History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 97

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

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Col. Drenning is prominent in fraternal circles, being a member of the F. & A. M., Riverside Lodge, No. 503, Wrightsville, of which he is past master; a member of the Golden Eagles, Wrightsville; a member and past commander of Lieut. R. W. Smith Post, No. 270, G. A. R., and now serving his sec- ond term as colonel on the staff of the depart- ment commander of the G. A. R. of the De-

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

partment of Pennsylvania. He was made tain. He was captain of his company when, in notary public to serve from Feb. 27, 1900, for five years. Col. Drenning is not a church member, but was reared in the doctrines of the Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a Dem- ocrat, although he cast his first vote for Lin- coln. His second Presidential ballot went for Gen. McClellan. Col. Drenning is active in town affairs; has served twice as chief burgess of the council, twice as constable and twice as member of the school board, having filled every office in the gift of his fellow-citizens. His fortune was once told by a gypsy, who warned him that as a seventh son he would never die in bed ; otherwise, he appears to have been born under a lucky star.

CAPT. JOHN H. DRENNING is a son of John and. Mary A. (Heppenstall) Drenning, and was born in Wrightsville, Aug. 6, 1865; his widowed mother is still living there. When John H. Drenning was eight years of age his parents moved to Chanceford township, where he was brought up on the farm until he was fifteen years of age, when they returned to Wrightsville. His educational opportunities were few and his school days were much inter- rupted. His first teacher was Mr. Woods, well known in the country schools, who was then teaching in Chanceford township. Mr. Dren- ning never attended any but country schools, but supplemented their training by hard study at home, and he has never outgrown his studi- ous habits. He acquired a thorough knowledge of farming, as he was obliged to work at that vocation early and late, from the time he was a boy. At sixteen he was apprenticed to the cigar trade with S. R. Kocher, and then worked as journeyman under Jacob Kline, D. S. Det- wiler and Jacob Lessing in Hellam, having pursued that trade at intervals ever since. He also learned the business of house-painting and paper-hanging, and acquired considerable skill as a carpenter, doing inside finishing and be- ing able to turn his hand to many kinds of work connected with house-building.

At the age of eighteen Mr. Drenning en- listed in Company I, 8th Pa. N. G., for five years. During that period he was promoted to the rank of corporal and re-enlisted for three years, rising to the rank of quarter-mas- ter sergeant. After serving his term he again re-enlisted for three years, was again promoted to the position of quarter-master sergeant, then to that of first lieutenant, and finally cap-

April, 1898, the regiment was ordered to Mt. Gretna to be mustered into service for duty in the Spanish-American war. In that capacity he went with his company to Camp Alger, Va .. where the troops remained from May 18th until the latter part of August, when they were ordered to Camp Mead, at Middletown, Pa. Thence they were ordered in November to Camp Augusta, Ga., where they remained until spring, being held as reserves in readiness to take the field. Peace being declared they were mustered out March 17, 1899. Mr. Dren- ning then returned home, and has not since resumed his connection with the militia, his health having been impaired by the exposure and hardship of camp lite. He had seen active service before the war, having been on duty, at the head of his company, during the home- stead riots and the strike at Hazleton.

Previous to the war Capt. Drenning had been in business for himself as a cigar manu- facturer, but left his private interests to an- swer his country's call. After his return he took the position of foreman in the cigar fac- tory of B. F. Able, at Hellam, and remained there until 1902, when he again established himself in business. He manufactures a fine grade of five and ten cent cigars, and has estab- lished a good trade, now employing eight hands steadily throughout the year.

Capt. Drenning married, in Wrightsville, Elinora Ruby, daughter of George and Susan (Arnold) Ruby. They have three children, as follows: Stuart R .; John W., born Feb. 14, 1892; and Catherine R., born Dec. 17, 1903. Capt. Drenning votes the Democratic ticket, and does what he can for party interests, albeit he is no politician. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Chihuahua Lodge, No. 317, and the Encampment, at York, and in religion is affili- ated with the Methodist Church. He began life as a poor boy and had no outside aid in his struggle for success but founded his own for- tune by steady industry and by energetic appli- cation to whatever he undertook.

JOHN C. GEHLY. The Gehly family has been resident in Pennsylvania since at least the middle of the eighteenth century. but at that period was identified with Lancaster county, and it was not until after 1800 that it was first represented in York county by John Gehly, grandfather of John C. Gehly.

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BIOGRAPHICAL

John Gehly was born in Lancaster county, near Ephrata, in 1777, but migrated to York county in early manhood. He located in Wind- sor township, married Annie Lehman, whose father, Frederick Lehman, also came originally from Lancaster county, and became a farmer of prominence, also following his trade as a cooper. He was a Whig in politics, and a Mennonite in religious belief. He died June 18, 1846, and was buried on his farm in the Gehly burying ground, which he had himself located there. The children born to him and his wife were: Lydia, Mrs. John Wallick, who died in East York; David, who lived only six- teen years; Daniel L .; Mary, Mrs. John E. Beard, who died in lower Windsor township, aged thirty-nine. Frederick Lehman, Mrs. Gehly's father, moved to York county when a young man, married there, and settled on the farm now occupied by John C. Gehly, where Mrs. Gehly was born.

Daniel Lehman Gehly was born in Windsor township, Oct. 15, 1807, and was brought up on his father's farm. He was sent to private schools and made the most of his opportunities, being naturally a student and deep thinker. He learned the process of making woolen goods which was then used, worked at mills in dif- ferent places and became both well known and highly esteemed. He was active in public af- fairs, was a colonel of militia, and in 1846 was elected on the Whig ticket to the Assembly. where, however, nearly all his colleagues were Democrats. He was an ardent Whig until the Republican party was formed and then adopted its principles, having always been opposed to slavery. In religious belief he was a Mennonite. Daniel L. Gehly was married in 1834 to Mar- garetta Ann Dosch, who was born in Lower Windsor township in 1834. her father being John C. Dosch, a prominent farmer there and a colonel in the militia. The children born to this union were: Benjamin D., deceased at sixteen years; Mary M., Mrs. John Forry, of Philadelphia : John C .; Jacob, who died in in- fancy; Sarah Ann, deceased; Daniel W., of Freysville; Amos L., deceased at the age of twenty-nine; and Theodore H., who operates a carpet establishment in York. The father of the family passed away at his home in 1890 and his wife died ten years later.

John C. Gehly was born on a farm adjoin- ing his present home, Oct. 16, 1839. He was sent to the common schools at first, and was

taught by Daniel G. Kaufman and by Rev. Benjamin Hengst, of York. Later he entered the Millersville Normal, then directed by Prof. James Wickersham, and was graduated at the age of twenty. One of his fellow students was an ex-Senator, Harvey Haines. Mr. Gehly began teaching while still a normal stu- dent, and was only eighteen years of age when he took charge of his first school in Hellam township. He taught the Hellam school for two terms, and then one each at Windsor and Levergoods, in Hellam township, and in his home district. Meantime, his vacations from the time he was ten years old, had been spent about his father's woolen mill and he had also helped on the farm during haying and harvest- ing seasons. In the mill he gained. experience, later of much value to him. At that time the neighboring farmers all raised sheep, brought the rolls of wool to the mill where they were carded and woven into yarn, and then the yarn was made into dress goods by the farmers' wives.

At the age of twenty-one Mr. Gehly re- moved to Clark county, Ohio, and worked on a farm and in a flour mill from the spring of 1862 until the fall of 1864, during which period he married. Returning home, he went into his father's woolen factory at a time when the business was greatly enlarging, and has been connected with it ever since. After his father's death he took entire charge of the mills and farm for his mother, and since she too died, in 1900, they have been his own prop- erty and have absorbed his entire attention. At the time of his mother's death he was serv- ing as deputy revenue collector, a position he held one year and three months. Mr. Gehly has always been an active Republican, and cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. He filled the office of school director for one term, but has had little time for public service. Reared in the Mennonite Church, he is not a member of any denomination.

Mr. Gehly's first wife to whom lie was unit- ed Nov. 24, 1863, was Mary C. Brewer, born and reared in Clark county, Ohio, daughter of Peter J. and Kesiah ( Mowdy) Brewer. Her father was born in Clear Spring, Washington county, Md., in 1818, and in 1840, with his wife, who was a native of the same place. he started by wagon for Ohio, and there all their children were born. He was the son of Jacob Brewer, who married a Miss Herr and prob-

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

ably migrated originally from Lancaster county. Mrs. Mary ( Brewer) Gehly died at the homestead in 1896, and is buried in the family graveyard on the farm. She was the mother of the following children : Mary M., Mrs. Morris T. Olewiler, of Red Lion; Nora B., unmarried; D. Brewer, secretary of the Cambria Iron Co. at their offices in Phila- delphia ; John L., proprietor of the Palace Horseshoeing Shop, of Fairmount avenue, Philadelphia; Elmer E., a carpenter in that city. On Aug. 28, 1898, Mr. Gehly again married, his second wife being Mrs. Savilla Stauffer, widow of David F. Stauffer; her maiden name was Wanbaugh. By her former husband she was the mother of sixteen children, of whom nine are living, as follows : William F., of Lower Windsor township; Anna, who married Leander Kissinger, of East York: John, of York county; Martha, Cora and Elizabeth, all unmarried; Nettie, who married William Ellicker, of Dillsburg, Pa .; Charles E., of Venango county ; and Silas, at home.

CHARLES KOHLER is recognized as a representative business man of the county, with whose history the family has been prominently identified since the latter half of the eighteenth century, when its pioneer members located in the wilds of that section and identified them- selves with the development and upbuilding of what is now one of the most attractive and favored divisions of the old Keystone State. Mr. Kohler stands at the head of the firm of Charles Kohler & Co., manufacturers of cigar boxes, Dallastown, and is one of those alert, progressive and public-spirited citizens who have made the borough one of the important commercial, industrial and civic centers of his native county, while his course has been such as to firmly retain the confidence and good will of all who know him, or have had dealings with his concern.

The Kohler family has been influential in York county for more than a century, and the name has ever stood for integrity of character and for marked business acumen and loyal citi- zenship. George and Catherine Kohler, grand- parents of Charles, were born and reared in York township and there passed their entire lives, the former having been a farmer by vo- cation. Jacob and Mary ( Seachrist ) Kohler, parents of Charles, likewise passed their entire

lives in York township, the father a farmer and miller and one of the influential citizens of the township. He died at the age of sixty- six years, and his wife passed away in May, 1861, aged fifty-three years. Both were de- voted members of the Lutheran Church, and the father was a stanch Democrat in his po- litical proclivities. They became the parents of eight children, of whom our subject was the youngest, while of the others it is recorded that Adam died Nov. 27, 1904, a well known cigar manufacturer of Dallastown; Jacob is engaged in the same line of enterprise in Nashville, York county; John is a prosper- ous farmer of Chanceford township; Eli and George are deceased ; Leah became the wife of Henry Neff, and is deceased, as is also Cas- sandra, who was the wife of Henry Myers.

Charles Kohler was born on the home place, one and one-half miles south of the present borough of Dallastown, York township, Sept. 3, 1846, and there he was reared to maturity, having duly availed himself of the educational advantages afforded by the common schools of the locality, which he attended until he was eighteen years of age, when he secured a cler- ical position in the general store of Geesey & Barshinger, of Dallastown, an incumbency he retained for two years, and later for two years was with Barshinger & Kohler at Felton. In 1873 he located at Dallastown and engaged in the carriage business, establishing an excel- lent trade in the sale of vehicles and continu- ing the enterprise until 1880, when he sold out and engaged in the manufacture of cigar boxes at that place. He began operations upon a somewhat modest scale and gradually devel- oped the splendid business which he today con- trols, the firm of Charles Kohler & Co. being known to every cigar manufacturer of this sec- tion as one of the most reliable in its line, so that the supporting patronage is large and ap- preciative. The firm has a well equipped plant, in which about thirty individuals are employed, while the output capacity is 3,000 boxes per day. Mr. Kohler takes a deep interest in the progress and material prosperity of his home borough and has served as a member of the Dallastown council, while he has ever stood ready to lend his aid and influence in support of enterprises and undertakings for the general good. In politics he gives a stanch allegiance to the Democratic party, and both he and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church,

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BIOGRAPHICAL

while they enjoy unequivocal popularity in the tility. The residence on the place, constructed social circles of the community.

On Aug. 18, 1872, was solemnized the mar- riage of Mr. Kohler to Miss Emaline Geesey, who was born and reared in York township, being a daughter of Jonathan and Sarah (Flinchbaugh) Geesey. Mrs. Kohler is one of seven children, and it may be stated that her brother Adam F. is a resident of the city of York; Jonathan and Pius reside in Dallas- town ; John F. died in 1902 : Mary is the widow of Henry Barshinger and resides in York ; and Sarah is the wife of David Peters, of York. Mr. and Mrs. Kohler have one child, Phineas Latimer, who was born Feb. 20, 1879, and who is now associated with his father's business, being one of the popular young men of the borough.

WILLIAM T. BAHN is a representative farmer of York township, where he has a well- improved place which bears the unmistakable evidences of thrift and prosperity, and being a scion of stanch old pioneer stock in York county, is also specially worthy of considera- tion in this historical compilation. Mr. Bahn was born on a farm in York township, York county, on June 17, 1850, early became inured to the invigorating work of the home farm and duly availed himself of the advantages offered in the common schools of his native township. When about sixteen years of age he began what was essentially an apprenticeship at the car- penter's trade, in due time becoming a skill- ful artisan. In the meanwhile he was able to further satisfy his ambitions in the matter of securing more extended educational discipline by becoming a student in the York County Academy, where he remained for a short term. Here he made himself specially eligible for pedagogic honors, putting his scholastic at- tainments to practical test by successfully teach- ing for nineteen terms in North Codorus, Springfield and York townships. In 1890 he purchased what was known as the Gladfelter property, comprising eighty-eight acres of fine land in York and Springfield townships, and there he was successfully engaged in agricul- tural pursuits for the ensuing eleven years, when he disposed of that tract and purchased his present fine farm, known as the old Koliler homestead. This comprises 151 acres, the lo- cation in York township being most eligible and attractive and the soil of exceptional fer-

of wood and stone, has been greatly improved since he came into possession of the property. In its original form it was built in 1833 by Adam and Eva Leicht, who then owned the place. Mr. Bahn has brought distinctive en- ergy and discrimination to bear in conducting the various departments of his farming in- dustry, and has found the great basic art of ag- riculture well worthy of the attention which he has bestowed upon it, since through the goodly benefices thereof he has gained inde- pendence and prosperity of no equivocal order. He is a loyal and enterprising citizen, taking an intelligent interest in the affairs of the day and especially in local matters of a public na- ture ; he has never abated his strong hold on the confidence and esteem of the people of his native county, being there considered an ex- emplar of honor and usefulness in all the rela- tions of life. In politics he accords allegiance to the Democratic party, and has been called upon to serve in various positions of public trust, including those of township assessor and clerk, and inspector and judge of elections. Both he and his wife are valued and active members of the Lutheran Church.

On Nov. 25, 1875, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Bahn to Miss Sarah Ellen Ness, who was born in Springfield township, York county, on the 16th of April, 1851, she being a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Cox) Ness. Mr. and Mrs. Bahn have five children : Joseph E., who is associated with the Dallastown creamery; Ada V., the wife of Charles Scheaffer, who resides on the Fahs farm, in York township; Mary Ellen, the wife of Latimer Innerst, who resides on the Glad- felter farm in York county owned by William T. Balın, and Sue Elizabeth and Mabel Grace, who remain at the parental home. The family are prominent in the social life of the com- munity, while their attractive residence is a center of unreserved hospitality.

CHARLES R. KRUG, general manager of the Hanover Bending Company, Hanover, ranks as one of that borough's leading and in- fluential business men. Mr. Krug is a native of Adams county, born near the York county line Sept. 22, 1865, son of Rufus and Ellen (Glass) Krug, and grandson of George Krug, who was born in Adams county, near Han- over.

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Rufus Krug, the father, was a native of Lodge, I. O. O. F., the Brotherhood of the Adams county, born about the year 1830. For Union, and the Woodmen of America. many years he was engaged in the milling bus- iness and later as a wholesale dealer in tobacco. GEORGE C. EMIGH, one of the prosper- ous business men and enterprising citizens of York Haven borough, who is superintendent of the York Haven Paper Co., was born in 1858, at Roaring Springs, Blair Co., Pa., son of Jacob C. Emigh. In connection with those business engagements he also operated his farm of 65 acres. In poli- tics Rufus Krug was an old-line Whig and later a Republican. He died in 1901. His wife was a native of Maryland and was born in Carroll county, near the Pennsylvania line, in 1825. She is still living and makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. David Trone. Charles R. Krug was one of eight children, five of whom lived to mature years, namely : George S., cashier of the People's Bank, Han- over; John E., a farmer of Adams county ; Milton G., unmarried; Charles R., and Cath- erine, who married David Trone and resides in Warren county, Pennsylvania.

Charles R. Krug was educated in the pub- lic schools of McSherrystown, which he at- tended until his sixteenth year. He then learned cigarmaking with his brother, George S., which trade he followed about three years, when he engaged in the lumber business. For a time he operated a sawmill, manufacturing hard lum- ber in Adams county. He also owned and operated a sawmill in Washington county, Md. In 1900 Mr. Krug bought a manufac- turing property, forming an association with Louis Mizell, under the firm name of the Hanover Bending Co. They occupy a building which is especially adapted to the business. The product of their factory consists of wheel rims and bows, and from fifteen to twenty men are employed. The lumber used comes largely from the States of Maryland, Virginia, and Kentucky, and the completed product, se- curely packed, is shipped to various sections of the Union. Extensive improvements have re- cently been made at the bending works, and the entire plant has been remodeled and equipped with modern machinery, the growing trade demanding not only the latest and most improved machinery but a constantly increasing force of men.

Mr. Krug was married in his twenty-first year to Miss Addie M. Masemore, of Hanover, the daughter of John and Lucy ( Shue) Mase- more. To Mr. and Mrs. Krug have been born five children, as follows : Lillian A., Mildred R., Treva, Pauline and Vera. He and his family are members of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, and reside at No. 119 East Middle street. Mr. Krug is a member of Hanover

Jacob C. Emigh in early life was a school teacher, but later took up the study of medi- cine at the Jefferson Medical College in Phila- delphia, from which he was duly graduated. He followed his profession at Roaring Springs until his death, which occurred in 1891. Jacob C. Emigh was twice married, both of his wives now being deceased. The children born to Mr. Emigh and his first wife were: Lloyd, de- ceased ; George C .; E. E. Emigh, who was su- perintendent of the York Haven Paper Mills for eight years, and now resides in West Vir- ginia ; Ariminta; and Katie, deceased. By his second wife Jacob C. Emigh had these chil- dren : Edwin, employed at the York Haven Paper Mills; Myrtle; and three others who are deceased.

George C. Emigh spent his early life at Roaring Springs, Blair county, attending the public schools until he was thirteen years of age, when he began to learn the paper-making business, in which line he has since been very successful. In 1877 Mr. Emigh married Han- nah Mosel, daughter of William and Angeline (Ott) Mosel, and went to Lock Haven, where he was employed for four years. Mr. Emigh then spent some time in New York and Penn- sylvania in paper making, engaging with the York Haven Paper Co., in 1894, as machine foreman. He then went to the Codorus Mills, where he was employed as superintendent of the mills, remaining there three years. In 1901 he was induced to return to the York Haven Paper Co., where he has since held the posi- tion of superintendent. The mills are among the largest in the State.

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Emigh were: Oliver R., who is also a superintendent at the York Felt and Paper Co.'s Mills; and Fannie D., who married William J. Reichley, and resides in York. Mr. Emigh is a Demo- crat, but is not actively interested in politics. The family are devout members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church of York. Mr. Emigh is much esteemed in the community, and enjoys the confidence of his employers.

Gas. C. Emight

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BIOGRAPHICAL

ADAM KOLLER FREY, who for years was engaged in business at Collinsville, was born Dec. 21, 1837, on the home farm in Shrewsbury township, son of Henry and Sarah ( Koller) Frey.

Henry Frey was also a native of Shrews- bury township, York county, where he was engaged as a cooper for some years, and then turned his attention to agri- cultural pursuits, in which he became well known and prosperous. He died May 21, 1858. In politics he was a stanch Democrat. His religious views were in ac- cordance with the teachings of the Reformed Church, in which he held office. He married Sarah Koller, born in Shrewsbury township, daughter of John Koller, a farmer there. She died on the family homestead, April 19, 1840. The children of this union were : Celinda, Mrs. Henry Seitz, of Glen Rock; and Adam K. The grandfather of Adam K. Frey was a cooper by trade and he also died in Shrews- bury township. The family itself is an old and honored one in York county.

Adamı K. Frey was educated first in the township schools, then at an academy and still later at a special normal school at York, com- pleting his course in 1858, at the age of twenty- one years. His first teacher was Martin Heth- cote, and his last, Augustus Gring, who was then a theological student. Mr. Frey began to teach school at the age of twenty-two, being thus employed in the home school for three years and for a like period in the Hickory Grove school of Hopewell township. In 1862 he embarked in the mercantile business in Hopewell township, which he continued until 1865, and then sold it and moved to Shrews- bury township, where he taught school during the following winter and prior to his location at New Oxford, Adams county. There Mr. Frey was in business in partnership with H. K. Schnell for two years, removing then to Brogueville, Chanceford township. At that point Mr. Frey pursued his mercantile career for five years and then sold to James W. Kil- gore and moved to Baltimore. There he was engaged in a produce commission business for one year, but in 1876 removed to Collinsville, where he was a merchant for a period of thir- teen years. In 1889 he sold his business to Jacob Clayman, after which, until 1894, Mr. Frey retired, but in that year resumed business at the old stand in Collinsville. There he con-

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 97

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