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 138

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 138

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The town was erected into a borough in 1834 by special act of the assembly, and was reincorporated in 1870, under the act of 1851, at which time Joseph Geisey was the burgess; J. H. Blasser the secretary, and James Gerry, Jr., the treasurer. The pres- ent officers are: Chief burgess, M. Bott; secretary, E. Storms; treasurer, B. Rupert; councilmen, J. L. Raffensperger, J. Snyder, W. Besser, I. N. Stoner, G. Smith. The

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

population of the town in 1880 was 580. In its early history the corporation issued shin- plasters as a circulating, but subsequently redeemed them, and on March 31, 1854, de- stroyed them,

A martial spirit existed among the people from the beginning of the town, and a mil- itary company was organized in 1821, known as the Strasburg Blues, Capt. Charles Stuck being its first commander, who was succeed- ed by Capt. W. H. Snyder. In 1824 Jacob Gaines, a member of this company, was drowned in Hileman's dam, and his remains were buried on a Sunday, but the people of the church where the services were held pro- tested against taking arms into or near the church. This shows that the religious preju- dices of the people were very strong. The Blues finally suspended and the Jackson Grays were organized by Capt. Snyder and subsequently commanded by the late Capt. William McAbee. In 1841 the company was called into service to assist in suppressing the Philadelphia riot, but the riot ceased on the arrival of the command at Wrightsville. While encamped at York the now eminent Dr. Carpenter acted as the company surgeon. In 1824 the Pennsylvania Volunteers and the Washington Artillery passed through the town on their way to Baltimore to take part in the reception ceremonies tendered Gen. Lafayette. In 1861 Company D, Eighty- seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, was partly organized in the town, and subsequent to its muster visited the place and gave an exhibi- tion drill. In September, 1881, Light Bat- tery C, United States Army, Maj. Sinclair in command, encamped at the town while on its march to Yorktown to take part in the cere- monies commemorating the surrender of Cornwallis. The following were among those who entered the United States military service from the borough; Majors N. G. and E. M. Ruhl, Capt. J. H. Blas- ser, Lieut. G. Blasser, Chaplain D. C. Eberhart, J. H. Hendrix, J. B. Beck, Rob- ert McDonnell, J. H. Moody, J. Ashley, William- Eaton, Henry Young, J. Smith, N. Heise, C. Hedrick, C. Sanders, A. J. Frederick, Col. G. W. Frederick, E. H. Red- ding, Joseph Little, Jesse Shewell, John Kunkle, M. Sheol, F. Dolla, Jacob Nonema- ker, G. Almany, J. Almany, A. Leicht, H. Rheirmeyer, A. L. Geesey, C. Thompson, W. Fockerner, D. Horn, A. Klinefelter, J. Pain- ter, M. Born.

The following are among those who are natives of the town, or who have made the town their home for many years, and who have risen to eminence in civil life.

Dr. James Gerry, Sr., who was born in Cecil County, Md., August, 1796, a son of James Gerry, who served a number of terms as a member of the house of delegates of Maryland. Dr. Gerry graduated at West Notingham Academy, spent a few years in the South teaching, and then returned and became the principal of the academy, where he graduated and served as such for four years, reading medicine in the meantime. He located and began the practice of his profes- sion in Shrewsbury in 1824, and soon secured a large practice. In 1830 he married Sa- lome Hoffman, of Balto. County, Md., be- came a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he did active work.

In 1838 he received the Democratic nomi- nation of the Nineteenth Congressional Dis- trict entirely unsolicited. He was elected and re-elected, and while thus serving he de- livered an elaborate speech against the Unit- ed States Bank. He was an intimate friend of James Buchanan, and as a delegate to the National Convention in 1852, warmly sup- ported him for the nomination. After Bu- chanan's election to the presidency he in- formed Dr. Gerry that he would be pleased to appoint him to any position he would like. The advanced age of the Doctor compelled him to decline the offer. He continued the practice of medicine up to 1870, and died July 19, 1873. Brig. Gen. G. W. Frederick, a graduate of Pennsylvania College, and who served with great credit in the late war, had charge of the provost guard during the trial of Mrs. Surrat, is now a prominent citizen of Philadelphia and the publisher of the Lutheran. Dr. H. G. Bussey, who served two terms as State senator, and two terms as county prothonotary and as physi- cian to the jail. William McAbee, who served two terms in the State legislature, and held other important public positions. Isaac Beck, who served two terms in the State legislature, and one term as door-keeper of the house of representatives. Col. W. Garner, now a prominent citizen of Iowa. John Geisey, who served as register of wills in the county. B. F. Koller and J. A. Blasser, who each served as clerk of the county courts. Joseph Holland, who served as county prothonotary. John Beck and Christof Kolter, who served as county com- missioners. Joseph Hartman, who served as county auditor. Col. A. Wilhelm, Capt. Dennis, Rev. James Henry Brown, D. D., Robert Richey and Eli Storms, who has be- come quite popular as an artist.

From 1827 to 1830 a small paper known as the Harbinger was published in the town

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SHREWSBURY TOWNSHIP.

by W. C. Smyth. Later the Sharfsheitz, a German paper, was published for a few years in the town by a Mr. Kurtz.

On July 8, 1840, a cyclone passed over the town, and although it lasted but a few min- utes the destruction of property was great. The old Union log church was blown down, with a number of barns and several dwelling houses. Among the latter was one occupied by B. Krewell and family, through which a number of the family were injured, and Mrs. Krewell was killed. On April 1, 1881, a fire occurred in which the back buildings of the Meyer's property were destroyed. On Octo- ber 8, of the same year, Miss Mary Smith Wallick was burned to death while attempt- ing to light a fire with coal oil. On April 23, 1882, a fire occurred which destroyed the barns of A. Wilhelm, A. W. Kunkle, and that belonging to the Methodist Episcopal parsonage. On February 27, 1884, Mrs. Catharine Shewell was burned to death while staying alone in a small house.

In 1800 a small log schoolhouse was erected in the eastern portion of the town, and Dr. Cling was the first teacher. This building was destroyed by fire and a brick building took its place, which was also destroyed by fire in 1853, when the present building in the northern part of the town was erected. Private and church schools were popular in the early history of the town, and an acad- emy was opened, in 1856, by Prof. A. W. Dinsmore, and has been continued since un- der the principalship of Profs. T. R. Vickroy, J. A. Murphy, D. S. Brilhart, W. J. Fulton and E. E. Allen, the present instructor. The public school system was introduced in 1856, when it was adopted in the township, but the schools have not been so popular and have not attained a high rank, owing, perhaps, to the popularity of select or private schools.

The church history is very imperfect, and from what can be gathered the Evangelical Association had the first regular preaching in the town in 1811, and the services were con- ducted in private houses. Rev. J. Driesbach was the first preacher, and he was followed by H. Neibel, M. Becker, M. Betz, John and James Bruen, Rev. Walter, A. Ettinger, B. Ettinger, J. L. W. Seibert, Levi and Uriah Eberhart, G. Hunter, J. M. Carothers, J. W. Cramer, S. W. Seibert, C. F. Deininger, W. Wilson, D. A. Miller, Rev. Zulofe, Rev. Longsdorf, S. Hornberger, W. H. Davis, S. Aurand, J. M. Ettinger, G. E. Zehner, J. G. M. Swengle, H. Conrad, J. C. Farnsworth, J. M. Longsdorf, P. S. Orwig, W. W. Rhodes, J. F. Shultz, the present pastor. The first church erected in the town was a small log

structure in 1821, and was a Union Church, be- ing used jointly by the Methodists and Evan- gelical people. This church building was de- stroyed in 1840 by the cyclone. The Evan- gelical people erected a brick church in 1853, which was improved in 1877, and again in 1884, and at present it is a handsome and convenient place of worship. In 1824 this congregation organized a Sunday-school, but it lasted only a few months; later another was organized, which has been continued up to the present. The school is large, and the membership of the church will reach about 100.

The organization of the Methodist Episco- pal Church was effected about the year 1811. Up to this time the people of this faith attended services at Rock Chapel, where an organization had been effected in 1794. The congregation worshiped in the old log church jointly with the Evangelical people up to 1849, when a one-story and basement brick building was erected on Main Street near the place where the present edifice stands. Bishop Waugh preached several times in this church. The second building was erected in 1874, and is of Gothic design, with a bel- fry, two stories, and was dedicated in 1877, by Bishop E. A. Ames, assisted by W. H. Chapman and A. W. Guyer. The congrega- tion now numbers about 100, and among the ministers who preached for the congregation were Revs. A. Hemphill, W. Butter, E. Nic- odemus, J. Parker, J. Ewing, Z. Jordan, A. Griffeth, W. Hawk, J. W. Cronin, I. Collins, P. Doll, O. Ege, T. Mitchell, John Beer, Joseph Morris, G. Berkstresser, J. W. Cul- lum, J. Stine, C. G. Linthicun, E. Dorsey, W. H. Enos, T. G. Fulton, J. A. Collins, A. E. Gibson, N. J. B. Morgan, David Trout, J. A. Coleman, W. T. Wilson, G. W. Iread, D. C. Eberhart, A. H. Reese, J. S. Lee, A. R. Riely, F. G. Crever, Henry Furlong, H. Slicer, J. G. McKeehon, J. B. Akers, S. Cor- nelius, G. W. Dunlap, J. S. McMurry, J. W. Hedges, M. L. Drun, J. B. Cuddy, E. Bahr- man, G. Warren, J. G. Moore, J. Max Lautz, - Snyder, J. C. Haggy, J. Curns, E. E. Allen, W. A. McKee, A. H. Mensel, T. Mitchell, W. M. West, J. Loyd, E. E. A. Deever, J. M. Clark, J. M. Russel, A. W. Guyer, A. R. Bender, J. Goldin, B. B. Ham- lin, J. C. Clarke. M. L. Smith, W. Guyer, W. A. Houck, R. Mallalieu, C. V. Hart- zell, the present pastor. Bishop Levi Scott, William Barnes, Alfred Cookman and other noted ministers preached at this place, and on the Lowe camp ground near the town. This congregation started the first permanent Sunday-school organized in the town, in

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

1827, at the first meeting of which there were present twenty seven boys and twenty girls. The teachers of the boys were Rev. H. Doll, Robert Fife, Jarret Garner, J. H. Brown, Dr. James Gerry and Robert Richey; of the females, Mrs. H. Hannawalt, Misses E. Marshall, Jane Gordon, Mary Redman. The school has been in progress since, and has been prompt in the adoption of modern measures and appliances. It is claimed that the present extended system of lesson illustration was originated in this school during 1864, when the superintend- ent, Rev. D. C. Eberhart, planned the illus- trations, and E. Storms, a young artist of the town, painted them. These illustrations were furnished by Mr. Storms to schools in Baltimore, York, Hanover, Glen Rock and other points. In 1866 samples of these illus- trations were put on exhibition at a Sunday- school convention held at the Masonic Tem- ple in Baltimore, where they attracted a great deal of attention, after which they were gen erally adopted by publishers of Sunday- school literature.

The Lutheran Church congregation was effected in 1822, and in 1827 a Union Church was erected, in which the Lutheran and Re- formed congregations worshiped up to 1874, when a new fine brick church edifice was erected on Main Street for the exclusive use of the Lutheran congregation, and the Re- formed people continued to occupy the old church. The Lutheran congregation is strong, having a membership of about 250, with a flourishing Sunday-school, for the use of which a handsome chapel was erected in 1879. The pastors who served the congregation were Rev. John Herbst, Sr. and Jr .; Rev. - Stecker, Rev. J. Kempfer, Rev. A. Berg, who served the charge from 1843 to 1873, when Rev. J. H. Menges assumed it and served to 1877, when Rev. E. H. Manges took charge and served to 1881, when Rev. E. Miller, D. D., the present pastor took charge of the work.

The Reformed congregation was organized in 1822, and from 1827 worshiped jointly with the Lutheran congregation in a brick church to 1874, when the Lutherans with- drew and the Reformed alone occupied the church. In 1882 this building was torn down and a new fire-brick building was erected on Main Street, which was dedicated on May 13, 1883, by the present pastor, Rev. A. F. Dreisbach, T. G. Apple, D. D., President of Franklin and Marshall College, and J. S. Stahr, D. D. Since the new church edifice has been erected, and under the care of the present pastor, the congregation has rapidly

increased and now numbers about 150 con- municants. The congregation has a Sunday- school which is rapidly growing in numbers and influence. The following are the minis- ters who served the congregation in the past: A. Ettinger, Yost Henry Fries, F. A. Scholl, H. N. B. Habliston, J. August Forsch, John Rienecke, C. W. Rienecke, D. D., J. Vander- sloot, Daniel Gring, who served the charge twenty-seven years, and who was followed by the present efficient pastor, A. F. Driesback.

The Shrewsbury Savings Institution was incorporated June 6, 1850, with a capital of $50,000. Henry Latimer was chosen its first president, and Robert Richey its first cashier. June 3, 1876, G. P. Everhart became the president, and still serves as such. March 23, 1857, John Hoshour became the cashier and was followed, on his death, November 26, 1870, by J. V. Geisey, who, resigning, was followed, November 2, 1872, by A. G. Collins, and he in turn was followed March 4, 1882, by A. D. Collins, the present incumbent. It has now a paid up cash capital of $15,000, and a surplus of the same amount.

Mount Vernon Lodge No. 143, I. O. O. F., organized in February, 1846, and in 1852 and 1853, a hall was erected, which was dedicated in 1854. The lodge has paid a large amount for benefit to its members, and has now a fund of $6,000. It has had a large membership in the past and now has forty- two members. A. Klinefelter served as O. G. for twenty years, and William Benise as jan- itor and I. G. for twenty-nine years. Since the institution of the lodge there have oc- curred thirty-eight deaths out of the member- ship of the lodge.

Shrewsbury Lodge, No. 423, F. & A. M., was instituted March 4, 1868, with the fol- lowing charter members: Rev. J. C. Hagy, B. F. Koller, G. P. Everhart, Rev. A. Berg, Dr. O. T. Everhart, Dr. James Gerry, Jr., and James K. Pattison. The lodge now numbers about twenty-six members, and is in a healthy financial condition.

Wannepewink Tribe, I. O. R. M., was or- ganized September 10, 1868, and closed in April, 1877.

A lodge of Good Templars was instituted November 2, 1865, by Rev. J. S. Murry, and continued in existence to 1876. It did good service, extending its influence so that lodges were organized in Glen Rock, New Free- dom, Stewartstown and New Market. A Band of Hope was also organized September 26, 1866, and continued in existence for some years.

Shrewsbury Post, No. 342, G. A. R., was mustered by Capt. W. H. Lanius, June 18,

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1883, and has now about forty-three mem- bers.

GLEN ROCK.

Glen Rock is a borough situated in Shrews- bury Township, on the Northern Central Railroad, about sixteen miles south of York, and about four miles northwest of Shrews- bury Borough. It is a modern town and is noted for its romantic scenery and its sub- stantial and expensive buildings, and for the enterprise and industry of its people. All the buildings, except a saw-mill and a barn, have been erected since 1837, for prior to that time the land included in the borough was but a poorly cultivated farm with no improve- ments on it, and during a period of about forty years previous it changed owners quite a num- ber of times. Among these owners were Philip Lowe, John Ehrrman and Simon Koller, the latter gentleman having made a few improvements in the place. Dur- ing his time he built a saw-mill, barn and brick dwelling house. The land in and around the town is hilly, the vales being nar- row and some of the hills quite steep, yet it is productive and valuable for farming pur- poses. There are several streams of water, branches of the Codorus, passing through it, which furnish water-power and water supply for the manufacturing interests of the town. In 1837 the railroad was built through the place where the town now is, and it was at this time that it received its name by Nat Bernard, the contractor for the grading of that portion of the railroad. He found some very hard rock to cut through, so he named them the "rocks in the glen" or Glen Rock. At this time Simon Koller owned a large part of the land now incorporated in the borough, but fearing the railroad would ruin him, he sold it to William Heathcote, an Englishman then recently from England, with whom came also other Englishmen-the Shaws, Rad- cliffes and other Heathcotes, so that it be- came an English settlement. The station of the railroad was known as Heathcote's up to 1843, when it took its present name and when a postoffice was established. In 1845 there were but ten families in the place; 1 woolen factory employing fourteen hands; 1 store and tavern, 1 machinist, 1 tailor, black- smith, doctor, and 2 wood sawyers. In 1850 Philip Sheffer, a farmer near the town, put up some houses and purchased the woolen- mill, converted it into a grist-mill, and Mr. Heathcote erected another woolen-mill near the town. This gave the then village new life and the people began to talk of putting up other manufacturing enterprises, which

took practical shape in the erection of the foundry and machine shop in 1854, by Heath- cote, Herbst & Co .; the company consisting of William Heathcote, William Herbst, J. V. Hoshour, John Scott, Emanuel Frey, Charles Frey, Henry Seitz; F. T. Scott, a practical machinist, being chosen as manager. This plant was the means of developing the town, and has ever since been an important factor in its growth. It gradually enlarged its sphere and did an extensive business in car building, and is now known as the Glen Rock Manufacturing Company and is doing a gen- eral manufacturing business, including en- gines, boilers, mill machinery, farming im- plements, etc. In the meantime J. V. Hosh- our did an extensive forwarding and commis- sion business, in which he was subsequently followed by E. Sheffer, who did a good deal to encourage the growth of the place.

The woolen mill or factory was the first manufacturing establishment of the town, and it has been successfully maintained ever since, doing a large business and employing a number of hands. William Heathcote, the first proprietor, conducted the business for a number of years, when his son, James Heath- cote, assumed control of and conducted it for some years, and up to his death, when L. K. Heathcote, the present proprietor and mana- ger, assumed control of it and has developed a large trade in felt manufacturing, some of his goods reaching a foreign market. This plant, no doubt, gave the town its first man- ufacturing impulse. In the early history of the town Messrs. Mark Radcliffe and George Shaw, in the name of Radcliffe & Shaw, began the manufacture of rope and twine in a mea- ger style. They erected a wheel and spindle for twisting purposes along a fence, and there under the broad canopy of heaven, when the weather would permit, they would man- ufacture an excellent rope and twine. They gradually developed their facilities until at present they have the largest rope-walk in the State, and own the large cordage-mill at Centreville, near the town. H. H. Radcliffe has lately became a member of the firm. They are now employing quite a number of laborers, and their goods are very popular. The lumber business was commenced by J. V. Hoshour, who was followed by John Frey, C. Glatfelter, S. K. Hoshour, who, with Messrs. J. C. Fallon and C. Gore, erected a planing-mill and sash factory in 1874, Mr. Fallon soon withdrawing .~ The building with a large quantity of lumber was destroyed by fire in 1876. Other buildings were erected, and, Mr. Gore withdrawing, Joseph Dise, A. W. Gray and J. H. Hosbour became the pro-

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

prietors, but in 1878 Messrs. Gray and J. H. Hoshour withdrew and Henry Bahn became interested, and from thence to the present the firm of Hoshour, Dise & Co., have been conducting a very successful business, em- ploying a large force of labor and handling a large quantity of lumber -- Messrs. Joseph Dise and S. K. Hoshour being young men of energy, enterprise and push. Messrs. J. W. Hartman and S. K. Hoshour began the man- ufacture of carriages, etc., in the town in 1872, and they have developed a very fine business, employing a large number of labor- ers, and putting out a large line of fine goods, which are demanding a good market abroad. Henry Yeager also conducted the coach man- ufacturing business in the town for a few years. Various other efforts at manufac- turing were attempted, but met with only partial success and they were subsequently abandoned.

The mercantile trade was first introduced by Daniel Reiman in 1827, when he opened a store in the frame building now occupied by Charles Heathcote and Jonathan Foust. Reiman was followed by Henry Latimer under the firm name of Small, Latimer & Meyers. In 1840 the store-house was sold to Jacob Epply, who associated with him in business J. V. Hoshour, and a success- ful trade was conducted. Mr. Hoshour later conducted a very extensive found- ing business. Mr. Epply was followed in the mercantile trade by William Herbst, who in turn was followed by E. Sheffer, who did a very extensive business in the large build- ing now owned by the Northern Central Railroad, and which is now occupied by E. R. Miller and I. Glatfelter. William Herbst and N. K. Seitz opened a store in 1867, on the corner of Church and Main Streets and a successful business has since been conducted there by them; Mr. Seitz withdrawing subse- quently, Messrs J. S. Herbst and W. H. Herbst became partners and the business is now conducted by W. Herbst & Sons. In 1872 A. D. Meyers opened a jewelry store and conducted a successful business to with- in a few years, when J. A. Shomaker assumed the business, and he has been very successful. Messrs. E. Bortner and David Becker have within a few years developed an extensive ice cream trade, which they are manufacturing and shipping abroad. In 1880 a fine brick building was erected by G. F. Heathcote, and occupied as a shoe factory for several years. That business having been abandoned the building is now occupied as a grist-mill.

The publication of the Item, a weekly

newspaper, was commenced in 1870 by M. O. Smith and G. W. Nichols. It was well re- ceived, although but a small sheet when it was first issued. Mr. Nichols early with- drew from its publication and Mr. Smith con- ducted the business himself, when he subse- quently associated with him N. Z. Seitz, which co-partnership continued for several years, when Mr. Smith retired and Mr. Seitz continued the publication up to the present; in the meantime T. M. Meads was, for a few months, identified with the publication, as was also A. W.Gray for nearly four years, with W. A. Spate during the past year, the paper now being published by Seitz & Spate. The paper has been enlarged a number of times until it has been enlarged to its present size, which is a nine column paper printed on a sheet 28x42. It has been well sustained by the people. It has always been fearless and independent in its editorial reflections, and progressive and aggressive in its advocacy of reforms. It holds an advanced position in county journalism.

The town was incorporated in 1860 by the courts of the county, and the opposition to incorporation was considerable by the people of the township. Philip Sheffer was the first chief burgess, and Lyman B. Moody is the present officer. The census of 1880 shows a population of 651; it has since increased very much and will now reach nearly 1,000.

As soon as the town became an incor- porated borough it pushed its public school educational work, and in that particular it has always stood in the advanced ranke in the county. The building for school purposes is large and suitably furnished. The school work had been in charge of Prof. A. W. Gray, a prominent educator of the county for a number of years. ' He had won the esteem and confidence of both pupils and parents, and did an excellent work for the people of the town. His select schools were largely attended by young ladies and gentlemen from other sections of the county. He had become very popular among the educators of the county, and, had he lived, would have been chosen as the county superintendent. The first school building was erected by William Heathcote soon after he became settled, and private schools were maintained in it until the public schools were properly organized.

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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 138

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