History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 95

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

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I Franck Dortman

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BIOGRAPHICAL

Republican. Prior to his election to his present prominent position he had served three terms as justice of the peace, and is thoroughly ac- quainted with the needs and requirements of a public official.

On Nov. 3, 1904, Mr. Zortman was elected to the Pennsylvania Legislature, being one of the quartet of the first Republicans to be elected to that body in forty years. He also served · during the special session convened by the call of Gov. Samuel W. Pennypacker on Jan. 15, 1906, and adjourned Feb. 15, 1906. He has given faithful service to his constituents, who have reposed the utmost trust in him and have confidence in his judgment regarding all meas- ures pertaining to their welfare. His record for punctuality at all sessions seems to be com- plete, he having been present at every session of the House and always at his post of duty. Mr. Zortman is a man of ample means, and is interested in the York Haven Canning Fac- tory and the Independent Telephone Company, of York.

In 1890 Mr. Zortman married Mary A. Kunkle, daughter of Abraham and Sarah Kunkle, of Dover township, and they have two children : Elsie, born in 1892, and Pansy, born in 1897, both bright students at school.

Mr. Zortman's reputation is that of a man of sterling integrity, intellectual superiority and business ability. Personally he has a very wide circle of friends and admirers.

JOHN E. SLYDER, proprietor of the Seitzville mills of Codorus township, merchant and custom miller, near Larue station, is one of York county's active business men. He was born in 1862 at Hoffmanville, Baltimore Co., Md .. son of Frederick and Susan Slyder.

Frederick Slyder was a well known teacher in Baltimore county, where he lived to the age of thirty years. His wife survived until De- cember, 1900. Their only child was John E.

John E. Slyder attended the public schools of Hoffmanville until the age of fifteen years, and then followed farm work until his major- ity, when he went into the milling business. He learned the trade with J. D. Shearer, an uncle, in Carroll county, Md., with whom he remained three years, and then rented a mill for several years. In 1890 he went to Glen Rock, where he bought a mill property on which he lived until 1900, when he purchased the Seitz mill at Seitzville. This mill was erected in 1866 by N. Seitz, and is one of the

most substantial mills in the State. The out- put is an average of fifty barrels of flour a day, and a ready market is found in Baltimore and near by points. The mill is equipped with the best and most modern machinery, and its prod- ucts and by-products include all kinds of grain and seed compounds.

Mr. Slyder was united in marriage with Ida Jane Hare, a daughter of Abraham Hare, of Baltimore county, Md., and their children are : Mary C., wife of John Rudisell, of Seven Valley, who is employed in the mill; Mae E. and C. F.

In politics Mr. Slyder is a Republican. He is a member of the Lutheran Church of St. Peter's, Baltimore Co., Md., but attends church at Seven Valley, and plays the cornet in the choir. In addition to operating his large business he has a financial interest, being one of the stockholders, in the White Hall Grain, Milling and Supply Co., of Maryland.

In March, 1898, Mr. Slyder visited the Klondyke, and he has many interesting things to .tell of his adventures in that far-away re- gion. He crossed the North Pacific Ocean on a three-masted schooner, and after a voyage of twenty-nine days landed on Nunivak Island, in the Behring Sea, where the party built their own river steamer. They crossed the sea to the Yukon river, then up the river 800 miles, on up the Koyukuk river 800 more miles, where they began prospecting and mining. The company was known as the Alaska Union of Chicago, Il1. They were many miles north of the Arctic circle, where the thermom- eter often drops as low as 80 degrees below zero. With two companions. Mr. Slyder made a trip of over 800 miles in a row boat, taking eleven days and nights. He became a heavy stockholder in a number of promising mining properties in the northwest. Mr. Slyder has always enjoyed traveling and has been in thirty-two States and Territories, and in Can- ada and Mexico, besides many islands in the Pacific ocean. He has but recently returned from Florida, and is now contemplating a trip abroad.

AUGUSTUS C. HETRICK, M. D .. of Wellsville, York county, has been in continu- ous practice at that place for over forty-seven years. His record would be hard to duplicate, either in years of active professional work or extent of usefulness.

Dr. Hetrick represents an old family which

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

has been settled in Codorus township, this county, since the emigration of his great- grandfather from Switzerland. Jacob Hetrick was one of three brothers who came to the United States in the latter part of the eigh- teenth century, landing at New York, and he settled in Codorus township, York Co., Pa., where his descendants still flourish. There his son Christian Hetrick, the Doctor's grand- father, was born, and there he passed his life, successfully engaged in farming, at one time owning 1,700 acres of fertile farming land. He was prominent in his locality in other re- spects, and took an active part in public affairs, serving four years as a member of the State Legislature. He had three sons, Jacob, Jeffer- son and Christian W., the last named being the Doctor's father.

Christian W. Hetrick was born in Codorus township in 1779, and became a prominent farmer and drover, following that business all his life. He died in 1858, and is buried at St. Jacob's Church, in Codorus township. He married Henrietta Woolfram, daughter of Au- gustus and Eva Woolfram, of Codorus town- ship, and nine children were born to them: John, who was prothonotary and clerk of com- missioners for a number of years, and died in York: Edmund, a farmer and drover of Co- dorus township: Augustus C .; Rev. A. J., a graduate of Princeton, who preached for a number of years to the emigrants, as they landed at Castle Garden, N. Y .; Hezekiah, de- ceased; Abraham, a policeman of Baltimore, Md. ; Tillman, a well-known tinsmith of Man- heim township; Octavius, a farmer of Codo- rus ; and Elma, living in Codorus.

Augustus C. Hetrick was born Jan. II, 1835, in Codorus township, and was reared there. He pursued his professional studies at the Ohio College of Medicine, graduating with honors in 1858, and at once settled in Wells- ville, where he has ever since remained in ac- tive practice. In addition to attending to the ordinary round of professional duties he was for five years examining surgeon for the United States government, and he has con- tinued in spite of hard work to be an indefati- gable reader and student, and has accumulated a large and comprehensive library. He has answered all the demands of an unusually ex- tensive practice faithfully and skillfully, and the love and esteem which are his are the re- sult of lifelong devotion to the calls of the most arduous of all the professions.

Dr. Hetrick was married Feb. 15, 1860, to Amanda N. Hayward, daughter of Dr. J. J. and Sally Hayward, and they have had five children, namely: Kermie H., of Mechanics- burg, York county: Russie M., deceased; Dr. H. B., who practices in Rossville : Annie L., who is a druggist at Wellsville ; and Effie, Mrs. Hoff, of Lykens, Pa. The Doctor clings to the faith of his Quaker ancestors, and attends the old Friends meeting-house near Rossville. In politics he sympathizes with the Democratic party, but his large practice and his devotion to books have left him little time for public affairs, and he has never found it convenient to accept any of the many official honors which have been tendered him.

GEORGE F. SHIVE, president of the Codorus Canning Company, of Jefferson bor- ough, York county, is one of the substantial and representative business men of this section. He was born in Dover township, in 1851, son of George F. Shive, Sr.

George F. Shive, Sr., was a tanner by trade, which he followed in Dover and North Codorus townships, until his death in his sixty- eighth year. He married Rebecca Sheaffer, who died aged sixty-four years, and they are both interred at Prospect Hill cemetery. They had children as follows: Albert, Samuel, John, Amos, Henry, Ellen (deceased), George F. and Daniel.

George F. Shive attended the schools of North Codorus township, and when a young man began his business career as a clerk in the store of Henry Bott, at Seven Valley. There he remained three years, after which he went to York New Salem with Schwartz & Sons, with whom he continued four years. His first business venture was at York New Salem, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits, con- tinuing there three years, after which he lo- cated in Jefferson borough, and opened a gen- eral store, becoming one of the leading busi- ness men of the borough. He retired from this business April 1, 1902, turning the business over to his sons, who are operating it under the old name, George F. Shive & Sons. A full line of goods of all kinds is carried by these enterprising young men, and the trade extends for many miles around.

George F. Shive married Miss Maggie Snyder. daughter of John B. Snyder, and to this union these children have been born : Mil- lard, the head of the firm, married Lizzie Myer,

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BIOGRAPHICAL

and has one child, George Niles; Elwood, also a member of the firm, is single; and Fred, the youngest, is with Fulton Mehring & Co., of New York. The postoffice was formerly sit- uated in the Shive's store, and George F. was postmaster. Mr. Shive was one of the pro- moters of the Codorus Canning Co., and was elected its president, a position he has since held. This company cans corn, beans, toma- toes, apples, pumpkins, catsup, etc., and the plant is 40x212 feet, two stories high, and is fitted out with the latest and best improved machinery. It is situated along the Western Maryland railroad. From seventy-five to one hundred and fifty hands are employed, and the daily capacity of the factory is 4,000 cans. Mr. Shive is also on the board of directors of the Drovers' and Mechanics' Bank of York.

In politics Mr. Shive is a Republican, and he served his borough as chief burgess, council- man and school director. He is a Lutheran, in religion, and in the work of the church he takes an active part.

DANIEL IMMEL (deceased). for many years very prominent in business and financial circles of York, Pa., was born in that city in 1810, and was a descendant of an old family of good old German stock.

John Leonard Immel was born Nov. 17, 1702, at Wernetz, Rothenburg-on-the-Tauber, and his wife Margaret was born July 5, 1714, at Watzendorf, Germany. He came to Amer- ica in 1732, locating in York county, where she settled in 1733. On November 26th of the latter year they were married, and eight chil- dren were born to the union : George Michael, in 1735: Anna Margaret, 1736: Barbara, 1738; Christian, April, 1742; John, March 25, 1744: Sybilla, March 25, 1748; Maria M., April 4. 1745; and Eva Maria, Dec. 4, 1756. Of the above family five children were mem- bers of the Moravian Church of York, with which the parents were also connected. John Leonard Immel died Dec. 29, 1777, and was buried on the 31st of the same month.

Daniel Immel, the father of the York con- tractor and builder, was a farmer in Spring Garden township, near York, and a highly es- teemed citizen. He married Elizabeth Streber, daughter of Peter Streber. Mr. Immel died very young, his wife surviving until her sev- entieth year. They had a family of three chil- dren : John, Alexander and Daniel, all de- ceased.

Daniel Immel received a common school education, and learned the carpenter's trade. He engaged in the contracting and building business for many years in York, being em- ployed in that line at the time of his death in 1884. He married (first) Susan Weiser, by whom he had two children, Albert W. and Catherine. His second marriage was to Anna Maria Peiffer, daughter of Christopher and Elizabeth (Hyde) Peiffer, and she died at the age of sixty-three years. Both were buried at the Prospect Hill cemetery. Of their children George, who married Ida Herman, is a printer of York ; and Miss M. Florence resides at No. 538 West Market street, York.

LEONARD WALLER, a genial and well-known hotel-keeper of Hellam township, York county, has had an extensive and varied business experience, and is a large property owner, having many interests besides his hotel.

Mr. Waller was born Feb. 17, 1840, in Marietta, Lancaster Co .. Pa. His father, Jolin Waller, was born in Germany, and came to America as a boy, locating in Marietta, Pa., where he worked in a distillery and was vari- ously employed for many years. He married, in Marietta, Sarah Shields, daughter of Leon- ard Shields, a native of that place, of Scotch- Irish descent. John Waller died at the age of fifty-four, and his widow survived six months. They had children as follows: Frederick, who is now a retired butcher of Marietta; Susan, who married Thomas Cummings, of Lancas- ter, Pa .; John, who was a soldier in the Civil war, was wounded in the hip at the battle of Chancellorsville, and died at Harrisburg. Pa .; Leonard, who is mentioned below; Sarah, who married George Rudesill, of Marietta ; George, who served in the Civil war, in the 122d Penn- sylvania Regiment, was wounded in the leg at Chancellorsville, and died at Lykens, Pa. ; Catherine, who married John Deichler, and lives in Philadelphia, a widow : and Emma, widow of John Huberg, who lives in Lancas- ter.

Leonard Waller grew to manhood in his native place, and obtained his education in the common schools. His parents died when he was sixteen. After leaving school he began to learn the trade of butcher, but giving that up became a pilot on the Susquehanna river, between Lock Haven and Peach Bottom. He followed that calling for over thirty years, and then went into the liquor business in Marietta,

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

where he continued five years. He then began his career as a hotel man, in which business he has since been successfully engaged. For four years he was proprietor of the "Indian Queen ;" then he retired to private life for two years, and in 1895 moved to his present hotel. This delightful summer resort known as "Acco- mac." is situated on the York county side of the Susquehanna river, directly opposite Ma- rietta, and has direct communication with Ma- rietta by steam ferry. Mr. Waller bought this property in 1899, and has built up an enviable reputation as the genial landlord of a comfor- table house. Fine bass and salmon fishing is to be had here, and Mr. Waller has a shad fish- ery on the place, one of the largest along the river.

Mr. Waller is a veteran of the Civil war, and saw service at Chancellorsville and Washi- ington. He enlisted Aug. 12, 1862, at Harris- burg for nine months' service, becoming cor- poral in Company H. 135th P. V. I. His brothers, John and George, were also in the Union army, John in the same company with Mr. Waller.

When twenty-three years of age, Mr. Wal- ler married Mary Jane Pearson, of Chestnut Hill, Lancaster county, daughter of William Pearson. They have two children : Emma Frances, Mrs. Robert Gitt, of Harrisburg; and John M., in business with his father, married to Tillie Hogendobler. Mr. and Mrs. Waller attend the Methodist Church. Mr. Waller is a Republican in political faith.

ANDREW J. HAACK (deceased). Few men of York were better known in business cir- cles than the late Andrew J. Haack, a veteran of the Civil war, who for twenty-five years was engaged in the oil business. Mr. Haack's death occurred June 20, 1898, and he was buried at Prospect Hill cemetery. Of his brothers, Lieut. Charles Haack was killed in the Civil war; and William A., a carpenter of York, and Lewis R., a painter and paper hanger in the West, were also participants in the great con- flict.

Andrew J. Haack received a common school education and learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed six years, and then engaged in the oil business, both wholesale and retail, his establishment being on South Duke street for a period of twenty-five years.

and Cassie Ann (Innerst) Hartman, and to this union these children were born: Ida, the wife of Henry Schaale, a tailor of York; Charles F., who married Armeda Hassler, and continued his father's business; Minnie, wife of Edward Spangler; Clara, wife of Charles Alexander : Sadie, wife of Jacob Reigart ; Mag- gie, wife of Henry Drayer; Annie, married to Charles Levernite; and Grace B., living at home.

So closely has the Hartman family been identified with the business life of York coun- ty, that to write the history of one is practically to write the history of the other, and among the members of this family are to be found many of those energetic industrious men who have transformed the possibility of a busy, prosperous York county, into the reality.

The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Haack were Christian and Mary Innerst, and her paternal grandfather was Lewis Hartman. Jonathan Hartman, the father of Mrs. Haack, died Nov. 13. 1880, while his wife passed away Jan. 6. 1873. He had three brothers and one sister-George, Peter, Lewis and Leah. She also had three brothers and one sister-John, Jesse, Isaac and Mary, the latter of whom was the wife of ex-Sheriff James Peeling. Jona- than and Cassie Ann Hartman had a large family of children, namely: Hayman and Gideon, deceased; Enoch; Cain, deceased ; Abel; Aquilla; Paris; Peter and Oreb. deceased : Julia Ann, the wife of Frank- lin Geesey; Sarah, the wife of William Grim, and Rebecca, the wife of William Bly- mire, both deceased; Lydia, the wife of Isaac Minnich, deceased; Cassie Ann, the widow of Andrew J. Haack; Lavina, the wife of Chris- tian Eberly ; Priscilla, the wife of Samuel Conaway: Barbara, who married Charles Fix. and Abel Van Buren. Jonathan Hartman was one of the best known citizens of York county, and at the time of his death was holding the position of justice of the peace for Dallastown, a position he had filled there and in York town- ship for forty years.

Mr. Haack was a Republican in his politi- cal sympathies, but never entered the political field, and although very popular with his fel- low townsmen would never accept public office. Mrs. Haack resides at No. 428 South Duke street, York.

In 1863 Mr. Haack was united in marriage with Cassie Hartman, daughter of Jonathan of internal revenue, was born in York, Aug.

MICHAEL SMYSER, deputy collector

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BIOGRAPHICAL

7. 1840, son of Michael and Eliza (Lanius) Smyser.

Jacob Smyser, the grandfather of Michael, was born, in the city of York, and there lived and died. His tannery was a well-known land-mark.

Michael Smyser, son of Jacob and father of Michael, was a farmer of York county, where he died in 1874, aged seventy-five years. His wife was Eliza Lanius, an aunt of Capt. WV. H. Lanius. To Michael Smyser and his wife nine children were born. of whom the fol- lowing are deceased: Jacob, who died at the age of twenty-nine years; Dr. Henry L., who died in 1902, at the age of seventy-one years ; Ellen, who married Rev. Hagen, a Moravian clergyman of New York; and Eliza, who mar- ried S. B. Barnitz and died in York. The sur- vivors of this family are: Annie M., widow of D. F. Williams, of York; Albert, a retired lumber merchant and tanner of York: Thomas C., a retired tanner of York; Lewis E., a coal and lumber merchant of York; and Michael.

Michael Smyser was educated in York and at John Beck's celebrated school at Lititz, Lan- caster county. His first occupation was in the drug business at Pittsburg, and later five years at Baltimore. In August, 1861, he enlisted for a term of three years, as a member of Com- pany F, 87th P. V. I., and was made commis- sary sergeant. Mr. Smyser's record as a sol- dier was one to be eminently proud of. On June 24, 1863, he was made prisoner at Win- chester and for two months was confined at Libby prison and at Belle Isle. At the close of the war, Mr. Smyser went West, but re- turned to York and engaged in the lumber and planing mill business. He then entered the hardware business, engaging in that occupa- tion from 1870 until 1888, when he entered the internal revenue service as deputy collec- tor, and has continued in that capacity to the present time, with the exception of the period covered by President Cleveland's administra- tions.

Mr. Smyser was married Jan. 10, 1857. to Annie E. Straughn, daughter of James Straughn, of Cambridge, Md., and six chil- dren have been born to this union : James S., a salesman; Clara L., at home: Willis L., a druggist : Edmund P., shipping clerk at Black's Hosiery Mills: Annie Grace, a school teacher at York : and Elsie May, a music teacher. Mr. Smyser is a member of the Union Veteran Le-

gion, No. 65, of York, which he is now adju- tant, and is a past colonel. He is an earnest member of the M. E. Church, and has been steward and superintendent of the Sunday- school of the Princess Street Church. In poli- tics Mr. Smyser is a stanchi and unflinching Republican, and he stands high in public es- teem, his views being given consideration in all public matters.

JOHN H. COOVER (deceased), for many years one of the substantial farmers of Monaghan township, York county, was born on the old Coover farm, near Farley's Church, in Monaghan township, Oct. 9, 1821, son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Morett ) Coover.

The Coover family are of German descent. the grandfather coming from Germany, and settling in York county at an early date. He reared a large family, among whom was Ja- cob, the father of John H.

Jacob Coover settled in Monaghan town- ship when a young man, and purchased a tract of 300 acres or more, near Farley's Church, where he had the following children : Levi; Susan, married to Christian Bow- man; Michael: Mary, married to John Lei- dich; Jacob: Mrs. Eliza Mumber: John H .: Mrs. Sarah Harman ; Samuel; Mrs. Catherine Hyde; and Daniel. In their religious views Jacob Coover and his wife were members of the Lutheran Church, while in politics Mr. Coover was a stanch Whig.

John H. Coover remained at home until he reached his majority. He chose farming as his life pursuit, working upon the home prop- erty until 1860, when he purchased the farm now owned by his widow. There he farmed with success until his death, Sept. 11, 1897. his burial being in Monaghan township. Mr. Coover was a man highly respected in his com- munity, and in his death the township lost a useful citizen.

On June 30, 1859, Mr. Coover married Mary Ann Moser, daughter of Jacob Moser. Mrs. Coover was born in Amity township. Berks county, and as her father died when she was about ten years old she went to live with her brother, Judge Henry G. Moser. The chil- dren born to Mr. and Mrs. Coover were as fol- lows: Anna E., born July 18, 1861. married John Beisline, of Mechanicsburg, and they have one child, May; Elizabeth J. and Henry M. (twins) died when they were eight months

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

old; John M., born April 25, 1874, educated in the common schools of Monaghan township, remained at home until 1896, when he went to Illinois, and engaged in the warehouse busi- ness until 1903, in that year removing to Lou- isiana, where he continued that line, but is now at Morse. La., in the rice business (he married Cora Hutton who was born in Shep- herdstown, Cumberland county). In religion Mrs. Coover is a member of the Lutheran Church. She is a woman of marked personal charms, and enjoys the friendship of a large circle who love her many estimable traits of character.

DAVID MURRAY COLLINS, one of the well known citizens and prosperous farm- ers of East Hopewell township, York county, was born Nov. 12. 1848, on the farm he now owns, and on which he has passed the greater portion of his life. His parents were John and Margaret Jane ( Wilson ) Collins.

Jolin Collins, the father, was born March 22, 1795, on the farm in East Hopewell town- ship now known as the Robert Wilson place, and on which his father settled. He farmed all his life. After his marriage he located on the farm where David M. Collins was born, and there he died Dec. 12, 1885. He was an edu- cated man for his day, and was prominent in township and church affairs. A Whig in early life, later he became a Republican. He took much interest in the U. P. Church in which he was an elder. He married Margaret Jane Wil- son, born in Fawn township close to Gatchell- ville, and she died in 1891, aged eighty-five years. The children of John Collins and wife were: John H., deceased, who married Eliza- beth Anderson ; Elinor, wife of Archibald Hy- son, of York township; Margaret Jane, un- married; James W., of Fenmore Station, a veteran of the Civil war, in which he served in Company B, First battalion, and later (second enlistment) in the 21st Pa. Cavalry (he mar- ried Anna S. Wilson) : Elizabeth G., Mrs. Aquila Bartel, of Hopewell township; and David M.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 95

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