sent to the Millersville Normal, from which he was graduated in the same class with Theodore B. Fox, now a prominent Baltimore teacher, and Prof. Byerly. The principal of the Normal at that time was Prof. James Wickersham. After completing his own edu- cation Mr. Haines taught for three terms in Lancaster county, three years in York county, and then was called to a position in Baltimore, where he remained sixteen years, preparing pupils in mathematics to enter Johns Hopkins University. At the end of that period he re- turned to York county and began farming on the property belonging to his father-in-law, David Leber, where he has since remained.

Always keenly alive to matters of public import, and a lifelong Democrat, and having cast his first vote for Buchanan, Mr. Haines has been from early manhood active in poli- tics ; he served one term as township auditor,

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

was school director for nine years, was sent to the lower house of the State Legislature for two terms and for two more to the State Senate, his last term being in 1891. His school- directorship was resigned only when his elec- tion to the Senate made such action necessary. On Aug. 27, 1904, he was made chairman of the Democratic county committee, an office fairly thrust upon . him. Fraternally Mr. Haines is an active lodge man and belongs to the F. & A. M., Maryland Lodge No. 41, of Baltimore, Md. ; he has belonged to the Masonic order since the age of twenty-two, when he joined old York Lodge No. 166, of York county. In religion he was reared in the Meth- odist Episcopal faith, but although a great Bible student is not a member of any church. He owns a fine library, is an inveterate reader, and a man of broad general culture, although his favorite line of reading, after Shakespeare, which holds first place, is political economy.

In February, 1871, occurred the marriage of Mr. Haines to Mary E. Leber, a lady born in Windsor township, May 15, 1841, daughter of David and Anna Mary ( Becker) Leber. To this union were born the following children : Edith Virginia, who died in infancy ; Florence L., at home; and Horace B., of Philadelphia.

Mrs. Haines' paternal grandparents were Conrad and Maria (Hammer) Leber, who lived on a farm in Lower Windsor township. Her father, David Leber, was educated in the common schools and became a farmer and tan- ner. In politics a Democrat, he was elected county commissioner for one term, during which period the old jail was built. He died in Windsor township, Dec. 22, 1878, aged seventy. He was a member of the Reformed Church. His wife was born in Lower Windsor township in 1806, daughter of Matthew and Esther ( Holder) Becker, and her demise oc- curred Nov. 2, 1871. A great-uncle of Mrs. Haines, John Becker, was for years a well known surveyor in York county.

ELMER L. LEWIS, D. D. S., who con- trols a large and representative practice in York, while he is held in high esteem in both business and social life, claims the old Bay state as the place of his nativity, and he is a scion of stanch old Puritan stock in New Eng- land. He was born in Amesbury, Essex Co., Mass., Dec. 22, 1861, son of Rush W. and Georgiana ( Morrill ) Lewis.

Rush W. Lewis was born in Dover, York

Co., Pa., and was for many years engaged in the manufacturing of shoes on a somewhat ex- tensive scale at Lynn, Mass., while later he. engaged in the same line of enterprise in York, P.a., where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred in 1874. He was a lineal descendant of Dr. Robert Lewis, who was an influential citizen of Dover, Pa. The mother of our subject was born in Lynn, Mass., and died in York, in 1873, preceding her husband into eternal rest by fourteen months. She was a daughter of Robert Mor- rill. Rush W. and Georgiana Lewis became the parents of six children, of whom two are living.

Dr. Elmer L. Lewis was a lad of but twelve years when he was doubly orphaned, and had received his rudimentary education in the public schools of York. After the death of his parents he continued his attendance in the city schools of York, and then he went to East Berlin, Adams county, where he was a student for a time, completing there his more purely academic studies. In 1881 he was matriculated in the dental department of the University of Pennsylvania, where he com- pleted the prescribed course, and was gradu- ated as a member of the class of 1883, receiv- ing his degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery. He soon afterward located in the city of Phila- delphia, where he was engaged in practice for a period of four years, at the expiration of which he removed to East Berlin, Adans county, where he built up an excellent prac- tice, and remained until 1899, a period of twelve years. In March, 1899, the Doctor came to York, where he has since remained in practice, while he has gained unmistakable precedence by reason of the high order of work turned out in his modernly appointed offices. He is a member of the York County Dental Society, and fraternally is identified with the Royal Arcanum, while in politics he is stanchly aligned as a supporter of the principles of the Republican party. He is a member of the Reformed Church.

In 1895 was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Lewis to Miss Mary E. Wolf, daughter of Dr. Frederick C. Wolf, a prominent physi- cian of East Berlin, Pa. She died in 1896.

GILBERT H. KYLE is one of the leading commercial printers of the city of York, where he has a finely equipped plant, and where he controls a large and representative business

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BIOGRAPHICAL

in his line. He is a native of York county, county, continuing to be identified with same and has here worked his way to definite suc- until 1891, when he filled the same position cess, while he has also gained the confidence and high regard of those with whom he has come in contact, enjoying marked popularity in both business and social circles. with the Delta Times, a weekly paper of the same place. In 1893 he located in the city of York, and established a job and general com- mercial printing plant at No. 19 East Market street, where he has since continued operations in this line; his street number is now 41, under the new system adopted by the city. His busi- ness has grown steadily and substantially in scope and importance, and he has added to his facilities and accessories as occasion lias de- manded, keeping everything up to the highest standard, and thus being at all times prepared to turn out the best class of work with facility. His reliability and progressive methods have been the factors which have mainly enabled him to gain such noteworthy prestige and suc- cess, and he is held in high regard in the busi- ness circles of the city. In his political alle- giance Mr. Kyle is stanchly arrayed as a sup- porter of the principles of the Democratic party, and fraternally he has advanced to high position in the Masonic order, being affiliated with York Lodge, No. 266, F. & A. M. ; How- ell Chapter, No. 199, R. A. M .; York Com- mandery, No. 21, K. T .; Harrisburg Con- sistory, 32d degree, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Masons, Harrisburg ; and Zembo Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Harrisburg. He is also identified with the Knights of Malta, the B. P. O. Elks, the Royal Arcanum, and the Artisans. Both he and his wife hold member- ship in the First Presbyterian Church of York.

Mr. Kyle is descended from stanch Scotch- Irish stock, and the original American progen- itors came hither from the North of Ireland. William Kyle, grandfather of our subject, set- tled in Maryland, where he passed the re- mainder of his life, a cabinetmaker by voca- tion. Samuel Kyle, father of the subject of this review, was born in Harford county, Md., and as a young man came to York county, lo- cating in Peach Bottom township, where he learned the carpenter and boat building trades. Afterward he became identified with farming and mercantile pursuits there until 1862, when he moved his family to Chanceford township, same county. There he followed farming until 1864, when he removed with his family to York, the county seat, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits. He continued there until his death, which occurred in 1891, at which time he was sixty-seven years of age. His wife, whose maiden name was Amanda Ar- nold, was born and reared in York county, and her death occurred in 1893, at the age of six- ty-three years. She was a daughter of Will- iam Arnold, who was a well known and influ- ential farmer of Peach Bottom township; her brother, John Arnold, was the pioneer slater of Lancaster, Pa. Samuel and Amanda (Ar- nold) Kyle became the parents of six children, concerning whom we incorporate brief record at this juncture: Juliann died in infancy ; William John died at the age of fifteen years ; Clara died at the age of three years; Howard died in 1885, at the age of twenty-five years ; Elmer is a successful practicing physician in Philadelphia; and Gilbert H. is the subject of this sketch.

Gilbert H. Kyle was born in Peach Bot- tom township, York county, April 21, 1856, and in that locality his early educational train- ing was secured in the public schools, which he attended until he attained the age of fifteen years. Then he entered a printing office in York, Pa., and began his thorough and prac- tical apprenticeship in the "art preservative of all arts.' A few years later he became the assistant editor and manager of the Herald, a weekly paper published at Delta, York

On Oct. 27, 1888, Mr. Kyle was united in marriage to Miss Alice M. Bradley, daughter of Jason Bradley, a well known contracting painter and paper-hanger of Fawn Grove, this county. Mrs. Kyle is a lineal descendant of the great lexicographer, Noah Webster, and further than this the lineage is traced back to one of the royal families of Europe. Mr. and Mrs. Kyle have three children : Howard Brad- ley. Mildred Arnold and Donald. the former a student at the York County Academy, and the two latter attending the public schools.

JACOB H. SIELING, M. D. As a repre- sentative physician and surgeon of York county, and also a native son of this section of the Keystone Commonwealth. Dr. Sieling is well entitled to consideration in this

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

historic compilation. He was born near the village of Shrewsbury, in Hopewell township, York county, Jan. 15, 1851, son of Henry and Eliza. ( Small) Sieling.

The Doctor's father was born in the town of Holtorf, Germany. When he was a lad of ten years his parents emigrated to America and -came to York county, settling in 1836 n Hopewell township, where they passed the re- mainder of their lives. In that township he was reared to manhood, and he continued to re- side on the old homestead farm there until his death, in 1873, in the forty-sixth year of his age. He was one of the leading farmers of that portion of the county and as a progressive and loyal citizen, and a man of sterling integ- rity of purpose, he ever commanded the high regard of those with whom he came in con- tact in the various relations of life. He was a stanch Democrat in politics and his religious faith was that of the Reformed Church. Mrs. Eliza Sieling, an estimable and much loved woman, was born and reared in York county, dying Jan. 18, 1905. Of her children five sons and two daughters are living.

Dr. Sieling was reared to the sturdy dis- cipline of the home farm and secured his rudi- mentary education in the district school in the vicinity, and at Shrewsbury Academy. Later he continued his studies in the Normal School at Millersville, where he was a student for three years, and after leaving that institution lie was successfully engaged in teaching for nine years. Then he learned the trade of car- penter, to which he devoted his attention for two years. His tastes and ambition, however, led him to seek a wider field of endeavor, and he accordingly took up the study of medicine, matriculating in a medical college in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, where he ably fortified himself for the practical work of his chosen profession. He was graduated as a member of the class of 1877. receiving his coveted degree of Doctor of Medicine. For the ensu- ing seven years he was successfully established in practice at Brickerville, Lancaster Co., Pa., and he then gave evidence of his professional enthusiasm by entering the College of Physi- cians and Surgeons of Baltimore, Md., where he did very effective work in further preparing himself for the great responsibilities devoly- ing upon him as a physician and surgeon, being a student in the institution about one year and being graduated therefrom as a mem-

ber of the class of 1886. Locating in Man- heim, Lancaster Co., Pa., he remained there until 1899, meantime building up a large prac- tice. Then he removed to York, where he has gained unmistakable prestige in professional ranks, meeting with gratifying success and having a patronage of representative charac- ter. He is still interested in husbandry, being the possessor of the old home farm known as "Yonts' Delight," a tract of nearly three hun- dred acres of fine farming land in southern York county, near Shrewsbury, which has been in the family continuously for over 125 years, according to the old patent office indent- ures.

In matters political the Doctor, though a stanch Republican, has not been active, though he has ever been loyal to all the duties of citi- zenship, but never an aspirant for office of public nature. Fraternally he is identified with a number of societies, holding membership in Zeredatha Lodge, No. 451, F. & A. M., and in the gracious organization known as the "Feast of Roses," in Manheim, Lancaster county, the object of the latter organization being to offer an annual tribute to the memory of Baron H. W. Steigel, of Germany, who in 1770 donated a tract of land to the Lutheran Church for the annual rental of one red rose.

Dr. Sieling's wife, Catherine Hess Sieling, was born Sept. 7, 1859, daughter of Levi Wissler, of Lincoln, Lancaster Co., Pa., a prominent and unassuming farmer. Dr. and Mrs. Sieling are prominent and zealous mem- bers of the Lutheran Church. They have two daughters, the older one, Fanny W. Sieling, a graduate of Manheim high school, class of 1895, and the State Normal School at Millers- ville, from which she graduated in the class of 1897. She has been teaching for nine years. The second daughter, Mary C., graduated from Manheim high school in 1898, from Pennsylvania College, Gettysburg, Pa., with the class of 1903, and took her A. B. degree from Cornell, class of 1904. She is now in her second year in the medical department at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, Maryland.

SAMUEL WEISER ZIEGLER is a grandson of Charles Ziegler, who was a prom- inent wheelwright of Gettysburg, Pennsylva- nia.

David Ziegler, father of Samuel W., who

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BIOGRAPHICAL

was a contracting carpenter, was born in Get- of education, culture and personal attractive- tysburg, but died in York, in 1899, aged sev- ness. The children of this marriage were : Elizabeth, who married Dr. Edwin Dodson ;. Sarah, Mrs. E. Beaumont ; Edward E .; Wil- liam; and Wesley and John, who died in in- fancy. enity-two years. He married Anna Weiser, daughter of Samuel Weiser, a farmer and dis- tiller of York. They became the parents of eight children, of whom two daughters died in early childhood. The survivors are: Lucy H .; R. William, a druggist of York; Edgar D., a carpenter of York ; Albert L., a druggist of York; C. Walter, of the Flinchbaugh Man- ufacturing Co., and Samuel Weiser, a teacher in the High school of York.

Samuel Weiser Ziegler was born in Get- tysburg, and removing to York in early boy- hood, was educated in the schools of the latter city, graduating from the York High school in 1883, and afterward studying under private tutors. Mr. Ziegler began teaching in Sep- tember, 1883. and has been a teacher in York from that time to this. He was elected an as- sistant in the York High school in 1893, and in 1894 was elected instructor in mathe- matics, of which department he continues to have charge, and he has also taught language and science.

Mr. Ziegler is a member of St. Paul's Luth- eran Church, and was for a time secretary of the Sunday-school. In politics he is a Demo- crat. and is justly esteemed one of the most progressive educators in the city of York.

EDWARD E. ALLEN, of Shrewsbury, an active member of the Bar of York county, was born Sept. 28, 1863, at Liberty. Md., son of Rev. Edward E. and Elizabeth (Wiley) Allen. Edward Allen, his paternal grand- father, was born and reared in Virginia, while his maternal grandfather, George Wiley, was a prominent farmer of York county, Penn- sylvania.

Rev. Edward E. Allen, the father of Ed- ward E., was born in. 1804, died May 28, 1872. and was buried at Baltimore, Md. He was a prominent clergyman of the M. E. Church, was connected with the Baltimore conference for a number of years and then united with the Pennsylvania conference. Rev. Mr. Allen was first married to Sarah Wilson, and they had two children: Mary (who married James Campbell. of Baltimore), and Thomas. For. Blake, Sr., who was one of the early settlers liis second wife he married Elizabeth Wiley, of Lancaster county, where he resided until the time of his death, having been a blacksmith by trade but having taken up land in that sec- tion and developed a valuable farm. The who died in 1870. Prior to her marriage to Rev. Edward Allen she had been a teacher in the Williamsport Seminary and was a woman

Edward E. Allen enjoyed the advantages of a cultured home, and his schooling was mainly obtained in the city of Baltimore. He settled at Shrewsbury in 1885, where he ac- cepted the principalship of its academy, and the following year was admitted to the bar, having continued in active practice ever since and met with the success that attends upon. ability and persevering effort.

In 1887 Mr. Allen was married to Beulah WV. Koller. daughter of Hon. B. F. Koller, of Shrewsbury, Pa. One child has blessed this union, Edward E., Jr. In religious belief both Mr. and Mrs. Allen are members of the M. E. Church. Fraternally he is a member of Shrewsbury Lodge, No. 423, A. F. & A. M., and past master of that body ; also a member of New Freedom Lodge, K. of P. (and of the Uniformed Rank), as well as of the Hepta- sophis, of New Freedom.

THADDEUS A. BLAKE, D. D. S .. is numbered among the representative members of the dental profession in York county, con- trolling a large practice in the city of York, and having the distinctive priority of being the oldest member of his profession in said city. where he has maintained his home for the past quarter of a century, being held in high esteem as a citizen and being also one of the honored veterans of the war of the Rebellion.

Dr. Blake claims the old Keystone State as the place of his nativity. since he was born near the village of Little Britain, Lancaster county, Pa .. April 30, 1846. His father, Na- than Blake, was born in Fulton township, that county, in 1817, and was identified with the great basic art of agriculture, being one of the honored and well known citizens of Lancaster county until April, 1851, when he moved to Winterstown, York county, and there engaged in farming until his death, in 1896. He bore the full patronymic of his father, Nathan

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

maiden name of Dr. Blake's mother was Ma- gaged in practice until 1879, since which time tilda McVitta, and she was born in Lancaster he has made his home and professional head- quarters in the city of York, where he controls a large and representative practice, based on popular appreciation and regard gained to him during the long years of his work here, while, as before intimated, he stands as the honored dean of his profession in his home city. county. in 1823. being a daughter of another sterling pioneer. William McVitta, and her death occurred two years after that of her hus- band. Both were consistent members of the Methodist Church, and in politics the father was originally a Whig and later a Republican, ever taking a deep and intelligent interest in the questions and issues of the hour, and being a man of strong individuality, inflexible in- tegrity and insistent loyalty in all the relations of life.

Dr. Blake passed his boyhood days under the uneventful but grateful influences of the old homestead farm, to whose work he early began to contribute his quota, while his educa- tional advantages in a preliminary way were such as were afforded in the district schools, while later he continued his studies in Chance- ford Academy, in York county.

When the somber pall of Civil war fell over a divided nation Dr. Blake's youthful patriot- ism was roused to responsive protest and lie watched the trend of events with absorbing in- terest as the great conflict proceeded, while in August, 1864, at the age of eighteen years, hie tendered his services in defense of the Union, enlisting as a private in Company F. 3d Penn- sylvania Heavy Artillery, with which he pro- ceeded to Virginia, participating in a number of spirited engagements and continuing in ac- tive service until victory crowned the Union arms, and the greatest civil war of history was ended. He' received his honorable discharge in June, 1865, having been mustered out at Camp Hampton, Virginia.

The Doctor is a valued member of Sedg- wick Post. No. 37. Grand Army of the Re- public, and in politics he accords an uncompro- mising allegiance to the Republican party, though never a seeker of public office. Both he and his wife belong to the Lutheran Church.

On Sept. 15, 1872, Dr. Blake was united in marriage to Miss Helen McGuigan, a daugh- ter of Ambrose and Anna (Miller) McGui- gan, of Hopewell township. this county, where she was born, in 1851. Of the three children of this union two died when young, and the only survivor is Abbie M., wife of Ernest Aller, of York.

HON: J. FRANK ZORTMAN, one of the leading men of Newberry township, York county, was born in 1871, in Paradise town- ship, a son of David Zortman. The latter was born in 1848, in York county, and was reared and educated there. He enlisted in April, 1864, for service in the Civil war, entering Company B, 209th Regiment, P. V. I., and was mustered out in May. 1865, probably the youngest soldier in the command. He fol- lowed farming and blacksmithing in .Dover township for some time and now holds the po- sition of letter carrier at Dover. He married Anna Mary Altland, of Dover township, and they have two children : Ada, wife of Alvin R. Gross, of Dover township; and J. Frank.

After the close of his valiant and faithful military career our subject returned to Penn- sylvania and located in the western part of J. Frank Zortman was educated in the com- mon schools and a select school at Dover and fitted himself for the profession of teaching under the well-known educator, Prof. R. H. Bowersox. From 1887 until 1904 he followed teaching when not otherwise engaged. He as- sisted his father with farming until he was twenty-one years of age and then engaged in farming, in Dover township and Newberry township, for some seven years. In 1899 he York county, while some time elapsed ere he fully recovered his physical energies, his health having been materially impaired by his army service. He made a trip to western Ohio, where he remained for a time, after which he returned to Pennsylvania and finally, in 1869, located in the city of Baltimore, Md., where he began the study of dentistry in the office of Dr. W. W. Wilson, supplementing this disci- pline by a course of lectures in Baltimore Den- embarked in the agricultural implement busi- tal College, from which he came forth admir- ness in Newberrytown. Pa., where, by honesty, strict attention to his duties and uniform court- esy, he has established a large business. ably equipped for the work of his chosen pro- fession. He forthwith opened an office in Winterstown. York county, where he was en- From manhood Mr. Zortman has been a

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 94

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