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 153

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 153

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DAVID W. CRIDER, who is familiarly known as a publisher and bookseller of York, is a son of Jacob and Catherine (Mouer) Crider. His father

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

was a native of Lebanon County and his mother of Cumberland County. both of German ancestry. The son grew to manhood on his father's farm, in Franklin County, where he was born in 1842. He received the rudiments of his education in the pub- lic schools, subsequently attending the Cumberland County Normal School. While there he enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Thirtieth Penn- sylvania Volunteer Infantry, as a private, and served nine months. His regiment was in the Army of the Potomac, and participated in the battle of Antietam, where 196 of his regiment were killed. In this engagement he was wounded in two places, the neck and leg, and was at first officially reported dead. After his term of enlistment expired, and the country demanded more soldiers, he responded by re-enlisting, and joined the Two Hundred and Sev- enth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, in which he remained until the close of the war. He was pres- ent at a series of battles in front of Petersburg, the battle of Chancellorsville and many minor engage- ments and skirmishes. He had the honor of being present at the surrender of Gen. Lee, and was at the grand review of the Union troops at Washing- ton, D. C. In the last enlistment he was quarter- master-sergeant of his regiment, which was mus- tered out of service at Alexandria, Va. After returning to his home he entered Lebanon Valley College, and subsequently taught school one year in Maryland. In 1865 Mr. Crider became a member of the firm of Kephart, Crider & Bro., the members being S. L. Kephart, H. M. Crider and D. W. Crider. Mr. Kephart soon after retired from the firm, and the name became Crider & Bro. In 1876 D. W. Crider became sole proprietor, with the firm name unchanged, retaining all copyrights. The first named firms were engaged in the publish- ing business, and had taken out copyrights on three beautiful marriage certificates. The firm of Crider & Bro. have had issued to them thirty-three copy- rights upon these certificates. Upon embarking in business alone, Mr. Crider added the general book trade. He now has twenty-eight copyrights on his marriage certificates, which are sold in all the States and Territories, Nova Scotia, Mexico, New Brunswick, Canada, Europe and nearly all over the civilized world. "The Oak and Vine" and "Cedar and Vine" have reached an immense circulation. "The Orange Blossom," copyrighted in '1882, has reached the largest sale, and his certificates of other issues, many of which are of beautiful design, have also reached a large sale. In 1879 Mr. Crider ob- tained a copyright on "The Song Treasury," an excellent Sunday-school, prayer and praise-meeting book. This book has attained a circulation of 63,000 copies. "Bright Gems" was copyrighted hy him in 1881, and "Silvery Echoes" in 1880; the latter, for infant Sunday-schools, has reached a large sale. "Songs of Love and Praise," an excel- lent work for Sabbath-schools and the home circle, is also handled by him in large quantities direct from the publishers. Mr. Crider has one of the leading bookstores in southern Pennsylvania, and carries a valuable stock of books, stationery, fine Russia leather goods, and a large, attractive and well displayed line of fancy goods, which are sold at wholesale or retail. In public affairs Mr. Crider is public-spirited, and as an active business man he is well and favorably known. He takes a promi- nent interest in Sunday-schools, and is the president of the York County Sunday-school Union. In De- cember, 1870, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Spangler, only daughter of Nathaniel Spang- ler, a prominent farmer and lineal descendant of the earliest settlers of York County. They have six children: Horace W., Charles E., Flora I., David N., Sadie C. and Lillie M. Mr. Crider is a member of the United Brethren Church, and his

wife of the Reformed Church, of York. He was one of the originators of the Emigsville Camp Meeting Association, a liberal contributor to its support, and is now vice-president of its board of managers. He is also a trustee of Lebanon Valley College.

CAPT. MURRY S. CROSS was born in Wind- sor Township, York Co., Penn., March 12, 1835; is a son of Samuel Cross, and is of Scotch-Irish extrac- tion. The Cross family has been connected with the history of York County for nearly a century. Capt. Cross was reared on a farm in his native township, receiving a common school education in the meantime. When about twenty years of age he went to Baltimore and learned the carpenter's trade. Returning to York County, he followed his trade until Fort Sumpter was fired upon, when he enlisted for three months in the Sixteenth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. After an honorable discharge, he was one of the principal men in raising Company C, in York County. He was elected first lieutenant, and December 25, 1862, was commissioned captain. He participated in many engagements, some of the more prominent of which were as follows: Win- chester, Wilderness, Cold Harbor, Spottsylvania, Weldon Railroad, Oquaquen, now Winchester, and Fisher's Hill. Capt. Cross was discharged October 13, 1864. In 1868 he became the proprietor of what is now the Central Hotel. Here he continued five years. He began his present business in 1882. The marriage of our subject took place October 4, 1850. to Miss Cecelia Hartman, a native of York and daughter of Henry Hartman. Two children have been born to this union, viz .: Edward M. S. (who died in 1883 of injuries received while in the em- ploy of the Northern Central Railway) and Harrison H. Capt. Cross is a Republican and a member of the I. O. O. F.

GEORGE DARON, justice of the peace, and ex-treasurer of York County, was born in Manches- ter Township, January 12, 1830, to George and Ly- dia (Kern) Daron. In a family of fourteen children Mr. Daron is the fourth and is of French-German stock. His father was born in Hellam Township in 1799, and died in 1857. His mother was a native of Manchester Township, born in 1804, and died in 1873. The paternal grandfather of our subject was born in Hellam Township in 1771, and his great- grandfather was born in France and came to Amer- ica at fifteen years of age. Mr. Daron remained in his uative township until 1850 when he went to Do- ver, and four years of his time was employed in teaching school and at work on the farm. In 1854 he began the hotel business and continued that un- til 1859, when he came to York, and here has since resided. Politically Mr. Daron is a Democrat and for many years has taken an active part in politics. In 1865 he was elected treasurer of York County and served one term. Afterward he was a clerk of the commissioners one year, and from 1877 to 1882 he held the office of deputy prothonotary. In 1882 he was elected justice of the peace. He was married November 22, 1855, to Miss Mary A. Leathery, a native of York County. Mrs. Daron died March 30, 1874, and November 20, 1876, Mr. Daron was mar- ried to Miss Malvina Crisman, a native of Blairs- town, N. J. Mr. Daron is a member of the I. O. O. F.

OLIVER DEARDORFF, proprietor of the States Union Hotel, was born in Washington Township, York County, February 22, 1840, to David and Re- becca (Geise) Deardorff. He is the eldest in a family of seven children, and is of German origin. The father of Mr. Deardorff was born in Washington Township in 1808, and his mother in Paradise Township. The parents of Mr. Deardorff died in 1880. Mr. Deardorff was educated in the public schools of his native township. In 1871 he came to

YORK BOROUGH.

York, and for four years clerked for William Kroutz in the States Union Hotel, and in 1875 be- came the proprietor, and in this occupation he has since continued. He is one of the successful hotel men in York. Mr. Deardorff was united in mar- riage December 25, 1874. to Miss Sarah Fake, a na- tive of York County. To this marriage have been born three children, viz .: Eli, David and Oliver. Politically our subject is a Democrat, and a member of the German Reformed Church. Mrs. Deardorff is a member of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Dear- dorff is a thorough business man and of an enter- prising spirit.

D. G. DEARDORFF, liveryman, was born in Washington Township, June 11, 1851, to David and Margaret (Giese) Deardorff, and is of German de- scent. The early years of Mr. Deardorff's life were spent on the farm and attending the public schools of Washington Township, at which he acquired a common school education. At seventeen years of age he began teaching school, but after having taught five terms he abandoned the profession. In 1881 he began the tanning business in his native township, which he continued until 1883, when he removed to York and engaged in his present occu- pation. His stable is located on Mason Alley, near the court-house. The marriage of Mr. Deardorff to Miss Sarah E. Grove was solemnized in 1871. Mrs. Deardorff is a native of York County. They have children as follows: Harvey, Kurvin, Arthur and George. Politically Mr. Deardorff is a Republican. In 1876 he was elected justice of the peace, and re- elected in 1881, and held the office until his removal to York.

L. T. DEININGER, president of the Vigilant Steam Fire Engine Company, No. 1, York, son of the late Rev. C. J. and Maria (Treat) Deininger. He was born at East Berlin, Adams County, August 24, 1847, and (with the exception of about six years of his boyhood, when he lived in the place of his birth and in Indiana County, Penn.) has always been a resident of York. His father and grand- father, both deceased, were well-known Lutheran clergymen, having been residents of York and Adams Counties, Penn., for more than fifty years. Mr. Deininger was educated at the public schools of York, the York County Academy, and the Penn- sylvania College at Gettysburg. In 1867 he engaged in the book and stationery business, which he still continues. He was married, October 20, 1870, to Laura C. Small, daughter of William Small, au old and much respected citizen of the Fourth Ward, York, lately deceased. To this marriage have been born two children: Ella T. and Horace S. In 1879 Mr. Deininger became president of the "Vigilant Steam Fire Engine Company." He was made a Mason in 1872, and is a member of St. Paul's Luth- eran Church.

SAMUEL DICK, merchant, son of Henry and Ellen (Plat) Dick, was born January 27, 1858, in York, Penn., and has always resided in York. He received his education at the public schools of York, and went to his trade, ornamental painter, when quite a young man. For ten years he had the respon - sible position of foreman in the painting department of A. B. Farquhar's Agricultural Works, which posi- tion he relinquished on account of his health, by advice of his physician. He then turned his atten- tion to the mercantile business, in which he is now engaged on North Duke Street extended. July 3, 1880, Mr. Dick married Mary Butcher, daughter of William and Elenora (Gemmell) Butcher, of Hope- well Township. Two children have blessed this union: William and Mollie. Samuel Dick, the grandfather of our subject, was the leading carriage builder in York in his time.

HON. DANIEL DURKEE. Judge Durkee was of English descent, the family coming to America

early in the eighteenth century, and settling in Windham, Conn. Here; his great-grandfather, Na- thaniel Durkee, was married, August 21, 1727, and from there his son Timothy (Judge Durkee's grand- father) removed to Vermont while that State was yet a wilderness. His maternal grandfather, Elisha Rix, also went from Connecticut to Vermont about the same time, both families settling in the valley of White River. In their journey of about 200 miles, they were guided by marked trees. They settled on adjoining farms, granted by the government of New York, then claiming jurisdiction over the territory. The families were united by the marriage of He- man, the eldest son of Timothy Durkee, to Susan, daughter of Elisha Rix. Heman succeeded to the Durkee farm, and both farms have remained in pos- session of members of the family until recently. Situated in the township of Royalton, they adjoin South Royalton, a thriving village and railroad cen- ter. Here Daniel Durkee, the subject of this sketch, was born on August 27, 1791. His father's death occurring when he was but a boy, the years of his early manhood were spent in the home and on the farm of his mother. He married, April 8, 1813, Mary, daughter of Capt. John Wright, of Nor- wich, Vt. A few years after his marriage he com menced the study of law with Jacob Collamer, of Royalton (afterward United States Senator from Vermont and postmaster-general), and Judge Hutch- inson, of Woodstock, Vt. He was admitted to the bar in Chelsea, Orange Co., Vt., June 12, 1818, and opened an office in Williamstown in the same county. Desirous of settling in Pennsylvania, he left Williamstown the following December, and came to Lebanon, Penn., taking an office just va- cated'by his brother-in-law, John Wright, Esq., who had removed to York. Some months later, illness in his family compelling Mr. Wright to return to New England, Judge Durkee came to York, where he continued to reside until his death. At that time, Lebanon was thoroughly German; so univer- sally was that language spoken there, that there was but one family in the town with whom the Durkee family could communicate in the English tongue; while in York there was a large English element, though the German was almost universally spoken in the surrounding country. Without any knowledge of that language, he soon became a pop- ular lawyer with the German population, and a suc- cessful practitioner. Pennsylvania thenceforth be- came the State of his adoption, but he was ever loyal to New England and to his native home, which continued to be the home of his mother until her death in 1852. It was his "Mecca." He never failed to go there annually (in the thirty-six years of his life in Pennsylvania), taking his family or several members of it with him in each alternate year. The New England festival "Thanksgiving' was always observed in his home, the appointment of the governor of Vermont being regarded, until in later years it became a national appointment. Judge Durkee was admitted to the bar in York County in 1820. In 1832 he was elected to the leg- islature. In 1833 he was appointed by Gov. Wolf judge of the district court. In 1835, the district court having been abolished, he was appointed pres- ident judge of the Nineteenth Judicial District, composed of the counties of York and Adams. He held the office for ten years, when, at the expiration of his term, he was succeeded by Judge Irwin. On the resignation of the latter in 1849, Judge Durkee was again appointed to the president .judgeship, by Gov. Johnson, and held the office until 1851, when the judgeship, having been by a constitutional amendment, made elective. Judge Fisher was chosen to succeed him. He then resumed the practice of his profession. which he continued to the time of his death. He died November 23, 1854, aged sixty-

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

three years and three months. Thus, for nearly half the entire period of his residence in Pennsyl- vania, Judge Durkee held the office of president judge. On the bench Judge Durkee was careful and painstaking, and showed great discrimination in separating, from the mass of less important mat- ters, the real points involved in the cases brought before him. In his charges he was remarkably happy, and successful in presenting cases to juries, and in enabling them to perform their duties intel- ligently, and in preventing them from falling into errors. Of eminent sagacity, clear perceptions and sound conclusions, he enjoyed during his official career the confidence and respect of the bar, and in a great degree that of the appellate court, which reviewed his judgments. As an evidence of the esteem in which he has been held, there is subjoined an extract from the York Gazette of September 24, 1839, which, as published by a political opponent of Judge Durkee, is all the more valuable a tribute to his worth: . "We find in the Adams Sentinel of a late date, a communication in which the Hon. Daniel Durkee, president judge of this judicial dis- trict. is spoken of in terms of high commendation. We feel proud of this justly merited tribute to the worth of one of our citizens; and here in York, where Judge Durkee is . at home,' we feel sure that every word will be attested by every one who reads it. We hope that this district will not lose the serv- ices of so upright and excellent a judical officer un- der the operation of that provision of the new con- stitution, which limits the tenure of office of presi- dent judges of the courts of common pleas to ten years. Every friend of justice and morality, all who desire to see the bench occupied by a stern foe to vice and disorder, are interested in keeping the judicial ermine upon the shoulders of Judge Durkee." As a practicing lawyer, Judge Durkee always occupied a high position at the bars of York and Adams Counties. His specialty was the con- ducting of trials before juries. He managed his causes with great tact and judgment, and while at the bar always had a large portion of its forensic practice. Few causes of magnitude or importance were tried in which he was not one of the leading counsel. His influence with a jury, whether he ad- dressed them from the bar or charged them from the bench, seemed almost magical. Although Judge Durkee was not indebted to the culture of the schools, he had evidently practiced self-discipline long and carefully. But it was from nature he re- ceived his best gifts-gifts, the absence of which no amount of educational facilities can supply. The characteristics of his mind were clearness and orig- inality. Both these mental qualities, so rarely met, even singly, he possessed in a very considerable de- gree. They manifested themselves on the bench, at the bar, in social conversation, and even in casual re- marks, in the working out of his intellectual pro- cesses, in the language he selected, and in the fig- ures and illustrations he employed. For this reason he was always listened to with attention and inter- est. It was well known that there was no danger of being wearied by anything feeble or commonplace or obscure in what he said. Most frequently the products of his mind exhibited the freshness of vig- orous and independent thinking, were expressed in strong, idiomatic English, which, adapting itself to the tournure of the thought, fitted close to it, and conveyed to others his ideas with all the clearness in which they existed in his own mind, were eluci- dated by illustrations, which were apt, striking, felicitous, and when the subject or occasion would admit, were enlivened by the scintillations of gen- uine wit. In his legal investigations and discus- sions, he always sought for the reason of the law, and endeavored to be guided by principles rather than by discordant and irreconcilable decisions.

With his great powers of mind, he united great kindness of heart and an eminently sympatheticand affectionate disposition, causing him to be beloved in his neighborhood and idolized in his family. Judge Durkee had none of the arts and stooped to none of the tricks and methods of the politician. His popularity grew out of his genial and kindly disposition, and his well-known integrity. In times like these, when the judicial office is becoming yearly more the object of a scramble by unworthy aspirants, it were well if his high example had more imitators.

HENRY A. EBERT, retired merchant and a representative of one of the old families of York County, was born in West Manchester Township, December 10, 1841. He is a son of Henry and Sarah (Smyser) Ebert, the latter a daughter of Jacob Smy- ser, and born March 19, 1815: the former was also born in West Manchester Township, February 12, 1809, and died March 28, 1884. The paternal grandfather of Mr. Ebert was Adam Ebert, also a native of York County. The Ebert family has been identified with the history of this county for more than 100 years. Our subject was educa- ted at the public schools and at the York County Academy. In 1864 he began the merchant tailoring business in York, and continued until 1878, when he retired from this business and began dealing in real estate. The marriage of Mr. Ebert occurred June 7, 1870, to Miss Mary L. Sheller, daughter of Dr. Sheller, of Lancaster County. They have three children, viz .: A. Laura, Ella V. and Harry Sheller. Politically Mr. Ebert is a Republican. Mr. Ebert is a member of the Lutheran Church and Mrs. Ebert is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

EDWARD EBNER, of the firm of B. Noedel & Co., York, was born in Neun Kirchen, Austria, in 1848. His parents were Franz X., and Anna (Hass- lauer) Ebner, natives of the same country, and for over thirty-five years engaged iu the hotel business there; they are both deceased. Edward was edu- cated, and until 1875 engaged in the mercantile trade in his native country. Immigrating to America, he located in Philadelphia, where he remained seven years, the five last years of which he was the man- ager of Charles Engel's restaurant. In 1882 he came to York and became associated, as partner, with B. Noedel, and in this connection he has re- mained up to the present time. Mr. Ebner was married in 1882 to Mrs. Mary A. Boll, widow of Jacob W. Boll, late of York. Mrs. Ebner's maiden name was Mary A. Brasch, and she is a native of York County. They are members of St. Mary's Catholic Church.

CAPT. WILLIAM F. EICHAR, book-keeper, is a native of Mount Pleasant, Penn., born December 8, 1841, to Henry and Catherine (Lichty) Eichiar. He is one of a numerous family and is of German descent. He remained in his native township until 1861, when he enlisted in Company B, Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, for three years. He par- ticipated in the battles of Antietam, South Moun- tain, Boliver Heights and many other minor en- gagements. He was honorably discharged in 1864, and the following year came to York, where he has since lived. Soon after his removal to York he ac- cepted a position in the employ of A. B. Farquhar, and here continues. He is one of the most compe- tent and exact accountants in York, and enjoys the supreme confidence of his employers. He was mar- ried in 1864 to Miss Eliza B. Welty, who bore him six children. Mrs. Eichar died in 1879, and the fol- lowing year Mr. Eichar was united in marriage to Miss Maria C. Buckingham, a native of York County. One child has been born to this union. Mr. Eichar is a member of the Republican party. In 1878 he was elected assessor of the Second Ward. He is a member of the G. A. R., Sedgewick Post,

YORK BOROUGH.

No. 37. Mr. and Mrs. Eichar are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

HENRY W. EISENHART, foreman of the wood department of A. B. Farquhar's, was born in Adams County, Penn., in 1839, is a son of George and Mary (Wolf) Eisenhart and is of German extraction. His parents were born in York County, his father in 1805 and his mother in 1808. His paternal grandfather was Conrad Eisenhart, a native of York County. When Henry W. was about four years of age he was by his parents removed from Adams County to Paradise Town- ship, York County, where he obtained a common school education. In 1858 he began learning the carpenter trade, and in 1861 went to Harrisburg and there continued his trade for about one year. He then came to York and remained a short time and then went to his native county. In 1865 he returned to York, and for five years was in the em- ploy of Shireman, Hoffeins & Co. In 1873 he accepted his present position, and is the oldest foreman now in the employ of A. B. Farquhar & Co., has charge of sixty-five men. He was married in 1863 to Miss Kate Nickey, a native of Adams County, and a daughter of John Nickey. They have one child, Albertus C. Politically Mr. Eisen- hart is a Democrat, and became an Odd Fellow in 1857. Mr. and Mrs. Eisenhart are members of the Reformed Church.

C. A. EISENHART, D. D. S., was born in York County in 1844. His early life was passed as an assistant upon his father's farm until sixteen years of age, attending in the meantime the schools of his native county. Prior to his removal to Mar- shall, Mich., he was a teacher in the schools of West Manchester Township. A natural inclination for the profession of dentistry led him to become a student, and his close application and determined spirit enabled him to master it in all of its details. In 1860 he formed a co-partnership with Dr. Eggle- ston, which relationship was mutually beneficial, and the success of our subject farther advanced. Upon the dissolution of this firm Dr. Eisenhart returned to York, where he has since been in constant and continual practice. The success of Dr. Eisenhart has not been confined to the practical duties of his profession, but has extended into the field of in- vention. He made application for a patent upon a method for the application of electricity to supersede the use of anasthetics in extracting and filling teeth. This invention has been wonderfully successful, and has met with a large sale among the dental profession, and has extended the fame of Dr. Eisenhart, and placed him among the leading dentists of Pennsylvania. Dr. Eisenhart is a citizen of worth and progression in all matters of public advancement. He has been a school director seven years, and president of the board of education, and interested in the Safe and Lock Works, and is presi- dent of the Park Loan & Building Association. December 5, 1872, he was united in wedlock with Miss Emma C., daughter of Charles and Catherine (Weiser) Pfahler, and a native of York County. They have four children: William S., Luther P., Jacob C. and Harry W. The family are members of the Lutheran Church, of which Dr. Eisenhart has been a teacher in the Sabbath-school for over ten years.

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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 153

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