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 132

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 132

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Several Lutheran missionaries conducted services in the locality at an early period, among them Rev. Schaum and Raus of York, Revs. Candler and Bager, of Hanover, and Rev. Jacob Lischy, the German Reformed missionary.

In 1763, Rev. Lucas Raus organized the Lutheran congregation, and Rev. Lischy, the German Reformed, with the above-named elders and deacons. The original Lutheran Church book, written in German, and from which valuable treasure was obtained much of information herein given was found. The title page of this old relic contains the fol- lowing inscription in German, neatly written:

"Church Book of the Evangelical Lu- theran Congregation in Dover Township over the Susquehanna in Pennsylvania, was bought in 1763, by me, Lucas Raus."

The genealogy of some of the first mem- bers is here given: The asterisks designate the names of those who died in childhood.

John Peter Streher was born in the Prov-

ince of Starkenburg, County of Sponheim, June 22, 1718. He was married in 1751, on his birthday, to Anna Barbara Burghart, widow of John Nicholas Hantz. The last named died in 1737, leaving four children, John Andreas, Anna Elizabeth, Mary Mar- garetta, Catrina Elizabeth* and Maria Cat- rina. Peter Streher and his family immi- grated to America in 1740. He became the teacher and was empowered with certain privileges to conduct religious services in Dover Church, in the absence of a regular clergyman. His first wife died in 1764, and he married Jacobina Stouch, in 1766. His children by both marriages were John Nicolans,* John Mathias, * Anna Catha- rine, John Peter, John Nicolaus, Catharine Elizabeth, John Jacob and John Peter. Ac- cording to the record these children all died except three before growing to manhood and womanhood.

John Adam Diehl, born along the River Moselle, Germany, in 1734, came to America, with parents in 1739, married Magdalena Burghart, 1760, she was born, 1740. Their children were John Nicolaus and Anna Maria.

Math as Hartmann, born in Frederick Tal, in Hohenlohe, Germany; 1718, came to. America, 1749; married Anna Catharine Horch, in 1750; children were Maria Doro- thea, Catrina and Elizabeth.

George Spaar, born in Altenberg, three hours from Tuebingen, in Germany, on the 11th of December, 1699; married, in 1724, to Mary Catrina Kauffman, who was born in 1703. He immigrated to America in 1740. Their children were John Frederick, Anna Maria,* Maria Barbara,* Eva Margaretta, Sophia Margaretta,* Susan Maria, Maria Catrina,* John George, John Casper,* John,* John George, * John Casper, John, Philip, Adam.

Martin Reisinger, born in Heyebronn, Germany, in 1722, came, with his father, to America in 1737; married in 1747 to Anna Magdalena, daughter of Lorentz Bingmann. They had nine children: John, Barbara, John Martin, John Conrad, Mary Magdalena, Mary Margaret, Catharine, Anna Elizabeth, Anna Maria.

John George Stauch, born in 1717 in Bueb- lingen, Kingdom of Wurtemburg, Germany, married Anna Margaretta Deish in 1774, immigrated to America and came to Dover Township in 1752. The ship called "Brothers," set sail from Rotterdam in Hol- land, from which city nearly all German emi- grants embarked, especially the Palatines. His children by his first wife were Maria

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

Jacobina, Maria Barbara,* John George, * John George. These children were born in the fatherland. He brought with him three children then living, and one year after their arrival, married Maria Catrina Winegarten, by whom he had four children, namely: John Leonard, John Andrew, John George and John Jacob.

Gotfried Stauch, born in Germany, 1724, married in 1751 to Anna Maria Dartl, came with his brother to America in 1752, al- though he did not sail in the same vessel with his brother. It was the ship, "President," commanded by Capt. Donlap. He had one child by his first marriage, John George. This boy, while yet an infant, and his mother died on the sea while on their way to Ameri- ca. He was married in Dover Township to Charlotte Kessler, on Christmas day, 1754, it being her birthday. They had four children, namely: Elizabeth, John, Philippina, Su- sanna.

Some of the first births recorded were John, son of John and Susanna Lenhardt, born, February 18, 1762. Susanna, daughter of Casper and Anna Barbara Danner, born April 8, 1762. John William Grim, born June, 1762. Ten births are recorded for the same year and about twenty each of the fol- lowing years to 1766. The first death re- corded, was that of George Frederick Scheatl (Shettle), who died of apoplexy, May 20, 1763, aged fifty years, buried on Whit-Sun- day, "In die neue Kirchof." "There was a large assembly of people present," says the record book. The second death was that of a child of John Peter Streher, July 5, 1763, aged five years, ten months and fifteen days. George Adam Diehl and Christine Spangler were married May 30, 1758. The first marriage on record. Matthew Meyer (widower) and Christine Dorothea Nueller were married November 19, 1758.

The first confirmation services on record were held November 7, 1762. The persons confirmed were George Adam Oberdier, sev- enteen years old; Susanna Oberdier, fifteen years; Margaret Gensart, Mary Barbara Gensart, Catrina Burgart. On Ascension day, 1765, there were twenty-eight persons con- firmed, most of them children, and new set- tlers. April 13, 1766, there were twenty. two confirmations; many of them from "Peter Wolf's Church, in Manchester Township." April 26, 1767, there were thirty-six confirm- ations. Confirmation services were held once every two years. John Peter Spaar and Andreas Gross, young men, were designated on record of confirmation in 1767 "children of good hopes."

The following is a copy of a legal record :

I, Peter Streher, of Dover Township, in the county of York and Province of Pennsylvania, farmer, in consideration of the esteem and affection I bear toward the German Lutheran and German Reformed congregations of said township, for the Sum of 5 Shillings paid by George Stouch and Adam Bartmess, trustees and representatives of the Lu- theran congregation, Jacob May and Jacob Meyer, trustees and representatives of the German Re- formed congregation, do convey unto them and their successors forever in trust for said church con- gregations, 3 acres of land.

The deed of the three acres as a site for a church aud burying ground, was dated Janu- ary 5, 1765.

Upon the death of Peter Streher, his two sons, who inherited his property, had the church land surveyed, and in accordance with letters patent on the 8th day of May, 1797, executed another deed in trust for same tract of land to John Overdier and Ja- cob Stouch, trustees of the German Lutheran congregation, Peter Upp and Jacob Lauer, trustees of the German Reformed congrega- tion. The second indenture was made in order to make the title to the church proper ty good after the surrounding land was pat- euted.

A charter of incorporation was granted to the two denominations that worship in Salem's Church, on the 29th of May, 1824. The persons named in the charter were as follows: Peter Streher, Frederick Stough, Peter Lecron, John Sheffer, elders; Nicholas Hoffman and John Hantz, wardens of the Lutheran congregation; John Lauer, Jacob Zinn, Christian Hamm, William Caldwell, elders; Jacob March and Jacob Kann, war- dens of the Reformed congregation.

The pastors of the Lutheran congregation were Lucas Raus from organization to 1776; Jacob Goering from 1776 to 1783; N. Kurtz and John Groop. A. G. Deininger, for fifty- two years, consecutively until his death in 1880, aged eighty-five years. D. Sell is the present pastor of the Lutheran congregation, whose communicant membership is 800. As many as 500 persous have communed in one day.

The Reformed congregation as nearly as can be determined, was served by pastors Vandersloot, Charles Helfenstein, Daniel Ziegler, D. D., for twenty seven years; Jacob Kehm, four years; Jacob Ziegler, eight years, and by I. S. Weisz, the present pastor for twelve years. The Reformed membership is 400. The combined membership of this church is over 1,200 communicants, the highest num- ber of any church in York County.

Jacob Fink died in Dover, in 1882, aged ninety-two years, seven months and eighteen

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DOVER TOWNSHIP.

days, he and his wife, Elizabeth, had been married, sixty-seven years at the time of his death. Near the center of the burying ground adjoining the Dover Church, rest the remains of John G. Quickel, who died November 7, 1870, aged one hundred years, eight months and eleven days. In this graveyard two acres in area, there were about 3,000 interments from 1763 to 1883. A beautifully located cemetery was laid off by Dr. Lenhart, a short distance southeast of the church. The first interment was the remains of Elizabeth Nei- man, who died September 6, 1870. There are now many fine monuments in this cemetery. Daniel Hamme, who died in 1874, aged nine- ty-five years, was here interred.

THE BOROUGH OF DOVER.

In 1752 Gerhart Greaff, who afterward . wrote his name Graves, petitioned "the worshipful justices of the county of York, to grant him their recommendation to the Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania, for a lycence to Keep a public house, on the road leading from York to Carlisle, being greatly Burthened with travelors passing. To remedy that inconvenience he has furnished himself with Liquor and other Necessaries suitable for the Entertainment of travellers, and is desirous of Keeping Tavern." His petition was granted and doubtless "mine host" Gerhart kept an orderly house. He also started the first store there. In 1776 he organized a company of soldiers in his township, which joined Col. Swope's regi- ment, then forming in York. Before leaving Dover for York, however, his men made a certain Tory stand on a stump and give three cheers for Gen. Washington, and the Con- tinental Army. Capt. Greaff and his brave German soldiers, all except eighteen, were captured in the battle of Long Island, and for a time languished in a British prison. Before the Revolution, and during the year 1762, Gerhart Greaff had a new neighbor in the person, of Jacob Joner (pronounced as in German Yoner), who purchased 2033 acres of land, and in the year 1764 laid out the town of Dover. This was twenty-three years after the founding of York, and one year after Hanover. Joner had his new town regularly platted, and sold the lots subject to a quit- rent. The deeds were printed at Ephratae, Lancaster County, he having lived in Lea- cock Township, that county, before moving to York County. Dover was the original name of the town, and is so mentioned in Joner's deeds; "Joner's town" and "yoner- stettle," for more than half a century, were

the names locally used. In fact the town was rarely called Dover, until 1815, when a postoffice was established there. The orig- inal deeds, called for an annual quit-rent of 7s. 6d, and required that a house of at least sixteen feet square, with chimney of brick or stone, must be built by the purchaser of a lot, within three years from date of purchase. Joner's signatures were in a clear legible hand. Most of the original houses of the town were built of logs, and a few of these old relics are still standing.

DOVER IN 1783.

In 1783 the village of Dover contained a population of 81; of this number 44 were males, and 37 females. Jacob Joner owned twenty five lots and a house on the square. Various trades were represented. Nicholas Joner and Henry Matthews were cordwain - ers, and made boots and shoes for the sur- rounding populace. George Marik owned a house and six lots. John Gross, Samuel Wilt and Jacob Bigler were weavers, and with the old style tread machines, manufac- tured the cloth for the wearing apparel of themselves and neighbors.

John Swan, a good-natured Irishman, was the village blacksmith. While diligently working at his trade, he related many stories of his war history to the little boys and girls who frequently gathered around him. John Urban was a locksmith. Joseph Spangler and Barnhart Rudy, inn keepers; Martin Reisinger, tailor; Peter Trien, tanner, John Cook, Thomas Metzler, Michael Gross, James Montgomery, John Stewart, Conrad Miller, Abraham Fisher and George Stouch, each owned houses and lived in Dover. Daniel May was justice of the peace.

INCORPORATION.

The town of Dover was incorporated in 1864, just one hundred years after it was founded. Reuben Hoffheims, now of York, was the first chief burgess, and Jacob B. Fink, secretary of the council. There are now two hotels and several stores. It is a very pleasant village, with a population of 550, and a real estate valuation of $125,776.

The hotel on the square was kept by George Darrone, father, son and grandson, from 1809 to 1859, without change of name. It has been kept in the Wiest name, father and son, for thirty years continuously.

Dr. Lewis, a prominent physician of this town, was the agent of the "underground railroad," through Dover during times of slavery in the South.

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

The oldest person of the village, Elizabeth Fink, is ninety years; Daniel Gross is eighty-six and. John Rodgers eighty. The Dover cornet band was organized, and at first was connected with Capt. Worley's vol - unteer military company. It now has a membership of eighteen, with Roman Bower- sox as leader.

Carriage building for many years past, has been an important industry, and large num- bers are now being made. Reuben Hoff- heins, in 1858, began the manufacture of a reaper of his own invention. In 1860 he began to make also the "Ball reaper" in large quantities.

The postoffice was established in 1815. Soon after the Revolutionary war, Israel Melchinger, an ex-Hessian soldier located here, and so far as can now be stated, be- came the first postmaster. He was still in office in 1830; he prospered in business. His son Englehart Melchinger, succeeded him. O. J. Yost and Samuel Aughenbaugh were also postmasters.

A destructive fire occurred in Dover, in March, 1844. Two houses, a tavern and a stable were destroyed, on the Public Square. Soon after this event the town purchased the old engine from the Vigilant Fire Company, of York. It is kept in an engine house on the square.

The carriage shop of Theopholus Gross burnt down a few years ago. There being too small a supply of water in the vicinity, the engine could not be effectively used. .

As early as 1770 a parochial school was started in a building connected with the Dover Lutheran and Reformed Church. At this place most of the youths of the vicinity received their mental training. Early in the present century schools were held in the private houses of the villagers. A house was built in the northern part, and another in the southwestern part of town. They con- tinued in use until they became very much dilapidated. There arose a great contention about the erection of a new graded school building. In the year 1881, during the same night, both old buildings were destroyed by fire, and the same year two new ones built on the same sites, at a combined cost of $2,200.

Near the village of Dover was a noted place for the "big musters" and other mili- tary parades. - The battalions drilled on the most eligible fields. As many as ten or fif- teen companies of militia and some volun- teer companies annually collected here during the month of May, and were reviewed by Brigade Inspector Archibald S. Jordon and

later by Cols. Henry Stover, S. N. Bailey and George Hay. The local companies, toward the last of militia days, were commanded by Capts. John Worley John Sharp, Samuel Miller and others. These annual gatherings ceased about 1856. Conrad Kline, the last Revolutionary soldier of Dover Township, died in the village at the advanced age of ninety-seven years. His remains were in- terred with the honors of war by a local vol- unteer company. He was one of many brave Germans who, early in the war for American independence, championed the cause of their adopted country. He followed the occupa- tion of a gunsmith.

WEIGLESTOWN.

This is a hamlet near the southern bound- ary of Dover Township, about five miles from York. Among the first settlers in this sec- tion were two men by the name of Weigle. One of them was a tavern keeper, and the other a blacksmith. The village received its name about 1825, at which time there was a collection of half a dozen houses. It is lo- cated on an inclined plane of the character- istic mesozoic red sandstone, of which most of the township is composed. The first store was kept by John Noss. The postoffice was established in 1878, and William Weigle appointed postmaster. He still fills the position, and keeps a store and tavern. In the same spot where his house now stands there was recently removed an old stone one which was erected by Jacob Weigle near the middle of last century. At the south end of the village, in 1878, St. Paul's United Brethren Church was erected. It is the only house of worship in the village. The pres- ent population is about 100. A few hundred yards north of Weiglestown, at the forks of the Dover and Shippensburg roads, Capt. Sharp was killed in the autumn of 1814. The circumstances of his unfortunate death were as follows: He was commander of a company of militia of Dover Township. At the time of the approach of Gen. Ross with the British Army to Baltimore, his company, together with all others in the county, was called to the place of rendezvous at York, where many thousands of soldiers had col- lected. Upon the news of the death of Ross and the retreat of his army from Baltimore, nearly all the soldiers who had gone to York were discharged. On his way home Capt. Sharp was riding a race, when the horse, at the forks of the road, threw his rider against a tree, and he was instantly killed.

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DOVER TOWNSHIP.

DAVIDSBURG.

This is an interesting little village on the Shippensburg road near the west end of the township. It was the home of Dr. Frederick Ernst Melsheimer, the distinguished ento- mologist, a sketch of whose life will be found in the history of Hanover, in the medi- cal history in this work ..

There are two stores here and a tavern. The population is about 100, a short distance south is the pleasant little hamlet of New- port or Slabtown.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

Mennonite Meeting House .- On the 10th of May, 1825, John Lethra, Henry Sipe and Joseph Hershey as trustees for the Menno- nite congregation of Dover Township pur- chased of John Brubaker for $1, eighty perches of land on which to build a meeting-house. The land was deeded to the above named members in trust, and to their successors forever who may be appointed by a majority of the members of said congrega- tion after the death or resignation of said trustees.

The land was located on the road leading then from Jacob Frick's Mill to Philip Symser's Mill. This church now belongs to the Codorus charge, which includes a church in Washington and one in Codorus. Daniel Bare and Abraham Roth were among the early preachers of this church in York County organized in 1753. Next ministers were Josiah Hershey, Benjamin Hershey, John Frantz, Isaac Kauffman, Jacob Hershey and S. L. Roth. The last three are the present ministers. The membership is forty five.

Rohler's Union Church .- This church is lo- cated in the northeast end of the township, was built in 1870 of excellent native sandstone at a cost of $800, and dedicated by Revs. Raber, Craumer and Brickley. Philip Crone and John H. Myers, did the mason work. The trustees and building committee were Samuel Kunkle, Johu H. Myers and Henry S. Crone. It is now used by the United Brethren in Christ only. There are thirty members.

On the 19th of March, 1800, Jacob Rohler for 1 pound and 10 shillings deeded "one acre of land adjoining a graveyard to Hugh Laird, John Richcreek and John Miller, trustees, on which land was to be built a new schoolhouse and Union meeting-house for any that preach the gospel." Near this same spot the old Dover Baptist congregation worshiped, of which mention is made on page 384.

Lutheran Church .-- A few hundred yards

west of Rohler's Church stands the new Lutheran Church, built in 1870. The con- gregation previously worshiped in the Union Church built in 1800. The new church cost about $1,000. The following named clergy- men have officiated here : Revs. Finfrock, Focht, Dasher, Seiffert and Ehrhard.

United Brethren Church is located on the Bull Road, in Dover Township, near the boundary line with Conewago. It was built in 1858.

INDIAN RELICS.

On the road leading from Dover to Strines- town. on farms now owned by Henry Stouffer and Henry Rahauser, along Fox's Run, In- dian graves, mounds, arrow heads and other traces of our aborigines have been discovered. That section was doubtless a favorate hunting ground, and evidently for a time the site of an Indian village. A mortar, which was the common instrument used by the Indians to grind corn or maize, was found on this spot by George Ensminger of Strinestown. There is a large stationary mortar near Harmony Grove Church, in this township. It was hewn out of a large rock.

SMALL FRUITS.

Strawberry raising has lately become an im- portant industry in the northern part of Dover Township. In 1884 Jesse Crone, county audi- tor, raised 7,700 boxes on two acres, which were disposed of at 73 cents a box. Henry Wilt, of Conewago, raised 2,500 boxes; Henry Fahs, of Dover, 1,300 boxes ; Joseph Boring, of Newberry, 8,000 boxes on four acres of land. The Ball Hill country, mostly lying in New- berry Township but adjoining Conewago and Dover, is noted for the raising of small fruits and peaches. The land here is a pure red shale, and generally slopes to the south, ab- sorbing warm rays of sunlight during the early spring time. By proper cultivation the strawberry crop on this land yields luscious fruit abundantly.

The sandstone, for the trimming of the Harrisburg Court House, was quarried in Dover Township by Philip S. Crone. Fur- nace stone containing sixty cubic feet were also obtained years ago near the base of the Conewago Hills. A quarry was opened on the Drawbaugh farm in 1884. Some years ago a live toad was found in a hole without a vent in the center of a large sandstone, in this town- ship.

INTRODUCTION OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

John Sharp, who, in 1885, was living at the age of eighty-one, served thirty-two years as a school director for Dover Town-

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

ship. He is a son of Capt. George Sharp, who was killed in 1814 by being thrown from a horse near Weiglestown. The pres- ent public school system, under the act of 1834, was not accepted in Dover Township until the passage of the act of 1848, which recognized all school districts in the State as having accepted the system, and during the winter of 1849-50, the great contest arose in this township, to introduce the "free schools." John Sharp, Peter Stough, Peter Boyer, Jacob Emig, George Beck and Sam- uel Meisenhelder, composed the first board of directors. Schools had been regularly kept up before this time, under the super- vision of two directors. Andrew Dinsmore, of York, in the fall of 1849, held the first examination. The incidents of this examin- ation would no doubt be interesting to re- late, but we forbear to give any of them here. Some of the directors were not favor- able to accepting all the provisions of the school law, and resigned. The court then appointed John Sharp, Moses Hoover, Adam May, Sr., Jacob Sheaffer, and Henry Bender, to serve. Two of these resigned on account of opposition to the system. There are now fifteen schools in this township.

EMIG'S MILLS.

For more than three-fourths of a century one of the old-time houses of public enter- tainment was kept at this place, first by Derrick Updegraff, who "took up" the land in 1745. A store has been kept here for many years, and is now owned by Henry Emig. Jacob Emig purchased the mill site in 1831, of Jacob Frick, who bought it of Adam Speck in 1813. Tempest Tucker was the owner of the property for many years before this time. The mill originated in colonial times. Martin Emig is the present owner. The covered wooden bridge across the Conewago at this place, was built in 1848, by John Finley. By a special act of the legislature of Pennsylvania, the Cone- wago is a public highway as far up as the mouth of the Bermudian. The picturesque point formed by the confluence of the Cone- wago and Bermudian, is familiarly known as the "picket."

THE TOWNSHIP OF CONEWAGO.

T HIS township was formed out of a por- tion of Newberry and Dover. The east- ern third belonged to the former, and the western two-thirds to the latter township. It

contaius 11,000 acres, according to the survey made in October, 1814, by Jacob Spangler and Daniel Small. Viewers were appointed whose report was confirmed at the January term of court in 1818. It was named after the winding streams that course its northern, southern and eastern boundary. The name is of Indian origin and means "at the rap- ids." The Big Conewago flows into the river at the foot of the rapids. This town- ship has the form of a wedge, blocked in be- tween Manchester and Dover. Newberry forms its northern boundary. Conewago Township at the time of its formation con- tained 245 taxable inhabitants. The assessed valuation of real and personal property was $185,000. Col. Henry Stover was the largest land owner-328 acres valued at $6,275. Frederick Hevel and Henry Miller were inn keepers. Frederick Shetter owned a carding- mill; Philip Fettrow a saw-mill and hemp- mill; Andrew Miller an oil mill; John Beck- er, and Stoehr & Demuth, saw-mill and grist- mill; Daniel Reeser, grist mill; John Datis- man, tailor; John Keener, tailor; Samuel Parks, nail-maker. The coopers of the town- ship were Peter Wilt, George Fink, David Gross, John Hoffman, Michael Weyer, and George Finck. The weavers were George Benedict, William Barnes, Henry Brenneman, Peter Fink, Jacob Frysinger, Jacob Peters, Adam Keener, Jacob Meyer, Jacob Rupert, Jacob Schlothour, Henry Vickers, George Wintemeyer, John Finck, Michael Benedict, David Miller and Jacob Wentz. The follow- ing persons owned distilleries: Peter Grass, Frederick Ilgenfritz, Martin Meyer, John Reeser, Henry Stover, Michael Shettle, Hen- ry Schmidt, Jacob Stover, Michael Wilt and Peter Zarger.

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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 132

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