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 133

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 133

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CHURCH HISTORY.

Zion, Lutheran and Reformed Church. - Near the banks of the little Conewago, on a gentle elevation with a commanding view of the surrounding country, stands a large and handsome building, long since known as "Quickel's Church," owned by the Lutheran and Reformed denominations. Three early German settlers, Frederick Eichholtz, Lud- wig Weir and Henry Shunk, in 1767 pur- chased a tract of land containing thirty acres. for £7 15s. 9d. This land is now a part of Jacob Bear's farm, and was at the time of the purchase located in Dover Township, as Conewago was not formed until forty years later. Upon this tract was a stone school building, the first one erected in that section, and tradition says was then old. It had been used for school purposes and occasionally for

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CONEWAGO TOWNSHIP.

religious worship. Rev. John George Bager, an earnest and faithful missionary among the German settlers, and a man of rare culture and intelligence, effected an organization of the Lutherans June 2, 1767, soon after the purchase of the land. The Reformed congre- gation was organized about the same time as the Lutheran. The large tract was sold and March 20, 1770, a deed was executed by Michael Quickel and Barbara, his wife, con- veying two acres and forty-seven perches, the site of the present church, for a consideration of 40 shillings, to "Conrad Becker, Sebastian Fink, Jacob Hake, Paul Wilt, Ludwig Meyer and George Schmied, elders and trustees of a church which the Lutherans and Calvinists (Reformed) now have in this township." Michael Quickel stipulated in the deed of conveyance that his wife Barbara should have a pew during her life in the new church, which was built of logs the same year. The stone building continued to be used for a parochial school.

For many years these humble worshipers who gathered here were satisfied with the log building; eventually it was enlarged, weather-boarded and rededicated. Becom- ing old and dilapidated, and not large enough to accommodate the congregations,in 1850, after being used eighty-three years, was removed and the present large brick church erected. In 1881 it was remodeled and sur- mountedwith a spire 100 feet high, and a bell weighing 1,500 pounds was purchased. Rev. C. J. Deininger became pastor of the Luth- erau congregation in April, 1858, since which time to his death in 1885 he administered here the rite of baptism to 690 infants, 63 adults, officiated at 333 funerals and con-

firmed 419 members. The Lutheran pastors who have served this congregation since its organization in order of succession have been as follows: Revs. Bager (Baugher), Lucas Raus (Rouse), John Nicholas Kurtz, Jacob Goering, John George Schmucker, A. H. Lochman, C. J. Deininger and J. Henry Leeser. The present church membership of the Lutheran denomination is 425.

The Reformed Congregation was organ- ized in 1765, and at first ministered to by the pastors of the York Church, among whom were Revs. George Geistweite, James Ross Riley, Lewis Mayer, Daniel Ziegler and David Bossler. Rev. Rhinehart Smith is the present pastor. The church was incor- porated in 1790.

Green Spring Church .- This church was built in 1877 by S. Aurand, preacher in charge. The following ministers were pres- ent when dedicated: S. Aurand, H. W. Buck

and H. W. Gross. The trustees are Samuel Bahn, John Thomas and William Linebaugh. S. Aurand and H. W. Gross were the first pastors, followed by S. Yearlck, C. M. Fink- binder, H. ; D. Greninger, M. J. Snyder and L. E. Crumbling. The last named is pastor at present.

THE VILLAGE OF STRINESTOWN.

This town, which originated in 1800, was for many years called Mount Pleasant. It is pleasantly situated ten miles from York, near the northern part of the township, and has two or three stores, a hotel and a popu- lation of 160. The manufacture of cigars has been an important industry here for half a century.

The property owners of the village in 1819, were George King; Widow Miller; Charles Heyer; Peter Redman; Charles Lindeman; Frederick Miller; Frederick Hevel, inn keeper; Martin Shetter; John Strine, cord- wainer; Henry Miller, inn keeper; Elizabeth Zorger; Frederick Stoner, justice of the peace; Christian Strine; Godfrey Lenhart; Jacob Zorger, wheelwright; JacobWolf, tobac- conist; Conrad Sandreman; Jacob Keyer, cordwainer; Widow Weyer. Jacob Stoehr, of Manchester Township owned one house, and George Neuman, one. Michael Weyer was a blacksmith. In the war of 1812 he was at Baltimore.

Mount Pleasant Chapel was built in 1872. at a cost of $1,500. The building committee were Barnhart Zorger, Daniel Wehrley and John A. Krafft. It was dedicated by Rev. William Kramer as a union chapel, all orthodox religious denominations are allowed to worship in it. At present it is used by the United Brethren in Christ, whose pastor is Rev. Wagner, and also by the Old School Brethren (Dunkers). The preachers of this denomination are Revs. Wiley, Cook and Daniel Altland.

The Strinestown Union Sunday-school meets in this building. It numbers about fifty members and is superintended by John A. Toomy. It was organized in 1859. Barn- hart Zorger, who was the first superintend- ent, remained in the position twenty years.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

There are nine public schools in Conewago; the names of them are as follows: Bower's, Strinestown, Fink's, Rudy's, Crone's, Bear's, Green Spring, Shettel's and Neiman's.

INDIAN RELICS.

The fertile and alluvial flats along the

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

Conewago Creek were favorite resorts for the red man, especially parts of the tribes of the Conoys and Shawanese, who were numerous near the mouth of the stream and on the oppo- site side of the Susquehanna. In company with George Ensminger, the writer found evi- dent traces of an Indian burying ground near Green Spring. Along the Conewago, Indian pipes, scalping knives, tomahawks, spear points and arrow heads were discovered. On the land of Barnhart Zorger, near Strines- town, perfect arrow heads were found and close by were piles of spauls of dolerite, the same kind of stone as the arrow heads, show- ing that here they made arrows from the rough stone. This was the site of an Indian village.

HISTORICAL NOTES.

John Garrettson, in 1742, built the first mill along the Conewago, possibly on the Newberry side of the stream. He was one of the first Quaker settlers, and owned the rich alluvial lands on the north side of the stream immediately below the bridge. The large mill, north of Strinestown, is now owned by Mr. Cline. On lands owned by H. B. Strine, three quarters of a mile northwest of Strinestown, is the spot of one of the first in- dustries of this section. It was a very old mill in 1820, and was used in grinding grain, with a fulling-mill and carding-mill attached. John Ellis, in 1850, was the last owner, when it was torn away.

On the road leading from Quickel's Church to Lewisberry once stood a tannery. The business was carried on by Martin Copen- hafer. Basket making is now, and long has been, an important industry, carried on by many inhabitants along the Conewago Hills. John Steffee, for many years, conducted a pottery from native clay. After the father retired, the two sons continued the business, Gabriel near the "Seven Stars Hotel," and Adam near Strinestown.

A thrilling and fatal accident occurred along the Conewago near the mouth of Ben- nett's Run. It was during the time of the early settlement, and according to tradition was as follows: A man named Sipe went out hunting wild turkeys and had a tame turkey on his back. He used a turkey bone as a whistle to call the game and the turkey on his back would answer. This was done in order to attract the wild turkeys to him that he might shoot them. He was thus crawling on his hands and knees, when another hunter who saw only the turkey on his back and not the man, through the dense thicket, fired at his supposed game. The ball passed through the man's neck and killed him.

Ann Plow, an eccentric individual, who before 1812 lived north of Newberry, was ac customed to place iron bars over the top of the chimney of her house in order to keep witches out.

Militia parades, were held near the west end of the township on land now owned by John N. Bull, Col. Stover had more than a local fame as a commander. He was suc- ceeded by Col. Bear. There was a volunteer company in 1848, commanded by Capt. Eisenhart of Dover Township and Capt. Daniel Motter afterward the proprietor of the Motter House in York. This company was called out to assist in quelling the Philadel- phia riots, in 1844.

During the Confederate invasion of 1863, a scouting party of Stuart's cavalry entered the west end of the township captured a number of horses from the farmers, and ob- tained coffee, sugar and some wearing ap- parel at a store then kept by Eli S. Quickel.

There are veins of valuable sandstone in this township. The stones used in erecting the front of the York jail in 1855, were ob- tained in Conewago. Henry Kochenour had the contract to furnish them.

Henry Kochenour in 1825, assisted in kill- ing the last wolf that lived in the Conewago Hills. Deer and wild turkeys were seen much later, foxes and raccoons are still plen- tiful.

Near the southern base of the Conewago Hills, there issues forth in all its crystal beauty a constant stream of water, which has long been known as "Green Spring." Just as the snow and frost of winter disappear, there is a dense growth of grass around the spring, which fact gave this spot its interesting name. In early times it was a favorite resort for the timid deer and the voracious wolf, which harbored in the adjoining hills.

Near this spring, in a public schoolhouse, a union Sunday-school has long since flour- ished. It was superintended several years by A. W. Ensminger, who was accidentally drowned in the Conewago."

Samuel Fettrow was an eccentric though intelligent individual, and for many years lived alone in the Conewago Hills. He was born in Fairview Township, and was a de- scendant of a very respectable ancestry that. came from Holland. He claimed to be a doctor, lawyer and surveyor, and had an office on the summit of the mountain. He always wore a white crowned high silk hat, light colored suit, and was never without an umbrella. He boiled his drinking water in order to purify it. His own burial casket he made himself, long before his death. The

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PARADISE TOWNSHIP.

limestone pyramid at the head of his grave, in the burying ground adjoining Rohler's meeting-house, was made by his own hands.

THE TOWNSHIP OF PARADISE.

T HIS township, which originally included Jackson, was erected under the act of the provincial assembly of 1739, and laid off in 1747 by Joseph Pidgeon, a surveyor who lived in Philadelphia County. Doubtless the wooded hills which are partly in its southern limits, were named after him. Its original shape was rectangular, with irregular lines for its boundaries. The word Paradise is significantly interesting. A township by same name had been organized in Lancaster Coun- ty, in the beautiful Pequa Valley, a few years before. These two townships are the only ones in America so highly honored, though a number of villages have assumed the name. Possibly the beautiful surround- ings or the enchanting view from the sum- mit of the hills, afforded to the early settlers or the surveyor, led them to appropriate this significant word to designate the name of their new township. The land was mostly taken up by Germans.

In 1783 Paradise had 141 houses, 116 barns, estimated area 19,344 acres of settled land, five mills and a population of 943. A considerable portion of the township, which is now fertile, was a woody swamp, hence called by the first German settlers "Holz- schwamm." In early days it was not thickly settled.

The population in 1880 was 1,372; the number of taxable inhabitants in 1883 was 426; valuation of real estate, $765,890.

The township, since the formation of Jack- son from it, is an irregular parallelogram, its length more than equal to twice its breadth. Dover joins it on the north, Jackson on the east, Heidelberg on the south, and Adams County on the west. The soil is in general sandy; the northern part is red shale. The York & Gettysburg Turnpike diagonally crosses it.

CHURCHES.

The Holz-Schwamm Church .- This his- toric old church originated in 1775. Rev. Jacob Goering, who then lived at Carlisle, was first pastor. Rev. Dr. Schmucker was pastor in 1809. Rev.Conrad Reiman in 1817, who lived in Abbottstown. It was first owned by the Lutherans, and the congregation for

many years ministered to, by the pastors of St. Matthew's Church of Hanover. Rev. Jacob Lischy, as early as 1750, performed the duties of a missionary through this section for the German Reformed denomination, and Rev. William Otterbein, of the same denom- ination, for a short time preached here.

On February 15, 1826, an article of agree- ment was formed between the Lutheran and German Reformed congregations, which gave to each equal rights and privileges to the church, church property and burying- ground. Both congregations appointed a day to meet in said church on account of a disturbance that took place concerning the title made for the land and all the improve- ments thereon erected. Rev. Jacob Albert, the pastor, was appointed chairman of the meeting, and Jacob Ernst, secretary. Rev. Albert stated to the meeting that the original deed of the land was granted to the Luther- ans only, but as the Reformed congregation had assisted for a number of years past to improve the building, graveyard and fences, he requested all present at the meeting to decide whether the "Reformed people, or Presbyterians" shall have the same right as the Lutherans. It was unanimously agreed to, and also that the elders and wardens then belonging to the two congregations shall enter into an article and bind themselves that none of said congregation shall be dis- turbed, and that one denomination shall have the same power as the other. "That the words in the old deed which saith 'only for the use of the Lutherans,' shall be consid- ered null and void forever, and shall also be for the use of the Lutherans and Reformers, or Presbyterians, forever." The following- named church officers bound themselves and their successors to fulfill the article of agree- ment: John Trostle and Ludwig Swartz, elders, and William Trostle, Samuel Zerfas, John Baker and Daniel March, wardens of said congregations, Lutheran and Reformed. It was witnessed by Henry King, John Weh- ler and George Trostle. It was acknowl- edged before Jacob Ernst, Esq., on February 27, 1826. The name Presbyterian was fre- quently given to the German Reformed Church in early days.

Since 1826 those who ministered to the Reformed congregation were Revs. Vander- sloot, Charles Helfenstein, Daniel Ziegler for twenty-seven years; Jacob Kehm, four years; Jacob Ziegler, eight years, and I. S. Weisz, D. D., twelve years. The last named, in 1885, is pastor of the congregation which numbers 250 members.

Rev. A. G. Deininger was pastor of the

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

Lutheran congregation for fifty-one years in succession, and died September 28, 1880, aged eighty-five years, eleven months and twenty-six days. He was succeeded by Rev. D. Sell, who resides in Abbotstown. Lu- theran membership, 500 communicants. In 1884 the present church was frescoed, car- peted, chandeliers and new pulpit purchased -- all at a cost of $1,100. Four acres of land is church property.

Paradise Catholic Church .- The land on which this church now stands, was purchased by Frederick Brant, in 1782, and paid for in Continental money, which soon thereafter became worthless. Brant was an economical German, and prospered as a farmer and mil- ler. His large grist mill, which stood by the stream north of the church, however, burned down about 1816, and was never rebuilt. Religious services were held in a hall of the old Brant mansion at an early date, by the Catholic people of the vicinity, and con- ducted by visiting clergy from Conewago Chapel, near McSherry's town. Upon the death of Frederick Brant, in 1822, aged seventy-four years, he bequeathed to the Catholic Church, one half of the proceeds of his farm of 260 acres of valuable land, for the education of young men for the priesthood. The present large and com- modious church building of an excellent quality of blue and grey sandstone, was erected in 1843, and consecrated with imposing ceremonies. Henry Kulın and Henry Felix, were the masons. For a time a parochial school was kept in the basement of the church. The auditorium was finely frescoed by experienced workmen, in 1880. A fine pipe organ has been placed to the rear of the room on a gallery, and a well trained choir furnishes the music.

Altland's Meeting House .- About three- fourths of a mile east of Bigmount, the German Baptists, or Dunkers, worship in a neatly constructed brick building. It was erected as a union meeting house; any ortho- dox denominations are allowed to hold relig- ious services. At present, it is used only by the German Baptists, an honest, unassuming and industrious people. Nearly all the members of that denomination are farmers, and are among the well-to-do people of the township. In 1853, they departed from their former custom of conducting religious meetings in the houses and barns of members, and assisted in the erection of this building, familiary known as "Altland's Meeting House." In the year 1880, it was blown down by a high wind storm, but was immedi- ately rebuilt.

The preachers who conduct the services in both the English and German languages are Daniel Altland, William Weiley, Hezekiah Cook, John Raffensberger and Emanuel Gochenour. Trustees are Isaac King, Thomas Julius and Cornelius Spangler. This meeting house belongs to the Lower Conewago District, composed of four places of worship, including this one. One is lo- cated in Washington township, on the Ber- mudian Creek; another near Dillsburg, and another in Strinestown.

PARADISE BRICK YARD.

In the year 1858, P. S. Alwine, began burning bricks, on his farm in this town- ship, and has continued the business in the same place ever since, even during the exciting times of the civil war. At this yard, about 300,000 bricks were made an- nually, or about 8,000,000 in the twenty- six years of its existence. About 3,000 cords of wood have been consumed in burn- ing the bricks. Mr. Alwine owns a large yard and kiln at New Oxford, and one at Spring Grove. At each of these places, he manufactures about 700,000 bricks annually.

NAMES OF TAXABLES IN 1783.

The following is a list of the taxable in- habitants of Paradise (which then included Jackson) in 1783:

John Appleman, David Griffith,

Philip Altland, David Griffith. Jr.,

Jacob Amend,

Valentine Graff,

Daniel Amend,

Peter Geiss,

Samuel Arnold,

Wendel Geier,

George Beck, Charles Keim,

Henry Berkheimer,

Christian Keim,

Peter Brihner,

M. Herman (tannery),

Thomas Beissel,

Tobias Haberstock (still),

Nicholas Bentz,

William Kasper,

Andrew Bentz,

John Heidler,

Fred. Brandt, grist-mill, Andrew Haherstock,

David Baker,

Patrick Haney,

Conrad Henry (still),

Joseph Baltzly,

Tobias Heltzel,

Peter Boose,

Andrew Hershey,

Andrew Bally,

Peter Hershey,

George Conrad,

Philip Haherstock,

John Dierdorff,

Peter Dewald (joiner)

Conrad Doll,

Philip Jacobs,

George Jacobs,

John Denlinger.

Frederich Decker,

Paul Emes,

Casper Kerber,

Nicholas Entres,

Rudy Klinepeter,

Martin Fort,

Nicholas Henry (hatter),

Henry Fissel,

Yost Keiner (mason),

John Fissel,

John Longmuth,

Michael Fissel,

Christian Leinbach,

Paul Fegely,

Henry Long (still),

Michael Fried.

Elick Leese,

Matthew Graff,

Jacob Howry,

Andrew Young,

John Joseph,

John Dicks,

Tempest Tucker,

Lorenz Krone,

John Kell,

Christian Kell,

Peter Bobb,

Joseph Hershey,

Adam Christ,

Peter Dierdorff,

J. Lehn (saw and oil-mill),

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PARADISE TOWNSHIP.

Jacob Lischy,

Michael Strasbach,

Peter Moore,

Joseph Sunday,

Jacob Marks,

Frederick Stover (still),

Peter Meinhardt,

Jacob Stover,

Jacob Miller,

Jacob Sarbach,

John Myer,

Henry Spangler, Barnhart Spangler,

William Mummert,

John Nagle,

Rudy Spangler, Barnhardt Spangler, Sr.,

Christopher Nagle,

Christopher Spies,

George Peterman,

Casper Sneider,

Adam Pfeiffer,

Philip Sheaffer, Spring Forge (1,000 acres), John Trimmer,

Martin Raffensberger (blacksmith),

Andrew Trimmer,

Widow Rentzel,

George Tressler,

Francis Raymer (tannery Adam Walter, and still),

Jacob Roth,

Ludwig Walter,

Abraham Roth,

Jos. Wilson (inn-keeper), Christian Wiest,

Geo. Rudy (inn-keeper), Peter Wolf,

John Stouffer (grist andJohn Wiest, saw mill),

Lorentz Swigart,

Henry Weller,

G. Shimpf (cordwainer), Jacob Wantz,

Peter Zollinger.

SINGLE MEN.

John White, Henry Kleinpeter, John Dressler, Philip Eppleman,

Christian Hershey,

Daniel Jacobs,

Adam Stover,

Philip Jacobs,

Rudolph Kleinpeter,

Christian Danner,

Adam Kleinpeter,

Henry Stover,

John Boose,

Andrew Sontag,

Jacob Boose,

David Myer.

BIGMOUNT.

This village is situated in a thickly settled, highly productive region in the northern part of the township near the border of Do- ver and the Big Conewago Creek. The name originated with Emanuel C. Beck, who, in 1860, kept the village store, when Shearer & Lake made their map of York County. They asked for a name to designate the place, whereupon he gave "Bigmount" after a village by that name in Iowa. It was printed on the map, and the place has since been known by that name. It is located on a moderately elevated large mound, of near- ly circular shape, with a commanding view of the surrounding country. The land here was taken up under a warrant issued by the pro- prietaries of Pennsylvania in the year 1750, December 8, to Peter Craver. It was conveyed to different persons from that date until 1837, when John S. Trimmer, at present a highly re- spected citizen of the village, purchased the surrounding farm, and in partnership with his brother, opened a store in a small room ad- joining the farm house. They continued two and a half years, and John S. Trimmer alone conducted a prosperous business for twenty years longer, so that even now the

familiar name of "Trimmers' Store" is fre- quently applied to the place. His successors were: E. C. Beck, Christian Raffensberger, Jacob Kochenour, Miller & Fickes, J. O. Goodling and Isaac Glatfelter. Clement G. Trimmer has been the proprietor of the store during several years past. This interesting little hamlet is located on the Canal Road extending from York Haven to Abbottstown and contains about fifteen houses, most of them in excellent condition. The public school building is a convenient brick struct- ure. It has a cupola and bell.

BAUGHMANSVILLE.

Baughmansville is in the western end of Paradise. J. B. Baughman, now of York, began the store business at this place im 1844, and continued until 1865. There were; then no houses in the vicinity except one, and a blacksmith shop. This business was: conducted by George Jacobs, and now by his son. Stores have been kept at this place- since 1865, by Joseph W. Kraft, J. Hantz, J. H. Baughman, George W. Spangler, John O. Baughman, N. G. Waggoner, J. C. Bower and H. H. Geist. There is now a collection of twelve or fifteen houses.

Union Chapel was built in 1867 for Sun- day-school and religious purposes.

The land upon which this village is built, . was in the hands of the proprietaries until 1774, when Mathias Stump paid the small sum of £2 17s. 4d. for fifty-five acres, adjoining lands of Andreas Trimmer and John Frankelberger. The land in this vi- cinity was not cultivated as early as some .. other portions of the township, and was not considered fertile until a third of a century. ago.

In 1844, Peter Waggoner and J. B. Baugh -- man began to place lime on the soil. It pro- duced good results, and by 1846 was put into general use. Before this a very small amount of wheat or corn could be raised on an acre. Much of the land of Paradise, at an early day considered barren, now grows twenty to thirty-five bushels of wheat to the acre. Rye was raised with considerable suc- cess, before wheat. Peaches and apples were plentiful and cheap. An abundance of cider, peach brandy and apple-jack were made and hauled to Baltimore to be sold. Before large covered wagons were used, market men some- times used- boxes on top of the horse in which the market products were placed and taken to town and city.

John Buse, of Paradise Township, was killed near Gen. Hetrick's place, in Codo-

Richard Mummert,

Christian Raffensberger (blacksmith),

Peter Trump,

Henry Walter (still),

Jacob Rummel,

Joseph Weston,

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

rus Township, May 20, 1820. He was -driving a team to Baltimore; his horses ran .away and the wagon passed over him.

James Denny was killed by a stone falling 'on him, at a quarry on the farm of Jacob "Crist in Paradise, October 12, 1819.

This township had its militia companies also. Capt. George Trostle, half a century ago, drilled a company of 100 men at differ- ent places in the district. Philip Beck was first lieutenant. The commands were given in English and translated into German.

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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 133

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