USA > Pennsylvania > York County > History of York County, Pennsylvania : from the earliest period to the present time, divided into general, special, township and borough histories, with a biographical department appended > Part 120
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THE GLADES.
The place, known as the Glades, is situated along the public road from Freystown to Vinegar Ferry, about seven miles northeast from York. The name of Glades was given to it seventy years ago, by travelers going from York to the river on account of it being an open passage or space, in what was then a forest for miles around. This region now covers an area of about one mile and a quarter long by fourteen miles wide, and con-
tains about thirty houses, with a brick school- house, one store, one blacksmith and wagon- maker shop, and one cigar manufactory.
STONY BROOK.
Stony Brook is a hamlet of recent origin along the Wrightsville Branch Railroad, where it crosses the York & Wrightsville Turnpike. There are ten houses there, including some very fine ones, store, postoffice, coal yard and warehouse.
The Mennonite meeting house is a distance south of this place.
THE SCHOOLS.
The public schools of this township have an excellent reputation and are under good management. The entire valuation of school property is $21,000. The names of the schools are as follows: Freystown (high school, King Street and Philadelphia), Hyde's, Glat - felter's, Gotwald's, Plank Road, Lefever's, Stony Run, Miller's, Mount Zion, Glade's, Pleasureville and Hiveley's.
MOUNT ZION CHURCH.
Mount Zion Church is located in Spring Garden, about three and a half miles north- east of York, and is owned conjointly by the Reformed and Lutheran denominations. It is a frame structure, built in 1852. The building committee representing the Re- formed congregation were Z. Spangler and Jacob Dietz; on the Lutheran, Thomas Plow- man and A. Sipe. The Reformed congrega- tion was organized by Rev. F. W. Vandersloot in 1852 with eighteen members. Its elders then were William Spangler and Daniel Byerts. A. Dougherty was the first deacon. April 17, 1852, the first communion was held. Since its organization, the following-named ministers of the Reformed Church have served this congregation as pastors : F. W. Vander- sloot, D. Bossler, R. Smith and A. Wanner, D. D. The last named became supply to this con- gregation in 1870. He served in this capacity until 1882, when Mount Zion congregation became united with the Kreutz Creek charge, of which Dr. Wanner was then pastor. At the first communion he held, in 1870, twenty- two persons communed. The congrega- tion now (1885) numbers 102 members, and is in a flourishing condition.
A charter was obtained for the two con- gregations in 1867. It gives them equal rights in the ownership and use of the church property. The trustees then were Jacob Miller, Christian Gingerich and John Knaab from the Reformed, and D. Heidelbaugh,
Elias Cleo
611
MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP.
Samuel Gingerich and John Flory from the Lutheran congregation.
A large and flourishing Union Sunday- school has been kept in the Mount Zion Church since 1867, and for many years it has been the largest Sunday-school in York Coun- ty outside of the villages. It now (1885) numbers, including officers and teachers, about 200 in average attendance. The pres- ent superintendent is Jacob Drohrbach. The original plat of ground contained one acre, subsequently six additional acres were pur- chased, and a large cemetery laid off. In No- vember, 1852, Rev. C. J. Deininger organized the Lutheran congregation with eighteen members, which, at the time of his death, in 1885, had increased to 200 members. In his official work for this congregation Rev. Deininger, during his thirty five years as pastor, baptized 656 infants and 25 adults, confirmed 271 persons and officiated at 215 funerals. Some of the prominent members of the Lutheran congregation who have taken an interest in the church work were Daniel Heidelbaugh, John Fritz, Henry Kunkle, Henry Smyser and Michael Dietz. Rev. J. Henry Leeser was elected pastor in 1885.
CHURCH OF THE EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION.
This is known as Green Hill Church, and is situated in the southern part of this town- ship. It originated in 1868, first as a Sunday- school and prayer meeting, in a carpenter shop on the property of Michael Shellen- berger. The same year and the year following Revs. Rearick, J. C. Smith and J. Bowersox, of York, conducted services here. In 1869 Mr. Shellenberger died, and his heirs deeded a tract of land to a committee for a church and cemetery. In 1870 a building was erect- ed at a cost of $1,300. Rev. Farnsworth was then pastor.
The following ministers have since served: J. Manbeck, H. W. Shenberger, A. W. Shen- berger, J. Snyder, H. Conrad, N. Young, E. S. Brownemiller, D. P. Kline, S. Auraud, George Carothers, W. H. Lilly, S. Aurand, W. H. Gross, A. Crouse, C. F. Kephart, S. Rearick, C. W. Finkbiuder, C. H. Good- ling, H. N. Greeninger, M. J. Snyder and L. E. Crumbling.
The church trustees are George Druck, John L. Snyder, S. D. Shellenberger, Henry Campbell and B. S. Shellenberger. Church membership in 1885 was forty. A Sunday- school has been kept in this church, of which, at different times, the following persons have been superintendents: A. Sipe. A. G. Sim- mons, H. Kreidler, H. Conrad, J. A. Wise,
J. S. Geist, J. S. Billet, Amos Druck and Walter Brown.
THE TOWNSHIP OF MANCHESTER.
M ANCHESTER TOWNSHIP was laid out under the authority of the Lan- caster County Court, in 1742, by Thomas Cookson, deputy surveyor, and his assistant. Its original limits are not clearly defined, but seem to have included an irregularly formed parallelogram extending across the north- central portion of what is now York County, then a portion of "Lancaster County, west of ye Susquehanna." Some land, as far west as the Bermudian Creek, was taken up within the original limits of Manchester Township. In 1748, its area was confined to its present territory, and that of West Manchester. It then contained possibly 300 inhabitants, a number of cleared and cultivated tracts, and here and there a few Indian wigwams. The native forests were a dense growth of oak, chestnut, hickory ash, etc. It then formed an irregularly shaped polygon extending diag- onally from the Susquehanna toward the center of the county, near which it terminated in a point. Its length was fifteen miles and its breadth four and a half miles, with the "Great Conewago and Little Conewago" as its northwestern, the Codorus as its south- eastern and the broad Susquehanna as its eastern boundary, thus being almost sur- rounded by water. Newberry and Dover Townships were north and Hellam and Spring Garden, south of it. The first settlers in the northern part of the township were En- glish Quakers, but the greater portion, was settled by German emigrants, who soon be- came thrifty farmers. In 1783, it contained 267 houses, 218 barns, 21 mills, small and large; 10 negro slaves, 3 redemptioners, 1,465 inhabitants, and 29,723 acres not va- cant. The northern boundary of Springets- bury Manor passed nearly through the center of the original township, south of the 40th parallel of north latitude, which crosses the county a short distance south of Emigs- ville. The township of West Manchester was formed from Manchester, in 1799, leav- ing within Manchester, 350 taxable inhabit- ants.
The township at present is one of the most fertile and productive in the county. It contains very little woodland, and no waste land.
612
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
The northern part is within the mesozoic sandstone region and the southern part in the limestone belt. Grain of different kinds produce well, and within the past ten years an abundance of fine tobacco has been raised in the eastern part of the township.
In 1883 the number of taxable inhabitants was 835; valuation of real estate $1, 766, 464; number of work horses and mules 647, valued at $55,075; number of cows 802, valued at $20,050; State tax $521; county tax $6, 738. The population in 1880, including the bor- ough, was 4,066. In point of real estate val- uation it is exceeded only by Spring Garden, and in population is third on the list, Spring Garden and Hopewell being ahead.
TAXABLE INHABITANTS IN 1783.
The following is a complete list of the taxable residents of Manchester, which in- cluded West Manchester, in 1783:
Philip Amend. Jacob Feid.
Reinhardt Bott. Jonas Bott.
John Fetter.
Peter Faust.
Peter Knuab.
Jacob Smith (Tory law-
Abraham Bookhard.
George Frier.
Baltzer Koler.
Peter Senger.
[yer).
Michael Bentz.
George Fry.
George Krantz.
Philip Snyder.
Daniel Bekemer.
Stephan Finfrock.
George Klingman.
Peter Snyder.
John Brown.
Frederick Felker.
Jacob Kern.
Adam Shenck.
Conrad Becker.
Joseph Grebill.
Andrew Kohler.
John Stab.
Isaac Brenneman.
Dewald Gross. Gerard Gavote.
Christian Landis.
John Sherh, Sr.
Andrew Bedman.
Andrew Grass.
Anthony Lehman.
John Sherb, Jr.
Widow Bierly.
John Greybill.
Michael Low.
Henry Shultz.
Jacob Brown.
Jacob Gottwaldt, Jr.
Leonard Leckron.
James Spikeman.
Valentine Bohn.
Samuel Gross.
Ignatius Leitner.
Jacob Smyser.
Nicholas Bahn.
George Geiss.
Frederick Lenhardt.
Col. Michael Smyser.
George Bumbach. Julius Brukhardt. Joseph Bixler.
Michael Ginder.
Christian Leib.
William Burns.
Jacob Gottwaldt, Jr.
George Liebenstein.
Nathan Updegraff. Joseph Updegraff.
Philip Benedict.
Jacob Gardner.
Killian Lichtenberger.
Caspar Lichtenberger.
John Updegroff.
John Croll.
David Greer, Esq.
George Lewis Lefler.
Nicholas Deh.
Philip Heckert.
Ludwig Myer.
Andrew Dabher.
Philip Heltzel.
Frederich Miller.
Michael Welsh.
Michael Driver.
Nicholas Hentz.
George Weller.
Michael Doudel.
Andrew Hentz.
George May.
Nathan Worley.
Widow Doudel.
Erasmus Holtzapple.
George Maurer.
James Worley.
John Deltmer.
Emanuel Harman.
George Millen.
Daniel Worley.
Peter Dinkel.
Andrew Hershy.
Michael Mehlhorn.
Francis Worley.
Frederick Eicheberger.
Jost Herbach.
John Miller.
William Willis.
Michael Ebert.
Christian Heiver.
Samuel Miller.
Jacob Worley.
George Eyster.
George Hake, Esq.
George Metzger.
Peter Wolf, Esq.
Elias Eyster.
Andrew Heak.
Nicholas Moore.
Adam Wolf.
John Emig. Sr.
Jacob Heak.
Adam Miller.
Nicholas Wyand.
Valentine Emig.
John Humrichhauser.
Charles Martin.
Philip Wolf.
George Eisenhardt.
Jacob Hahn.
Jacob Kopp.
Sebastian Weigle.
Conrad Entzminger.
Frederick Hoffman.
Simon Witmeyer, Sr.
Philip Ettinger.
Jacob Heikler.
Simon Witmeyer, Jr.
Peter Elenberger.
Michael Hahn, Esq.
Nicholas Klasser.
Martin Weikle.
Jacob Ehrman.
Ludwig Heetig.
Casper Knaab.
Leonard Weikle.
Michael Ebert, Jr. Martin Ebert. Philip Ebert.
Andrew Hoke.
Jacob Neaf.
Abraham Neaf.
Widow Eichelberger.
George Heihler.
Jacob Oettinger.
John Ehmig, Jr.
Christian Heit. John Heit.
Peter Oettinger. John Oettinger.
Jacob Wagnor.
Michael Finfrock.
Philip Hoffman.
Col. Thomas Hartly, Esq.
George Ilgenfritz.
Adam Quickel.
Frederick Remer.
Dietrich Rupert.
Jacob Jonathan.
Stephan Reitinger.
Robert Jones, Sr.
Michael Romig.
Robert Jones, Jr.
Francis Jones.
James Johnston.
Elisha Kirk. Caleb Kirk.
Valentine Krantz.
John Kauffman, Jr.
John Rosenbaum.
John Kauffman, Sr.
George Ringer.
Godfry King.
Michael Ringer.
Casper Kerver.
Baltzer Rudisilly.
Henry Keifer.
Peter Riel.
Philip Kreber.
Isaac Stoner.
Mathias Klein.
Peter Sprenkle.
Jacob Kauffman.
George Sprenkle.
Simon Koppenheafer, Jr. Mathias Smeiser. John Shrom.
Jacob Klingeman.
Jacob Philip King.
Christopher Shlegle. Andrew Smith, Sr.
Jacob Knab.
Simon Koppenheafer. Sr. Andrew Smith, Jr.
Conrad Klein.
Daniel Strickler.
Henry Kauffmau.
Peter Shultz.
Christian Keller.
Peter Smith.
John Kitch.
Michael Shreiver.
Michael Kolb.
John Shreiber.
Valentine Kohlman.
Jacob Smith.
Henry Kreber.
Frederick Shindel.
James Britches.
Henry Gray.
Peter Long.
Michael Sprenkle.
Christopher Greenewald.
Andrew Long.
Samuel Updegraff. Ambrose Updegraff.
James Berden. Widow Cronmiller.
John Guikes.
Hermanns Guikes.
George Lichtenberger.
Widow Wogan.
John Welsh. Francis Worley. Henry Wolf.
Thomas Dunn.
Barnet Holtzapple.
Peter Marks. Peter Menges.
Michael Klein. Henry Klein.
George Nailor.
George Witterricht.
Michael Wittericht. Philip Wintemeyer. Jacob Weaver.
Casper Walter.
Michael Egy.
Godlieb Fackler.
George Welsh.
Henry Ort. Jacob Opp.
Adam Wilt.
Christian Herman.
Peter Hoke.
Martin Ilgenfritz. George Irwin.
Andrew Ritter. Jonas Rudisilly. William Reis. John Reif. Anthony Roth. John Roth.
613
MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP.
Henry Winiger.
Henry Walter. Jacob Zigler.
Jost Wahl.
Frederick Wever.
Philip Ziegler Jr.
Valentine Wild.
Killian Ziegler.
SINGLE MEN.
John Oldham
John Kann (blacksmith)
David Bruckhard. Philip Mohr.
Christian Reinhart.
Christian Mohr.
George Menges.
Andrew Kohler.
Philip Christ.
Jacob Bohn.
Andrew Zeigler.
Conrad Ginder.
Daniel Meyer.
Jacob Miller.
George Lekron.
Frederick Ehresman.
Michael Kauffman.
Jacob Ginder.
Martin Koppenhefer.
Ludwig Driver.
John Brown.
Frederick Shindle.
Frederick Heak.
Frederick Hummel.
Jacob Miller.
Jacob Meisel.
Adam Lichtenberger.
Joseph Kohler.
Nicholas Snyder.
NEW HOLLAND VILLAGE.
Frederick Day, an English Quaker, made a plat of fifty-two lots and disposed of them by lottery, in 1804. The town he called New Holland. In 1814 he laid out an addi- tional section of 162 lots, which in the printed deeds, was denominated "New Hol- land continned." The village is located on the Susquehanna River, at the mouth of one of the brauches of the Conewago Creek, familiarly called "The Gut," and about three miles from the mouth of Codorus Creek. Some of the first settlers in this locality, in 1732, were Quakers, and for a time, a tract of land was reserved by the Penns for a meeting house. For about thirty years New Holland was known as an important lumber emporium. Teams came many miles from the south and west to purchase pine lumber, which was brought down the river and landed at this point. In 1807, Fred- erick Day built the large stone house now owned by Jacob Lichty, who has conducted the village store since 1863. A man by name of Hyder kept the first store. New Holland became a post town named Day's Landing, in 1825, with Peter Dessenberg as postmaster. When a postoffice was estab- lished at Mt. Wolf, two miles distant, this one was discontinued.
Adam Wolf, Esq., was for many years a prominent justice of the peace, and had a large lumber yard and tannery here. Fred- erick Gable kept a store and owned a lumber yard. Joseph Schmidt also had a lumber yard. There were at one time four hotels in the town. None have been kept since 1870. "Silver Lake Island," a famous place for shad fishing years ago, is located on the Sus- quehanna, near New Holland. The popula- tion of this village is about 250. In the early part of this century, it was supposed
that New Holland was destined to become large, but its lumber interests ceased after the Northern Central Railway was completed. The cigar business is now au important industry here.
The names of the streets running at right angles with the Susquehanna, on Day's draft, when he founded the town, were King, Queen, Prince, York and Market. Those running parallel with the river, were Water, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Streets. It will thus be seen that plans were made for a large town. Frederick Day was buried in a conspicuous spot in the town and his tomb is marked by an unpretentious head stone, but there are no other graves near his silent resting place.
Physicians .- When New Holland was a prominent lumber market, there were always one or two physicians in the village. Dr. De Lassel, a Frenchman, located here in 1810. He was followed by Drs. Rouse, Richardson, Massey, Charles, Cook, Ehrhart and Watson. Dr. William Graffes was the last practitioner, twenty-five years ago. Physi- cians of this town attended the sick of Eib's Landing and Liverpool.
Geological Curiosities. - The geological formations around New Holland afford a pleasing diversity. Limestone crops out on John Wogan's farm, which is valuable when burned into quicklime. The old red sand- stone formation is quite prominent. A short distance west yellow sandstone protrudes to the surface. In the bottom of the stream, and on the cliffs, excellent specimens of dolerite are quite numerous. Along the cliffs on the south side of the, stream are twin rocks, forty feet in thickness, almost entirely exposed. They are huge specimens of sili- cious conglomerate formation. Near by is a rock of similar structure 100 feet in length, forming an inclined plane with the stream. While musing along the shore, trying to read "the testimony of the rocks," in the alluvial soil on the north side of the creek, the writer was delighted with the discovery of fine specimens of Indian beads, arrow heads of flint, and a large battle ax. In this island, not long since, while workmen were making excavations, at the depth of about three feet, a number of these curiosities were found in close proximity. It was doubtless the grave of an Indian warrior, and his sur- vivors, following the custom of their race, in- terred his implements of war and of the chase with his bones, that he might use them, according to their belief,
In the Island of the Blessed In the Kingdom of Ponemah In the land of the Hereafter.
614
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
Cæsarville is the name given to a collec- tion of half a dozen houses, near the mouth of Rodes Creek, where it flows into "The Gut." About half a century ago, an aged negro slave by the name of Cæsar, who had been freed, dug a cave in a bank at this point, and used it as his place of abode. The old saw- mill here was erected in 1812 by Frederick Zorger. For many years it was owned by the late Daniel Kraber, of York and, was con- nected with Eib's Landing Lumber Yards.
EIB'S LANDING.
Among the early settlers west of the Susquehanna was Peter Eib, who took up the fertile land forming a delta between the mouths of the Conewago Creek. As the lumber interests up the river were developed, a section of his farm, now owned by George W. Ilgenfritz, of York, became one of the most important landing places for this valua- ble product along the stream. There was a demand for pine timber, and from this land- ing place York, and a broad expanse of country, were largely supplied for more than half a century. But the glory of Eib's Land- ing declined when the steam saw-mills were built at York Haven and at Goldsboro, and when the Northern Central Railway was completed. Old citizens of the neighborhood recalled the time when as many as seventy-five teams were in waiting to load lumber in one day. For one mile along the bank were contin- nous piles of boards and building timber. The price, on account of the abundance, was very low in comparison with present prices. Ex- cellent shaved shingles could be purchased at $6 per 1,000, and a fine quality of boards at $8 and $10 per 1,000 feet.
-
During the spring and early summer, busi- ness was most flourishing. For many years there were three hotels to acommodate team- sters and lumbermen-" Yankees," as they were termed, who brought the rafts of lum- ber down the Susquehanna. At times ar- dent spirits flowed profusely, and occasions of boisterous hilarity were very frequent. Much sawed timber was conveyed in teams by mer- chants who owned lumber yards in York, Hanover, Abbottstown, East Berlin, and as far away as Frederick, Md. There is nothing now left to mark this, probably the most historic spot in Manchester Township, except the dilapidated remains of a few old buildings at a place where millions of feet of lumber were annually sold.
A Paper City .- On lpart of the original Eib's Landing property, now owned by Jacob Hartman, about the year 1800, a town was laid out, which the founder, from the
1
number of streets planned, expected to grow into a prosperous city. It was laid out as the " Town of Manchester." Eighty-one lots of this proposed town, 50x200 feet each, were advertised to be sold for the direct tax of the United States, at Harrisburg, December 3, 1818. The town was planned at a time when the lumber and fishing interests of the Susquehanna led many visionary land owners to suppose that their farms were to be the sites of flourishing cities in the near future. The same ideas that characterize many ven- turesome and deluded people of our Western States and Territories, were prevalent in Pennsylvania eighty years ago. Two small houses, long since torn down, and an abut- ment beginning a bridge, is all there ever was to represent the " Old Town of Manches- ter on the Susquehanna."
The Gut, is a singular freak of nature. Some time, not long before the settlement of York County by the whites, the Big Conewa- go Creek, on account of high water, over- flowed its banks, and cut a deep channel two miles in length, causing this, the southern branch, to flow into the Susquehanna at New Holland, while the main branch of the creek flows into the river, three miles farther up the stream at York Haven. During times of high water the Gut is a rapid stream, but in dry seasons it is sluggish and sometimes alto- gether dry. Within this irregularly shaped delta, is contained about five square miles of excellent alluvial soil. " The River Gut " is a branch of half a mile in length, passing from the Gut to the Susquehanna. A singu- lar phenomenon is illustrated: When the river is high it flows toward the creek, when the creek is high it flows toward the river. It is a true bifurcation.
Floods .- The first flood on record, occurred in 1744; the second in 1758; the third in 1772; the fourth in March, 1784; the fifth, known as the "Great Pumpkin Flood" of September, 1786, when all the low places along the river were strewn with pumpkins that had floated down the stream. The sixth flood occurred in 1800; the seventh in 1814; the eighth in August, 1817.
In the spring of 1830. of 1865 and of 1875, the ice floods did considerable damage along the river. Huge piles of ice were forced on the river banks and islands, at different points, and the greatest excitement prevailed. Im- mense numbers of floating logs have been landed along the river when the booms broke at Williamsport and Lock Haven.
Shad Fisheries. -- Nothing gave more interest to the river settlements in early days than the extensive shad fisheries, an industry
615
MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP.
now almost unknown above the dam of the Susquehanna Canal at Columbia. Shad fish- ing has greatly declined south of the dam too, of late years, all caused by injudicious management. On account of the purity of the water and the absence of many manufac- turies along this river, which caused refuse matter to flow into it, the shad of the Susque- hanna River have long been famous for their delicious flavor, large size and nutritious qualities. From York Haven to the mouth of the Codorus, the limits of the eastern boundary of Manchester Township, there was almost one continuous line of valuable fisher- ies. The season lasted from five to seven weeks. Usually, if the season were short, the largest amount of shad were caught. The shad pass up the river annually in large schools from the salt water of the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay into fresh water to spawn. They cease to go up after the middle of June, and sometimes about the first of June. A few have been caught in fish- baskets on their return to the salt water late in the season; but they then are scarcely edible. It was a most interesting sight for fishermen to watch for a "school of fish" to come up stream, and then row around them in a skiff, leaving out a long seine, made with a network of large meshes especially for shad, and quickly pull the seine to shore by the skiff, freighted with hundreds and some- times thousands of this large fish. Before catching a large "draught of fishes," all fishermen were as still and motionless as possible, as the sense of hearing with fish is very keen; but when a large "haul" was made it was a grand signal for a triumphant cheer, and the jolly fishermeu were active in counting the number caught. As far back as 1815, these shad brought as high as 12} and 15 cents apiece by wholesale. Dozens of wagons, owned by anxious purchasers, were always ready to buy them at that figure, and take them fifteen or twenty miles south and west to dispose of them. Some of the fisheries were along the shore, but the most profitable ones were near the small islands. The right of fishery was pur- chasable; sometimes the owners of islands in the river sold them, but reserved the right of fishing for shad. Lichty's two fisheries, near the mouth of the Conewago, were famous -- 1,500 shad were caught at one haul there in 1825; "San Domingo," a small island of two acres surface, had a noted fishery. The entire island was swept away by an ice flood in 1830. The next in order down the stream was known as "Santa Cruz;" "Black Rock," so called because it was used by
colored people as a fishing station for a time. The Indians were accustomed to catch shad here with large "dip-nets." In the days of its prosperity, Black Rock Fishery was owned by William Reeser, founder of the town of Liverpool. Haldeman's pool in the Chestnut Riffles, near the mouth of Codorus, "Forge Island," "Center," "Silver Lake," "Small Island," and "Bald Eagle" fisheries were very profitable for many years.
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