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 123

Author: Gibson, John, Editor
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: F.A. Battey Publishing Co., Chicago
Number of Pages: 1104

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 123

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Stores .- The first store in the village was kept by Henry Krieger nearly a century ago, in the house which has since been remodeled, and is now owned by Mr3. Jane Herman. Henry Kister, Charles Bishop, Mills Hays, Jesse Hays, Joseph McCreary, John Crull, Martin Crull, J. Miller, George Beck, David Updegraff, Servatus Hays and Ambrose Bru- baker have each conducted the mercantile business in Newberrytown.

The Cigar Industry .- During the year 1831, Jacob B. Wolf introduced the manu- facture of cigars in Newberrytown. He came from Strinestown, and brought with him a number of workmen, who had learned the trade. At that time all cigars made in York County were of an inferior quality of tobac- co, and most of the cigars themselves were familiarly called "tobies." A better kind was soon manufactured. This new industry added greatly to the material interests of the village, and soon furnished employment

to a large number of the citizens of both sex- es. Christian Shelley married a daughter of Jacob Wolf, and embarked in the business on quite an extensive scale. Abraham Brin- ton and Joel Brinton did a large business, and Alexander Frazer, at one time, employed about fifty workmen. Some of the other manufacturers of importance have been as follows: Julius Kister, Kurtz & Taylor, D. H. Kister, David Updegraff, C. E. Bare, H. S. Byers, A. K. Whisler, R. W. Lease and Koch & Son; Crull Hays at present is en- gaged in the manufacture of cigar boxes. For the past twenty years fine qualities of ci- gars are made.

A Pottery .- A lost industry to the village is the manufacture of pottery ware, which was begun by Thomas Wickersham, who for many years employed about half a dozen men. He began his pottery about 1830, and continued until 1851, when he moved to Keokuk, Iowa. In 1838, and one or two years following, he became prominently iden- tified with the raising of the silk mulberry trees, but like the experiments of many oth- ers in the Redland Valley, and in fact in many other places, it did not prove a success. Jesse May purchased the pottery and worked it. He was followed in the same business by Jesse and Julius Meredith. It has been discontinued for a number of years. The clay used was an excellent quality, obtained along the Hay Run, in Newberry Township.

York County Rangers was the name of a volunteer military company, organized in Newberrytown about 1825, and drilled seven years. Alvin Ward was captain; Peter Beard first lieutenant; Ezekiel Sankey, fifer; Eman- uel Sipe, John Funk and D. K. Noell (now of York), drummers. The company consist- ed of fifty men. The captain became a lo- cal preacher, and the company disbanded.

The Newberry Volunteers were commanded by Capt. John Crull. The Captain and most of his company entered the Union ar- my during the civil war.

"Paddletown" is a familiar name for a small collection of dwellings near the old meeting house. A long while ago Abigail Miller, of Newberrytown, bad two married daughters, who lived at this place. Their many children "paddled" back and forth to visit the affectionate grandmother, who gave their home the name long since used.

Union Meeting House was located a short distance northeast of Newberrytown. In 1833 the house was built by the Methodists, United Brethren in Christ, Baptists and Church of God. It was used until 1884. The first Sunday-school of the vicinity was organized

Morris M. Hays

NEWBERRY TOWNSHIP.

627

in it, and the same building, for a long time, was also used as a schoolhouse. Jacob G. Kister, John S. Nichols and John Machlin were the first trustees. Mills Hays was secretary and treasurer. The land was pur- chased of John Ort.

The Bethel Church in the village was built in 1856, and dedicated during the following February. Rev. Carlton Price was then pas- tor. The building committee were Jacob F. Krone, Christian Shelley, Jacob B. Wolf and Samuel McCreary. This church is a part of the East York Circuit of the Church of God, and is served by the same pastor as Goldsboro Bethel.

St. Paul's Church, of the Evangelical As- sociation, was built of an excellent quality of native sandstone, under the auspices of the Evangelical Association, in 1873. The build- ing committee were the pastor, Rev. A. W. Kramer, H. S. Byers and H. M. Whisler. The cost was $2,500. Rev. U. T. Swengel preached the dedicatory sermon, in February, 1874. Rev. Kramer was succeeded by Revs. John Irvine, E. Swengel, Stapleton, Samuel Davis, Anthony and L. Dice. The church occupies a commanding position on an emi- nence overlooking the beautiful Fishing Creek Valley, to the north; the picturesque Susquehanna and the fertile fields of Dauphin and Lancaster Counties, on the east. The trustees are Washington Ort, Jacob G. Brin- ton, William Simmons and H. M. Whisler. A Sunday-school is held in the church.

GOLDSBORO.

In the year 1738 Nathan Hussey, an intel- ligent Quaker, from New Castle County, Del., who, in 1749, became one of the commission- ers to lay off York County, obtained a grant for land on which the village of Goldsboro now stands, and a short distance above he opened a ferry across the Susquehanna. In 1743 a road was opened from Walnut Bottom, now in Cumberland County, then in Lancaster County, through Fishing Creek Valley, to Hus- sey's Ferry. . A grist-mill was built at the mouth of the creek as early as 1750. The fish- ing interests on the islands of the Susquehanna became profitable, and Col. James Burd, of French and Indian war fame, who lived at his mansion, called "Tinian," located above Middletown, became the owner of the river lands, Nathan Hussey having moved to York, where he became one of the founders of the Friend's Meeting there, in 1764. The mill, for more thau a third of a century, was owned by John Prunk, and was known as the "Red Mill." Joseph Glancey, who was elected county commissioner in 1804, lived near this

place, and erected a mill further up the stream, and, according to tradition, "had the roads run over hill and valley, to suit him- self." There was a continuous road from York to Harrisburg, along the Susquehanna, as early as 1800, but it was not a much trav- eled route until the turnpike was completed from York Haven to Harrisburg, when it then became a prominent stage route. The ex- change stables were at Crull's tavern, one mile below the site of this borough, and an important stopping place for exchanging horses was at Henry Etter's tavern, one mile north of the town. This is now known as Free's Distillery, an important industry begun there in 1856 by the present owners, H. Free & Co. Henry Etter, as early as 1838, secured the establishment of a postoffice at his tavern, which was named Etter's. When the York & Cumberland Railroad was being constructed, in 1849-50, over the line of the turnpike, the stage line for a year or two left the turnpike route at Etter's tavern, and extended up the valley to Harrisburg.

Before 1848 there were two competing stage lines over the pike from Harrisburg to York. At one time passengers were conveyed from one place to the other for fifty cents each and a good dinner in the bargain.

The site of Goldsboro, down to 1850, con- sisted of three or four houses and the "old Red Mill." Martin P. Burger conducted a small store east of the turnpike. This col- lection of houses was humorously called "Martinsville." When the railway was completed, in 1850, the station was called by its present name, in honor of J. M. Golds- borough, the civil engineer of the road.

John Prunk died before the town of Golds- boro was dreamed of, and his property came into possession of his daughter Nancy, who married Joseph McCreary.

The old burying ground of the vicinity is located within the present borough limits, immediately west of the Grammar School building. On the old "Kister Homestead," now owned by Christian Miller, one of the first graveyards of the valley is situated.

Henry Etter died in the spring of 1848, and the postoffice was removed to Adam Kister's Ferry, which was one-half mile north of Middletown Ferry. Adam Kister was a soldier of the Revolution, and complained bitterly of Gen. LaFayette for accepting as a gift a township of land in Louisiana. This was in 1825, on which occasion La- Fayette visited York. He claimed that such unusual attentions to the French patriot would only tend to bring America into an- other war with England.

628

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

When the railroad was completed and busi- ness centered, the postoffice was removed to Goldsboro, but still retains the name Etter's Postoffice. There is a postoffice in Lacka- wanna County, this State, named Gouldsboro, after the great financier Jay Gould of New York, who once lived there. John Kister, for many years has been postmaster at Goldsboro; H. C. Shelley at present.

Dr. Alexander Small, of York, in 1849, secured the services of Daniel M. Ettinger to make a survey of a plat of ground on which the present town of Goldsboro now stands.

The leading highways were named York Avenue, Broadway and Kister Streets.

P. A. & S.Small purchased the "Red Mill," and soon afterward built a large brick mill, and since then this firm have bought at this mill nearly all the grain hauled to market over a large territory of the northern part of the county. The lumber and mill- ing interests caused the village to prosper. It contains several stores, two hotels, two churches and a number of fine homes.

A fire destroyed several buildings a few years ago. Drs. Rynard and Warren prac- tice their profession here. Among persons who have conducted stores here are Frazer & Kister, Ford & Sprenkle, C. F. Rehling, J. Z. Hildbrand, William Willis, John Kister, Henry Shelley, J. K. Waidley, George Good, Ernest Yinger and Mrs. Williams. There are now a number of cigar factories. The large town hall was burned. There are several secret societies and a post of G. A. R.

The railroad offices do an extensive busi- ness, it being the most important station be- tween York and Harrisburg. Population in 1880 was 378. Number of taxable inhabit- ants in 1884 was 134; property valuation, $127,236.

The Silver Cornet Band is an excellent musical organization.

Isaac Frazer, who has been prominently identified with this town since its origin, is owner and controller of the Goldsboro Saw- mill, planing-mill, sash and door factory, and the Atlantic Saw-mill, all of Goldsboro. He was born, May 20,1820, in Newberry Town- ship, and is the eldest of nine children. His father, John Frazer, and his mother, Pheba (Warren) Frazer, died at the advanced ages of eighty-two and seventy-nine years, re- spectively. Alexander Frazer, his grand- father, was a native of Lisburn, Cumberland Co., Penn. Our subject received his educa- tion in the schools of the vicinity of his home. Early in his boyhood days he turned his attention to mechanical pursuits, assist- ing his father in the manufacture of coffee-

mills and door locks. He remained at home with his father until he was twenty-one years of age, working at this business and receiv- ing nothing but his clothing aud board. When he arrived at his majority, with a capital of $400, he began the mercantile business in a small room adjoining his fa- ther's factory, and continued the same until 1852. In 1849, however, he purchased a lot, and erected a building, in which he and his brother-in-law, the late G. Washington Kis- ter, opened a store of general merchandise at Goldsboro. This was about the time of the building of the Northern Central Rail. road. In the year 1851, Mr. Frazer, taking advantage of an excellent opportunity, erected a large and commodious warehouse at Goldsboro, on the new railroad, and began buying grain and produce. The next year he sold out his store in the township, and devoted his entire time to his interests in Goldsboro. In the year 1852, he and his father-in-law, Rev. Jacob G. Kister, rented a saw-mill, and in the following year he built the Goldsboro Saw-mill, which is still in operation. As the business enlarged he in- creased the capacity of the mill, and during the past twenty years has done an immense business. In the year 1873, he leased the Atlantic Saw-mill at Goldsboro from P. A. & S. Small, of York, and operated the same in connection with his other mills until 1881, when it was destroyed by fire. He then leased the ground and rebuilt the mill him- self. In the lumber trade he has done an immense business, supplying not only the purchasers of the surrounding country, but shipping large orders continually to towns and cities. His mills have, ever since their erection, furnished employment to most of the inhabitants of Goldsboro. It was mainly through his industry and thrift that the town prospered. Always manifesting a kindly in- terest in the welfare of his workmen, the rela- tions between him and them have continually been mutual and amicable. In the public improvements of the village of Goldsboro he has ever shown a spirit of commendable enterprise. Endowed by nature with more than ordinary business tact and good judg- ment, which, combined with indefatigable energy and continued application, have not only rewarded Mr. Frazer for his industry in accumulating means, but elevated him to an important position among the influential busi- ness men of our county and State. A de- voted Whig in his early life, he has since been an ardent advocate of the principles of the Republican party. He represented this congressional district in the electoral college

Isaac Frazer

629

NEWBERRY TOWNSHIP.

which re-elected Gen. Grant for president of the United States.

To the cause of education he has always given an encouraging word, and lent a help- ing hand. For many years was a member of the school board of Goldsboro, and at one time supported a private academy in his town. The Board of Trustees of Findley College, located in Findley, Hancock Co., Ohio, have lately elected him president of that body. He was a liberal contributor toward the erection of that promising educational institution, and is now devoting considerable time to the welfare of it.

Mr. Frazer's ancestors were of the rigid Quaker stock, who emigrated from the east- ern part of Pennsylvania, about 1735, and located on the fertile soil of the Redland Valley. The old homestead, which has passed from father to son since that time, is now his property, which on account of its historic associations, he values more highly than any of the 425 acres of land in Penn- sylvania, or the 560 acres in the State of Iowa, which he now owns. Many years ago he became a communicant member of the Church of God, a Baptist organization, and is now a liberal supporter of that denomination: is chairman of the Board of Publication, a member of the Board of Missions, and an active worker in the interests of his adopted

church. Mr. Frazer was married, March 9, 1848, to Miss Susan Kister, daughter of Rev. Jacob G. and Nancy (Bowen) Kister. They have had four children; William, Robert and Cora are deceased. Edgar, the youngest son is now associated with his father in bus- iness. Some years ago Mr. Frazer moved with his family to Mechanicsburg, Cumber- land County. Recently he purchased a lot of ground, and erected an elegant residence on Third Street, Harrisburg, opposite the State Capitol building. In this he now re- sides, but continues his business at Golds- boro.

The River Meeting House. - A few hundred yards north of the village, for half a century, stood a frame building known far and wide as "the River Meeting House," used for school purposes, and for religious services, by different denominations. It has long since disappeared; Michael Shelley, Henry Drorbaugh and Jacob Kister were the last trustees of it. In it William Chandlee and Asa Johnson each taught school for a num- ber of years.

This building became noted for its great revival meetings, under the auspices of the Church of God. Rev. John Winebrenner, the founder of this denomination, himself

preached in it on many occasions, as well as Revs. Maxwell, Mullenix, Kister, Weishampel and other fathers of the church.

One of the most noted events of its history occurred in November, 1825, when Lorenzo Dow preached to an immense audience in this building, shortly after his European tour, when the nobility of England paid admis- sion to hear that singular yet wonderful gen- ius.

The Bethel Church was built about 1860, by the Church of God. There was then an organization and a good membership. Mr. Isaac Frazer contributed largely to its erec- tion. Some of the preachers who have served the circuit to which this church belongs, are Revs. Price, Jones, Keller, Charleton. Owens, Seabrooks, Meixel, Arnold, Carvell, and Fliegle. W. J. Grissinger was pastor in 1885.

The Sunday school, which numbers about 150 pupils and teachers, is superintended by Ross W. Dugan. The school originated in the "River Meeting House," before 1850, and was then superintended by Samuel Bier- brower and George W. Kister.

The Methodist Church, built a dozen or more years ago, was first connected with the Duke Street Methodist Episcopal charge, at York. It now belongs to a circuit, and is supplied by the pastor who resides at Lewis- berry.

Schools .- The schools of Goldsboro have been graded for many years. Two schools are kept up regularly for six months. Jacob Smith of Manchester, has taught the gram- mar school for several sessions.

Goldsboro Sandstone Quarry .- During the year 1850, or thereabouts, Mr. Symington, of Baltimore, opened a sandstone quarry, about two miles west of Goldsboro. After a little prospecting he found a large vein of the most valuable sandstone, which he quar- ried and shipped to his native city for build- ing purposes. George Betz came in posses- sion of it in 1858, and worked it properly for a number of years. C. F. Reehling sub- sequently became the owner, and has since sold large quantities of this valuable build- ing material for public buildings and private residences.

A Notorious Prize Fight .- The usually quiet village of Goldsboro, long known for the great equanimity and peaceful disposi- tions of the people, was stirred up from center to circumference on a certain Tuesday morning of January, 1867. Four or five years previous to this time, it was nothing uncom- mon to see train after train of Union sol- diers pass through the town on their way "to

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

the front." Many a worthy son of the North and the West stopped at this point, while his train was waiting on the arrival of a northern bound train to pass, and engaged in innocent amusements, but what disturbed the peace and harmony of Goldsboro, on this oc- casion, was the arrival of several hundred Baltimore and New York roughs, who came to this place to witness the brutal outrage of a prize fight between Samuel Collyer, of the former, and John McGlade of the latter city. It was a very disgraceful and demoralizing affair. Collyer came off victorious, after forty-seven rounds, and won the prize of $2,000. The fight lasted one hour. The sheriff of York County appeared on the ground with a small posse, but being greatly outnumbered, could do nothing to prevent the contest. A military company, on their way to the inauguration of governor, was or- dered to stop at Goldsboro, but under some misunderstanding, it seems the order was not officially received. It was said at the time that bets to the amount of $200,000 were won on the result of the disgraceful affair. This money was carried away in triumph by the party from Baltimore.

Hay Run. - The name of this little stream which drains the southeastern part of New- berry Township, originated early in the his- tory of the settlement there. There are a great many fertile meadows along its banks. Before the introduction of clover and timo- thy, which grasses were not grown in York County before 1790, these meadows sup- plied much of the hay to the farmers of that section. Hence the name of the stream.

The Last Indian .- Along a small stream called "Oil Mill Run," about three-fourths miles south of Goldsboro, is the site of the last Indian wigwam of Newberry Town- ship. At this place a half-civilized red man and his family lived as late as 1770, long after his brothers had gone "to the westward."

THE MIDDLETOWN FERRY.

The Middletown Ferry was originally Hus- sey's Ferry, opened in 1738. Many of the early Quakers crossed the river at this place, which was an important crossing in colonial days. Middletown was once the site of a Shawanese Indian village. They also had an encampment near the site of Goldsboro. Middletown is midway between Lancaster and Carlisle, and was laid out in 1755, about thirty years before Harrisburg.

Some of the English Quakers crossed the Susquehanna here as early as 1730. Five years later a temporary road was opened on

the York County side. Thomas Hall, John McFesson, Joseph Bennett, John Heald, John Rankin and Ellis Lewis from Chester County, crossed the Susquehanna from the mouth of the Swatara, and selected lands on the west side of the river in the year 1732. It has often been related of them, that when they arrived at the eastern bank of the river, and there being no other kinds of crafts than canoes to cross, they fastened two together, and placed their horses' front feet in one canoe and the hind feet in another, then piloted the frail crafts, with their precious burden, across the stream by means of poles. The ferry obtained its present name and was licensed in 1760. At the mouth of the Swa- tara and along the Susquehanna, a body of soldiers were stationed in 1756, during the French and Indian war, to prevent the incur- sions of the then savage red men, who had championed the cause of the French, along the western frontier. This occurred after the defeat of Braddock's army, near Pitts- burgh. During the Revolutionary war, in the fall of 1779, a commissary department was established at Middletown, and along the river on both sides of the stream the boats for Gen. Sullivan's army were built, and his troops furnished with provisions and mili- tary stores for the famous expedition against the Six Nations of Indians, in Central New York, who had committed depredations in the settlements in the Mohawk and Wyoming Valleys the year before. Until the opening of the Conewago Canal in 1776, Middletown Ferry was the southern terminus of naviga- tion with the famous keel boats. The ferry is still a prominent crossing place. A steam- boat is now used for conveying passengers and freight. The ferry was owned many years by Henry Etter, whose house was blown down March 22, 1826, and a young lady killed. About the year 1835 "Black Dan" Johnson, in a jealous fit, killed his comrade "Jim" Brown by cutting him in the abdomen with an ax. Dan was tried and convicted of murder, but died while in prison at York, the night before he was to have been sentenced.

PLAINFIELD BETHEL

Is located on an eminence at the eastern extremity of Fishing Creek Valley. The followers of John Winebrenner had, for a number of years, prospered by increasing their number at the encouraging meetings held in "the River Schoolhouse," near Goldsboro. Some of the members deter- mined to build a church in "the valley," and in 1849, Michael Burger deeded to William 1

631

NEWBERRY TOWNSHIP.

Kremer, Samuel Kister and Daniel Shelley, a plat of ground upon which the church was built the next year. The congregation that worships here belongs to the East York Cir- cuit, and is served by the same ministers that preach in Goldsboro. A Sunday-school has regularly been held in this church, superin- tended of late years by John Nicholas, How- ard Nicholas and Henry Fortenbaugh.

PATRIOTIC DEAD.

It is a difficult task, as it is a sad one, to chronicle all the names of the patriotic dead of Newberry and Fairview, "who yielded up their lives that this nation might live" on many a hard fought battle field, or lan- guished in prison during the civil war. Among them were the following: Gardner Bryan came home almost entirely emaciated, after suffering many months in a Confederate prison, and died soon after. Sanford Fisher, a youth of seventeen, while leading the ad- vance line of the Ninety-third Regiment, fell, from a flesh wound, in the battle of Fair Oaks. Mortification followed and he died in the hospital. His brother, Sergt. John Fisher, of the same regiment, was pierced through the heart by the well-directed aim of a Confederate sharpshooter, while lead- ing on a squad of men, in an open plain, during a lull in the famous battle of the Wilderness. He had served three years almost to the day, and had previously en- gaged in about twenty battles and skirmishes. Ross Krieger died in Andersonville prison. Harman Miller, William Palmer and Samuel May were killed in the battle of Antietam, in less than a month after enlistment, in the One Hundred and Thirtieth Penn- sylvania Regiment, nine months' men. William Shanly, of Lewisberry, died of dis- ease contracted in burying the dead after battle. Lyman Brubaker was lost in the bat- tle of Fredericksburg, and his is one of the many "unknown" graves. William Walters was wounded, and died afterward in a Phila- delphia hospital. Lieut. Arnold, of Capt. Bailey's company, of the Seventh Pennsylva- nia Reserves, fell while gallantly leading the van in battle. His body was carried heroic- ally in the retreat by Henry Gise and George H. Writer, two brave comrades in arms. Being hard pressed by the Confederate ad- vance, they were compelled to drop the body, and it fell into the hands of the enemy. The names of others killed are: John Anthony and Chester Krall, of the One Hundred and Thirtieth Regiment; Thompson Nichols, Elias Fissell, William Grove and John Nicholas. Hugh Machlin was accidentally killed at Fort

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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 123

Author: Gibson, John, Editor Publication date: 1886 Publisher: F.A. Battey Publishing Co., Chicago Number of Pages: 1104

Author: Gibson, John, Editor
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: F.A. Battey Publishing Co., Chicago
Number of Pages: 1104