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 139

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 139

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A religious sentiment prevailed among the early settlers, and the people generally at- tended Sabbath services at Fissel's Church, about two miles south of the town. As early as 1842 Rev. Moses Bower, of the Evangeli- cal Association, who was at the time serving Gettysburg charge, preached at times in the

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SHREWSBURY TOWNSHIP.

brick school building, in the northern end of the town, and which had been erected by W. Heathcote. Rev. Bowers was followed on the charge by Revs. J. Boas, E. Kohr, Lew Humelsheim, D. Dellinger, up to 1848, when Rev. Uriah Eberhart was appointed to the charge, who effected an organization, and Henry Seitz was chosen as the first class leader. At the following session of confer- ence, Glen Rock was detached from Gettys- burg and attached to Shrewsbury Circuit, and the ministers who officiated on that charge as given in Shrewsbury History, from that date to 1867, when it was made a mis- sion, and Rev. J. Hartzler, served the mis- sion for three successive years. He was fol- lowed by Revs. S. P. Remer, P. W. Rardi- bough, H. W. Back, P. W. Groap, E. Crumb- ling, and the present pastor, Rev. J. A. Irv- ine. In 1849, while Rev. J. W. L. Seibert served Shrewsbury Circuit, the first church was erected. It was a substantial brick struct- ure, located on Church Street. In 1870 the old church edifice was sold and a new one erected on New Street. This is a large, hand- some and substantially constructed two story building. The Union Sunday-school which is connected with this church, was organized in 1848, and has been in successful organiza- tion since. David Herbst, Sr., was its first superintendent.

The Methodist Episcopal Church organized in 1865, and erected a church edifice in that and the following year. The ministers who served on Shrewsbury Circuit, and which are given in the Methodist Episcopal Church his- tory of Shrewsbury, served also this congre- gation. The congregation is not large, its present membership being twenty-seven. There is a flourishing Sunday-school con- nected with the congregation.

The Lutheran congregation was informally organized in 1859, when Rev. A. Berg, then the pastor of Shrewsbury charge, began to hold regular service in Sheffer's Hall. A formal organization was effected and a church edifice erected in 1860-61. It was made a separate charge and Rev. J. Kempfer was called to serve it. He continued the pastor to 1868 when he resigned, and Rev. J. C. Koller was called to the pastorate, who served the congregation to 1880, when the present pastor, J. B. Wolf, was called by the congre- gation to the pastorate, Rev. J. C. Koller having resigned. The congregation now numbers about 200 members and has con- nected with it a large and interesting Sab- bath-school.

The German Reformed people have made various efforts at organization, but thus far

they have not been successful. Nothwith- standing, there are a number of people of that religious faith living in the town. Revs. D. Gring, W. Xanders and others have preached in the town, but no complete organ- ization is now existing.

In 1865 a circle of the Brotherhood of the Union, a beneficial organization, was organ- ized, and gained considerable of a member- ship until 1870; when the organization was suspended, and Friendly Lodge, No. 287, K. of P., of Pennsylvania, was organized. This lodge has a membership of some seventy, and is financially strong.

Yosemite Tribe, No. 100, I. O. R. M., was organized in 1868; has a present membership of some forty and is financially in good con- dition.

Several temperance [organizations have been effected in the town, but all were in due time suspended without accomplishing any special reforms.

The town has a musical organization, " The Glen Rock Band," which has won for itself a reputation and popularity which reaches far beyond its own town. Its serv- ices are frequently called to distant cities.

The town has no old soldier residents, but it sent the following to the army during the late Rebellion: A. Shaw, L. K. Heathcote, L. W. Dabs, William Metcalf, I. Rhinehart, W. F. Baum, Noah Allison, T. Bamforth, J. M. Homigan, A. Moessinger, Henry Seitz, C. T. Seitz, A. Shauck, James Laurq, Ned Gaff- eney, Penn. Birchival, John Foust.

The First National Bank of Gien Rock, Penn., was organized in 1863, with a capital stock of $50,000, E. Sheffer being its first president, and Henry Seitz, cashier. H. Seitz has served as cashier of the bank from its organization to the present time. J. V. Hoshour followed Mr. Sheffer as the presi- ent of the bank, who was in turn succeeded by Charles Frey; and he by William Herbst, the present officer. The capital stock of the bank has been increased to $75,000.

RAILROAD BOROUGH.

Railroad Borough is a town of about 250 population and is situated on the Northern Central Railroad, about one mile west of Shrewsbury, and was incorporated into a borough August 31, 1871, with F. Helb, as chief burgess; J. N. Grove, assistant bur- gess; S. Klinefelter, G. W. Ruby, Daniel Seitz, M. Gable. T. H. McAbee and James M. McGuigan, as councilmeu. The town is nestled between the hills which surround it, and has been for many years an important

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

freight depot. The population in 1880 was 221, and it has increased quite rapidly since.

In 1792 the land was mostly owned by John Klinefelter, and he erected a small grist- mill at the place where Ruby's barn now stands, and he also erected a log-house near the same place. Soon after this, Ulrick Heiss purchased the land where Stabler's mill now stands, and erected thereon an oil-mill which was subsequently torn down and the present mill erected. G. M. Henry bought the greater part of land now included in the borough, put a grist mill where Ruby's mill now stands, and in 1841 removed the old grist-mill where Helb's tannery now stands, and converted it into a bark-mill. In 1822 an apple distillery was in progress where Helb's distillery now stands. In 1849 Frederick Helb came to the place, and began the tanning business. He began in a very simple way, not even having a building, but used old hogsheads as vats, and having the use of the bark-mill of Mr. Henry, he ground the bark he used with that. He purchased the mill later, erected a build- ing for a tannery and built the usual vats. He has since greatly enlarged his facilities, until at present he is conducting a very large and profitable business. He has been quite successful in his business ventures and has done more than any other man to improve the town. He now owns a large proportion of the property in the town, and is identified with much of the business surrounding it. In 1833 G. M: Henry built a grist-mill, where the brick grist-mill of Mr. Ruby now stands, which was supplanted with the present building by Mr. Ruby in 1862. The first station house stood near where Ruby's mill now stands. The brick warehouse occupied at present by Mr. Day, was erected in 1845 by Messrs. Simon and Jesse Klinefelter. The same gentlemen erected the stone store and warehouse build- ing on the east side of the railroad, now oc- cupied by Mr. G. P. Everhart. The same gentlemen also erected the brick-mill in the northern portion of the town now owned by Jared Stabler. In 1849 the same gentlemen erected a bark-mill near the station, which was converted into a flavine-mill in 1869, by Klinefelter & Hobliston. The present pro- prietors of these works are the Boston Chemi- cal Dye Works. In 1859 the present hotel building was erected by Mr. Roy. It is now occupied by John Kauffelt. Mr. G. P. Ever- hart is doing a large forwarding and commis- sion business, as also a dry goods and grocery business, while Mr. Helb is conducting the tanning and brewing business, as also the stave business.

A public school has been conducted in the

place for many years. A new school build- ing has been erected within a few years, which is highly creditable to those who erected it. A Sunday-school has been con- ducted in the place for some years, which is doing a good work among the children of the town.

NEW FREEDOM.

New Freedom is a small town situated in the southern portion of the township of Shrewsbury on the Northern Central Railroad. The town is very beautifully situated on a level plain on an elevation, the land surround- ing the town being fertile and level. The population in 1880 was 325, and it has since grown quite rapidly. It was incorporated into a borough in 1879, with H. F. Hofacker. as chief burgess; C. Singer, as assistant, and S. G. Hildebrand, John L. Hailer, Lewis Grove, Dr. E. K. Free and S. Grove, as councilmen. The Free family was among the early settlers of the town, and they first opened business there. The present business men are M. W. Bahn, Messrs. U. H. Gore & Bro., J. R. Nonewaker, R. F. Koller, H. F. Hofacker, J. B. Wherly, J. E. Miller and others. The town has good public-schools, which are well sustained by the people.

The first religious organization effected in the town, or the locality where the town is now located, was St. John's Catholic Church. In 1842 Father Gabriel Rempler, a Redemp- torist priest of Baltimore, visited the com- munity and found a very devoted member of his church in Meimad Müller, a German set- tler, who lived at the old farmhouse now oc- cupied by Charles King, where mass was first offered in that section of the county, and at this place for some four months after like services were regularly held. Mr. Müller donated land sufficient to erect a church thereon, which was done by the contributions of the members, and the church was properly dedi- cated in 1842. It was regularly served from 1842 to 1852 by priests from Baltimore, and some of the most noted priests of the Re- demptorist order preached in this humble edi- fice. From 1853 to 1875, it was regularly served from York as a mission, after that, Father Koch became regular pastor; then, in 1881, Father Huber, who served until re- cently, when he was succeeded by Father Breckel. *

*For additional history of New Freedom, see Addenda.

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SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP.

THE TOWNSHIP OF SPRINGFIELD.

E OR ninety years this township formed a part of Shrewsbury. The names of its tax- able inhabitants in 1783 will be found in the history of that township. A petition asking for a division of Shrewsbury was presented in 1834 to the court, presided over by Judge Walter Franklin and his associates, George Barnitz and John L. Hinkle, stating that "the township of Shrewsbury is eighteen miles long, and on this account many of the inhabitants are too far from the place of transacting the common township business." The court appointed George Hoke, Henry Leib and John Eyster commissioners, who selected George M. Henry surveyor, and the division line was run November 24, 1834. The report of said commissioners recom- mending the erection of this township, which was named by them, Springfield, was con- firmed by the court, April 9, 1835.

TOPOGRAPHY.

Springfield is crossed from north to sonth by the York & Maryland Line Turnpike, which passes over the line of the old Potaps- co road, laid out from York to Joppa and Potapsco (now Baltimore) in 1742, the year after York was founded. Joppa, now a dilapidated village on the Gunpowder River, was then the county seat of Baltimore County. The turnpike passes along the sum- mit of the height of land that divides the tributaries of two large branches of the Codorus Creek, which form a confluence at the extreme northern point of Springfield. These streams separate Springfield from Hopewell on the east, York on the north, Codorus and North Codorus on the west. The southern boundary is an artificial line separating it from Shrewsbury. The sur- face of this township is very undulating. At different places along the turnpike, the view in summer over the beautifully rounded hills, and systematically carved little valleys, all clad in rich verdure, is delightful to be- hold. The Northern Central Railway passes along the western part and crosses the Codorus five times within the limits of the township. The population in 1840 was 1, 207; in 1880 it was 1,854; the number of taxables in 1884 was 559; valuation of real estate, $811,191; county tax, $3,151; State tax, $220. Foust's Distillery in the lower end of Springfield is specially noted for the manu- facture of pure liquors. A very large busi- ness has been done at this place for many years.

THE BOROUGH OF LOGANVILLE.

The borough of Loganville is situated along the York & Maryland Line Turnpike near the centre of Springfield Township. On an elevated plane immediately west of the town, the landscape scenery far to the north and the west is fascinating beyond descrip- tion. The broad and fertile valley, extend- ing from the Susquehanna, southwest as far as the field of vision goes, and north to the South Mountains, unfolds to the view of the observer, a garden of unrivalled loveli- ness, with the town of York, near the eastern bounds of the circular horizon, and Gettys- burg in the western.

Robert Wilson, an auctioneer, laid out the town of Loganville in 1820, and named it in honor of Col. Henry Logan, then a leading politician, who resided near Dillsburg, and subsequently represented this county in con- gress. Robert Wilson, afterward, became court crier at York, to which place he moved. In 1824 he advertised that "Old Bob has lately come to town and can always be found. at his stand on East Market Street. He is only man in the county, who has cryed all his life without weeping." The survey of the plat of ground on which Loganville is built, was made by Robert Richie. The town is built in two sections, between which is a ridge of land. Some jovial personage during its early history, comparing the town thus built to the saddle-bags of our old time physicians, gave it the cant name of "Zwer- ichsackstettle." Wilson would not sanction the use of this title after which for some years, the name "Martinsburg" was very generally applied to it, on account of the large number of martin birds, that collected there. Robert Wilson owned a large house, which is not now in existence, in this he kept the first postoffice. In 1830 Samuel Keyser succeed- ed him, and held the office for many years.

Jacob Gipe kept the first store of the town, in the house now owned by Juliann Venus, Frederick Asper soon after opened a store in the house at present owned by W. A. Spate, Paul Burbank conducted the same business in the house of Casper Hildebrand. Freder- ick Overmiller was one of the early mer- chants. Susan Hildebrand, now ninety.one years old, and widow of Jacob N. Hildebrand, has a distinct recollection of the origin of the town. Catharine Decker, another resi- dent, is ninety-four years old. In 1830 there were twelve houses, a hotel and a store, in 1840, the number of houses increased to twenty, and the population was ninety. Population in 1880 was 312. Number of

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IIISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

taxable inhabitants in 1884 was 102; valua- tion of real estate for same year, $89,344.

Loganville was incorporated, April 2, 1852. The first election officers were: judge, John F. Beck; inspectors, George W. Reever and Jacob Glatfelter; chief burgess, John Beck, Sr. ; assistant burgess, Michael Snyder; town council, John Hildebrand, Frederick Venus, Samuel Smith, Daniel Goodling and Adam Krout;constable, Charles Overmiller; school directors, Joseph Hart- man, Casper Hildebrand and Henry Ker- linger. There were but three school directors chosen that time for the borough. Of these officers the following are still living: George W. Reever, York, Penn .; Samuel Smith, Glen Rock; Daniel Goodling, Loganville; Adam Krout, Springfield Township; Joseph Hartman, Shrewsbury Borough; Henry Ker- linger, Stewartstown; John F. Beck, Spring- field Township.

The present chief burgess is Josiah N. Bailey. Deterich Hildebrand and Charles Sprenkle are the justices of the peace. The former has been justice for a number of years in succession.

The Loganville cornet band was organized August 20, 1858, and at present numbers twenty members. It has an excellent rep- utation for fine playing. New silver-plated instruments were purchased in 1885. The band owns a fine hall in which weekly meet- ings are held. Henry Kerlinger and Henry Decker were instrumental in organizing the band. Deterich Hildebrand is the only original member.

The Loganville Mutual Improvement Society, which has existed for many years, is an organization that has accomplished much good. Quite a taste for reading and study has been aroused among young people through its work. Several of the young men who were members, have become successful ministers and physicians. It is also the parent of the York County Educational Society.

Dr. George P. Yost, now of Glen Rock, for a number of years enjoyed a lucrative practice at Loganville. He has been succeeded by Dr. George W. Holtzapple. The village schools for 1885, were taught by E. B. Good- ling and J. M. Bailey. Emanuel S. Smith, of the prothonotary's office, resides here as does also W. A. Spate, one of the publishers of the Glen Rock Item to whom we are under many obligations for the history of Logan- ville.

THE VILLAGE OF NEW PARADISE.

New Paradise, which has about 200 in- habitants, is located on the York & Balti-

more Turnpike, about five miles from York and two miles from Loganville, in the northern portion of Springfield. The first house of this town was built by John Snyder, in 1837. It is still owned and occupied by him. He at one time was the owner of nearly all the land upon which the town is built, he sold it off in lots and encouraged building, but did not covet the honor of having the town called after himself. When a church was dedicated in 1862, and named Paradise Evangelical Church, by Rev. Adam Ettinger of York, who officiated at the dedi- catory services, the citizens appropriated this name and called their town New Paradise. No better name could have been selected, thought they, until they applied for a postoffice in 1881 and found that "Uncle Sam" already owned such a place in Pennsylvania, whereup- on the singular name of "Jacobus" was select- ed and Dr. J. S. Miller, now of York, was appointed postmaster. Frank Geiselman for the past few years has filled that position. Jacob Geiselman for many years kept a store. Eli Krout is now the merchant of the village. Dr. E. P. Rohrbach is the physi- cian. The manufacture of cigars is an im- portant industry, and about fifty workmen are employed in the various factories, owned by D. M. Loucks (now deputy revenue col- lector), Jamen Smith, George Shafer, Pius Olp, Pius Snyder, Frank Krout and Daniel Fortney.

SEVEN VALLEY.

This village has about twenty houses, and is located three-quarters of a mile north of Hanover Junction, on the Northern Central Railroad. The name "Sieben Thal" or Seven Valley, originated with the first German settlers, who took up the fertile lands in the vicinity about 1740. Among these settlers, were a number of "Sieben Tagers" or Seventh Day Baptists, who came thither from their settlement at Conestoga and Ephrata, Lancaster Couuty. The use of the words "Thal" and "Tag" becoming confused, the former predominated, and hence, doubtless, originated the name Seven Valley. The surrounding country is greatly undulating, but there are not seven valleys distinctly marked in the vicinity.

In 1838, when the railroad was completed from Baltimore to York, Jacob Smyser and John E. Ziegler opened the first store at this point. The station was called "Smyser" in honor of the first-named gentleman. The postoffice was established the same year. It was named Seven Valley, and John E. Zieg- ler was appointed postmaster.

717

SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP.

Henery Bott succeeded in the store business in 1840, and has continued since. He also became postmaster the same year. His son W. W. Bott succeeded him as postmaster in 1875, and the same year began the manu- facture of ice cream. Nathan Glatfelter opened a store in 1873. There are a number of cigar factories in the village. Dr. J. Allen Glatfelter practices medicine here. Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church at Seven Val- ley was organized by the late Rev. C. J. Deininger, March 29, 1868. The con- gregation worshiped in a hall until 1871, when the present church was built. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. A. H. Lochman of York. Rev. Deininger re- signed the charge September 6, 1874. His successors since then have been Revs. D. Stock, L. T. Williams, Peter Anstadt and C. M. Eyster. The membership at present is fifty. The Sunday-school numbers 100 pupils. H. I. Glatfelter is superintendent.

CHURCHES.

Friedensaals Kirche, located near the east end of Springfield, is better known as "Shus- ter's Church." The first German settlers of this region were organized into a congre- gation in 1763, by Rev. Kirchner, a native German. The next pastor was Rev. Lucas Raus who served from 1770 to 1787, and Rev. Augustus Reutze succeeded in 1795. The first grant of church land, was given March 30, 1774. It was an original grant from the proprietaries of the Province of Pennsylvania, John, Thomas and Richard Penn, who directed a survey to be received in the land office at Philadelphia of "a tract of land called the church lot, containing eight acres and 110 perches of land situated in Shrewsbury (now Springfield) Township in the county of York, made by virtue of appli- cation No. 5270, for John Hella and Nich- olas Henry, in trust for the Lutheran congre- gation now formed thereon. The said trustees to be holden of us, our heirs and successors, propirietaries of Pennsylvania as of our Manor of Maske in the county of York, in free and common soceage by Fealty only, in lieu of all other services, yielding and pay- ing unto us or our agents at the town of York an annual quit rent on the first day of March instant of one shilling sterling, or value thereof in coin current, according as the exchange shall then be between our said Province and the city of London."

The consideration money for the transfer of the deed, was 8s. 10d. The survey was made "on the 5th day of the 4th month, 1769," by William Matthews deputy surveyor

of York County. The church lot was in the- shape of a right angled triangle. The land. adjoining the base and the perpendicular of it was designated as belonging to Nicholas. Shuster, hence the origin of the name "Shus- ter's Church." The land on the other side,- belonged to Conrad Curfman. The follow- ing is a copy of receipt for money paid for the land:

PHILADELPHIA, March 28, 1774.

Received of John George Hella and Nicholas Henry, in trust for Lutheran Congregation, the sum of one pound and four pence current money of Pennsylvania, in lieu of fourteen shillings and two pence sterling, in full for purchase money interest and quit rent due on eight acres and 110 perches of land in Shrewsbury Town, York County, surveyed pursuant to application' entered Nov. 24, 1768. Received for the Honorable Proprietaries.

€1. 0.4.

By EDMUND PHYSICK.

William Earhart and Jacob Ness, on the 4th month and 16th day, 1774, received from Nicholas Henry and John George Hella, £4 13s. for expenses paid in patenting church lot, for great seal, for recording patent and for incidental expenses.

In the year 1848 a charter was granted under the name of the "Evangelical Lu- theran Congregations of Friedensaals Church in Springfield Township." At that time George Leader, John Meyer, John Crout and Henry B. Castoe were church elders, and Joseph Ness, Henry Crout, George Ehrhart. and Samuel Castoe, church wardens.

A parochial school was kept in a building on the church property for many years, sup- ported by the members of the congregation. August 9, 1851. Jacob Schnell, William Swartz, Joseph Steils and Adam Ness, elders. of the church, leased to Jacob Koller, John Williams, John Snyder and others, school directors of Springfield Township, leased the. schoolhouse erected on the church lands. The property on which the schoolhouse stood, at. that time, adjoined the lands of John Good- ling and Joseph Hildebrand. The condi- tions of the lease were for a term of ten years "if the common school system shall so long be in operation."

The present church building, the third one in succession, stands on the original plat. The first building was made of logs. The second building was a frame structure painted white and was called "Die Weis Kirche." The name which the present brick church bears was given to it by Rev. Mr. Burg, who for many years was the pastor. Rev. C. M. Eyster, who has recently been called to Man- chester, Md., was the last pastor.

St. Peter's Reformed Church .- The reformed congregation which now worships in this

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

church was organized about 1783,and from that date to 1876 worshiped in Shuster's Church, which is not far distant. During the centen - nial year the handsome new brick church was built. The ministers since the organization in order of succession were Revs. Adam Ettinger, Henry Fries, F. Scholl, Henry B. Habliston, John A. Foersch, F. Bucher, John Reineka, C. W. Reineka, W. Vandersloot, Daniel Gring and the present efficient pastor, Rev. A. P. Driesbaugh, of Shrewsbury. The membership is 150.

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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 139

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