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 159

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 159

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By a rule of the pension office, pensions began from the time of the last material evidence fur- nished. This sometimes procrastinated the claim from one to ten years after the application for a pension was made, varying in accordance with the diligence of the pension office and the good luck of the claimant in expediting his claim. In extenuation of this nnjust method of the pension office, Hon. John A. Casson, of Iowa, and Gen. Hurlburt, of Chicago, members of the honse at the time, took the ground that the pension was a mere matter of gift or grace. Col. Maish delivered his admirable speech in reply to this proposition, and showed that the pension of the soldier from the acts of congress, under which he enlisted, was as much a contract as the promise of the government to pay its bonds to those who loaned their money to carry on the war; and the government having contracted to pay its soldiers certain pensions for disabilities incurred in the service, such pensions could not be postponed at the caprice of the pension office for an indefinite length of time. The argument was conceded to he unanswerable. The bill became a law, but subse- quently similar cnactments were largely extended to cases not covered by the principles advocated in the speech of Col. Maish.

YORK BOROUGH.

SPEECH ON THE ELECTORAL BILL.

February 8, 1877, immediately after the con- summation of the fraud ot 1876, which resulted in the defeat of the people's choice: Hon. Samuel J. Tilden, and the seating of Rutherford B. Hayes, Col. Maish proposed an amendment in the house of representatives, to the Constitution of the United States, which had for its object the changing of the method of electing the president and vice-presi- dent of the United States. To guard against the evils of disputed elections, it proposed to abolish the election of electors and provide for the election of the president by a direct vote of the people.

The amendment is as follows :

ARTICLE XVI.

Article II, Section 1, paragraph 2, to be made to read as follows :

" Each State shall be entitled to a number of electoral votes equal to the whole number of sena- tors and representatives to which the State shall be entitled in congress."

The first division of the twelfth amendment to the Constitution, ending with the words "directed to the President of the Senate," to be struck out, and the following substituted:

" The citizens of each State who shall be qualified to vote for representatives in congress shall cast their votes for candidates for president and vice- president hy ballot, and proper returns of the votes so cast shall be made under seal, within ten days, to the secretary of State or other officer lawfully per- forming the duties of such secretary in the govern- ment of the State, by whom the said returns shall he publicly opened in the presence of the chief executive magistrate of the State, and of the chief justice or judge of the highest court thereof; and the said secretary, chief magistrate, and judge shall assign to each candidate voted for by a sufficient number of citizens a proportionate part of the elec- toral votes to which the State shall be entitled, in manner following, that is to say: they shall divide the whole number of votes returned by the whole number of the State's electoral vote, and the result- ing quotient shall be the electoral ratio for the State, and shall assign to candidates voted for one elec- toral vote for each ratio of popular votes received by them respectively, and, if necessary, additional electoral votes for successive largest fractions of a ratio shall be assigned to candidates voted for until the whole number of the electoral votes of the State shall be distributed; and the said officers shall thereupon make up and certify at least three gen- eral returns, comprising the popular vote by coun- ties, parishes, or other principal divisions of the State, and their apportionment of electoral votes as aforesaid, and shall transmit two thereof, under seal, to the seat of Government of the United States, one directed to the president of the Senate and one to the speaker of the house of representatives, and a third unsealed return shall be forthwith filed by the said secretary in his office, be recorded therein, and be at all times open to inspection."

Article II, Section 1, paragraph 4, to be made to read as follows:

"The congress may determine the time of voting for president and vice-president and the time of assigning electoral votes to candidates voted for, which times shall he uniform throughout the United States."

Strike out the words "electors appointed," where they occur in the twelfth amendment to the Constitution, and insert in their stead the words "electoral votes."

Again at the following session of congress in October, 1877, Col. Maish introduced his amend- ment.

In the N. American Review of May and April, 1877, ex-Senator Charles R. Buckalew. reviewed at length the amendment proposed by Col. Maish, and advo- cated its adoption in a very able article. The amendment was reported favorably by a committee of the house, but the report was made so near the end of the session that its final consideration was not reached. The proposition received very gen- eral approval and indorsement by the press of the country, and the colonel received many compliments for his introduction of the measure.

The glaring defects of our present system of electing a president and vice-president was called into view at the presidential election of 1884; the contest, having resolved itself upon the issue in the State of New York, her entire electoral vote, was, after many days of uncertainty and doubt (which disturbed the business of the country, after a heated contest, and rekindled the embers of bitter strife), finally declared to have been cast in favor of Grover Cleveland, by a majority of a little over 1,000, in an aggregate vote of nearly 1,000,000. This circum- stance revived the interest in the necessity for a change in our general method of election, and Col. Maish's amendment found many friends and warm advocates in the newspapers of the country. Ex- Senator Buckalew, during the contest, in an able interview, published in the Philadelphia Times, presented its merits very forcibly, and the Pitts- burgh Post, shortly after the election, in a long and able editorial, zealously advocated its adoption.

It was during the closing days of the forty-fourth congress that Col. Maish made himself especially popular and prominent hy his ardnous duties upon that important committee of "powers and privi- leges of the house." This committee was the one which investigated and exposed the frauds of the Louisiana Returning Board, of which the notorious James Madison Wells was the president. Hon. J. Proctor Knott, now governor of Kentucky, was the chairman of this committee, and he assigned to our subject the laborious duty of preparing a very large portion of the testimony taken during the investi- gation of those frauds. It is also a well-known fact and much to the credit of Col. Maish, that in a great measure it was owing to his shrewdness and sagacity, that J. Madison Wells' attempt to sell the vote of Louisiana was discovered.

At the close of the forty-fifth congress, in 1878, his term having expired and, under the rules of the district, the nomination going to Cumberland County, he was succeeded by the Hon. Frank E. Beltzhoover, of that connty. After leaving con- gress, Col. Maish devoted himself to the practice of the law, which he temporarily abandoned to take his seat in congress, and has ever since devoted himself assiduously to the interests of the large clientage he enjoys, and is at present the counsel of the board of commissioners of York County. On October 31, 1883, Col. Maish was married to Miss Louise L. Mil- ler, of Georgetown, D. C., daughter of Benjamin F. Miller, who, prior to the war of the Rebellion, was a very successful merchant of Winchester, Va. A son has blessed this union, who at this time is but an infant.

S. M. MANIFOLD, superintendent of the York & Peach Bottom Railroad, is a native of Hopewell Township, and was born in 1842. His ancestors are of Scotch-Irish and English origin, and were early settlers in the southern portion of York County. Upon his father's side, his grandfather was Henry Manifold, a farmer of Hopewell Township, and upon his mother's, Samuel Martin, a well-known Presbyterian minister, and a resident of Lower Chanceford Township. His parents were Joseph and Rebecca (Martin) Manifold, the former a native of Hopewell and the latter of Lower Chanceford Township. They resided in the lower end of York

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

County all their lives. The mother died in 1869, and the father in 1884. They were the parents of six children (four of whom are living): Samuel N. (being the eldest), Margaret J .. Keziah A. and Will- iam F. (a farmer of Lower Chanceford), Mrs. Ro- sanna Dougherty (deceased) and Alexander (deceased). Our subject was reared upon a farm and obtained a common school education. He remained engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1863, when he enlisted in Company A, Twenty-first Pennsyl- vania Cavalry, and was in active service until the close of the war, participating in several severe battles, the principal of which were Cold Harbor. the battles before Petersburg, Poplar Grove Church and with Gen. Warren when he destroyed the Wel- don Railroad. When he was mustered out he held his commission as second lieutenant, and for four months subsequently was engaged in the provost marshal's office at Campbell Court House. Return- ing to his home he engaged in farming in Lower Chanceford until 1872, when he accepted a subor- dinate position with the engineer corps, then survey- ing the York & Peach Bottom Railroad. Possessing no practical knowledge of the business of this period. he so applied himself to its study that he was soon after made assistant engineer and subsequently chief; under his charge, the last twenty miles of the road were built, and the Peach Bottom Railroad. on the east side of the river, completed. Soon after the road was finished, in 1878, he was appointed superintendent, which office he still holds; under his supervision all of the many improvements have been made, and the improved condition of the road fitly attests to his executive ability. Mr. Manifold was united in wedlock in 1874 with Miss Sallie Gregg, a native of Chester County, Penn. They have three children living: Howard, Rosealmo and Myra. The family are members of the Presby- terian Church.

CHARLES H. MARTIN, the "artist tailor," is one of the progressive young business men of York. He is a native of York born in 1860, and a son of Jacob F. and Emma (Weiser) Martin. His father was a native of Lancaster County: his mother, a native of York, is a daughter of Martin Weiser and a descendant of an old York County family. His father came to York about 1850. estab- lished himself in business as a merchant tailor and was 'a resident until his death, in 1880. Charles H. received his education in the schools of York, grad- uating from the high school in 1877. He began his mercantile career as a clerk in the dry goods house of Alexander Fishel, where he was employed two years. He next engaged with Myers & Hoffman as trimmer, remaining with that house one year and a half, when he went to Reading and accepted a position as assistant cutter with Myers & Heim, re- maining there two years. He then returned to York and formed an association with F. N. Michaels, and embarked in business as merchant tailor. January 1, 1883, their business relations were dissolved by Mr. Martin purchasing his partner's interest, and he thus established himself in business alone. Mr. Martin has achieved an enviable reputation and successful business results. He carries a large line of all goods suited to his trade, and is the artist of his own productions. He is liberal and progressive in all affairs of public benefit and improvements, and one of the rising young men of York.

LOGAN A. MARSHALL. wholesale liquor and wine dealer, was born in Warrington Township, October 26, 1837. He is a son of James and Eliza- beth (Ulrich) Marshall, and is of Scotch-German descent. His father was born in Edinburgh, Scot- land, in 1794, and at twelve years of age came to America and settled in the "Upper End" of York County, where his death occurred in 1879. The mother of Mr. Marshall was born in this county in

1794. The first years of our subject were spent on the farm. He came to York in 1863 and engaged in the hotel business, which he continued one year and then began the wholesale liquor business. In 1865 he went to Indiana and remained in the West until 1876, when he returned to York, where he has since resided. He was married in 1860 to Miss Cecelia Picking, of Dover, daughter of William S. Picking, who for fourteen years was a clerk in the house of representatives at Harrisburg. They have had six children, two of whom are living: Annie M. and Neonia E. Mr. Marshall is a Mason and one of the successful business men of York.

EDMUND W. MEISENHELDER, M. D., was born in Dover, York Co .. Penn., February 22. 1843, is a son of Dr. Samuel and Josephine S. (Lewis) Meis- enhelder, and of German and English extraction. His father was born near Dover, York Co., Penn .. in 1818, and mother in York County in 1823. Ilis paternal grandfather was Jacob Meisenhelder, an early settler of Dover Township. His paternal grand- father died about the year 1843. His father, after practicing medicine for thirty-five years in this and Adams County. died in 1883. Our subject was educated at Pennsylvania College, at Gettysburg, and was graduated with highe-t honors in 1864. He began the study of medicine under his father in 1865, attended lectures at Jefferson Medical College and was graduated in 1868. He began practice at East Berlin. Adams County, and after three years removed to York. In 1870 he married Miss Maria E. Baughman, a native of York County. Three children are the result of this union: Robert L., Edmund W. and Samuel B. Was a member of Company A, (Pennsylvania College Company) Twenty-sixth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, under the "emergency " call of Gov. Curtin, dur- ing the rebel invasion of 1863. In 1864 the Doctor enlisted in Company D, Two Hundred and Tenth Pennsylvania Volunteers: was commissioned sec- ond lientenant in 1865. and was discharged May 30. 1865. Dr. and Mrs. Meisenhelder are members of the Lutheran Church.

JAMES L. MENOUGH was born at Pittsburgh, Penn., September 11. 1853, and is the son of Samuel H. and Louisa (Bott) Menough, natives of York County. His father died when he was but six years old, and James made his home with his uncle. Mi- chael Bott, of Dover Township, until he arrived at the age of seventeen years. He then became an ap- prentice to Jacob Seacrist to learn the carpenter's trade, and with him continued four years. He then located at Reading, Penn. Upon his return to York he was engaged with Nathaniel Weigle for a period of seven years. He then embarked in business for himself, subsequently in association with Peter F. Yost, adding a planing-mill and facilities for doing all kinds of work in their line. Emanuel Yessler subsequently purchased the interest of Mr. Yost. and the firm of Menough & Yessler has continued up to the present writing. They are doing a thriv- ing trade and are honorable business men. Mr. Menough was married in 1878 to Miss Anna. daugh- ter of Franklin and Mary (Smyser) Loucks, of York. They have one child, Luther D. Mr. and Mrs. Menongh are members of Christ's Lutheran Church.

FRANK G. METZGER, secretary and general passenger agent of the York & Peach Bottom Rail- way, is a native of Yocumtown, Penn., born No- vember 26, 1853, a son of William B. and Emma G. (Ginder) Metzger. He is of German descent and is a representative of one of the old families of York County. His father was born in this county in 1828. In 1871 subject began studying telegraphy and for some time continued as an operator. In 1874 he graduated at Eastman's Business College, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y , and for four years afterward

YORK BOROUGH.

was book-keeper for Elcock, Metzger & Co. In 1878. in partnership with his father, he engaged in the boot and shoe business, at Dillsburg, and con- tinued until 1881. In 1879 he was elected clerk of the commissioners of York County, being the first Republican ever elected to that office in this county. His term of office expired in 1882, and that same year he accepted his present position. His marriage took place in 1876 10 Maggie Kister, of Goldsboro, Penn. They have one child, Pearl.

E. J. MILLER, dealer in boots, shoes and clothing, was born in York County. Penn., in 1844. a son of Jacob and Leah (Jacoby) Miller, and is of German descent. His mother died in 1864 and his father in 1881. E. J. Miller began life for himself as a manufacturer of cigars. In 1864 he enlisted in Company D, Two Hundredth Pennsylvania Volun- teers, and served one year In 1868 he engaged in the boot and shoe business, which he has since con- tinued and now carries one of the most complete lines of boots and shoes in York. In 1884 he. in partnership with George S. Billmeyer, engaged in the clothing and merchant-tailoring business. Mr. Miller married Angeline Mathias, daughter of David Mathias, and three children have been born to this union. In politics Mr. Miller is independent.

J. S. MILLER. M. D., is a native of Hopewell Township, York County, where he was born in 1856. His parents are David and Sarah (Winemiller) Mil- ler. both natives of Hopewell Township, and descend- ants of old families of the county. The father of our subject is a farmer, and his earlier years were passed as an assistant upon the old homestead. Ile received a good education attending the Stewarts- town Academy, and the York Collegiate Institute. In 1876 he began the study of medicine, reading with Dr. Thomas M. Curran, of Cross Roads, York County. He remained with his preceptor until 1880, in which year he graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, of Baltimore. He im- mediately located in Paradise, Springfield Township, where he practiced three years, subsequently travel- ing for six months, through the Middle and Western States. He then entered John Hopkins University at Baltimore, as a student in biology and chemistry. While in Baltimore he also took a special course under Dr. Clinton MeSherry, on diseases of the heart, throat and lungs. Dr. Miller located in York in July, 1884. where he is earnestly engaged in practice. He is devoted to his profession, is a close student and a worthy young man.

WILLIAM MITZEL, wholesale and retail dealer in groceries, fruits and confectioneries, was born in Chanceford Township, in 1822, and is the eldest of five children born to Philip and Lydia (Sailor) Mit- zel. His great-grandfather, Peter Mitzel, was born in Germany, and came to America previous to the Revolutionary war, in which he was a soldier. The grandfather of our subject was Michael Mitzel, who was born in Codorus Township in 1777, and who died in 1845. The father of our subject was born in Codorus Township in 1800, and his mother in Chanceford Township in 1805. The latter is still living and is the only daughter of William Saylor. Her mother was a Siechrist. Both the Saylor and Siechrist families came from Germany in the early history of York County, and both have numerous descendants. The early life of Mr. Mitzel was spent at Mitzel's Mills, now known as Felton Station. where he was educated at the private schools of Chanceford Township. He served an apprentice- ship at the miller's trade and in 1840 began general merchandising at Mitzel's Mills, where he remained four years, and then removed to Hopewell Township. In 1856 he went to Stewartstown, and in 1864 came to York and engaged in his present business. The marriage of Mr. Mitzel took place in 1843, to Miss Keturah Sumwalt, a native of Baltimore, and

daughter of Jacob and Dorcas Sumwalt, whose ancestors came from Germany and located at Balti- more prior to the Revolution. Her grandfather, Adam Hendrix (formerly spelled Hendricks), was a descendant of the family of that name wbo settled in York Connty as early as, or prior to, 1720, and who were among the first English settlers west of the Susquehanna Rivers. They have had three children, two now living: Francis A. and William A. Mr. Mitzel is a Democrat and cast his first presidential vote for James K. Polk. Mrs. Mitzel is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

JOHN A. MORRISON. fruit and produce dealer, was born in Hopewell Township. York Co .. Penn., to William E. and Eliza D. (Beaty) Morrison, and is the eldest son in a family of nine children. His father, also, was born in Hopewell Township in 1812. The great-grandfather of our subject was Michael Morrison, a native of Scotland, who came to America prior to the Revolution. in which he was a soldier. The grandfather of Mr. Morrison was a soklier in the war of 1812, and his father in the Re- bellion. In 1864 Mr. Morrison enlisted in Company B. Two Hundred and Ninth Pennsylvania Volun- teers, and served one year. Returning from the service he served a regular apprenticeship at the milling trade, which he continued seven years. In 1873 he came to York and engaged in the grocery business, which he followed until 1875, and then established his present business. He is the most extensive fruit dealer in York. The marriage of Mr. Morrison took place in 1869, to Miss Sarah A. Bowman, a native of Hopewell Township. They have three children: Margaret J., John W. and Ida K. Politically Mr. Morrison is a Republican. He has a good business education, and is an energetic and enterprising gentleman. Mr. and Mrs. Morrison are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

M. J. MUMPER. The Keystone Chain Works are owned and operated by two representatives of the oldest families in the connty-M. J. Mumper and David Trout. Mr. Mumper, the senior proprie- tor, and a practical workman, is a native of Adams Connty, and a descendant of the Mumper family of the northern end of York County. He learned his trade in Dillsburg, commencing at the age of sixteen years, and has followed it since in Dillsburg and York. The present business plant was first started by Addison Sheffer, of York, upon a very limited scale, between King and Market Streets, in 1870. In 1880 Mr. Mumper, under the firm name of Mumper & Walker, bought the works, and these partners continued together one year, when Mr. Walker withdrew. In 1882 Mr. Mumper sold an interest to David Trout, and the present firm was established. In the spring of 1884 their works were destroyed, and they erected extensive buildings in West York. The works have been steadily on the increase, and are under the persoual supervision of Mr. Mnmper. They are now selling from $40,000 to $50,000 worth of goods in all the markets of the United States. They have in their works about thirty employes. Mr. Trout is a native of Hopewell Township, and previons to his present co-partnership was a farmer of York County.

JOHN S. MUNDORF, news-dealer and fruit merchant, is the son of George W. and Henrietta Mundorf, and was born and reared in York. After receiving a public school education, he engaged as clerk in a dry goods store, and then for three years was clerk in the York postoffice; he then engaged in handling newspapers, periodicals, etc., receiving subscriptions for all foreign and American issues; subsequently adding foreign and domestic fruits and country produce, in which he deals at wholesale and retail. He is active and progressive, having started in business on a store box, which he has de- veloped into his present extensive and lucrative

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHIES.

trade. He was married, in 1876, to Jennie A. Evans, who has borne him three children: Edgar, Blair and Percy. Mr. Mundorf is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and, with his wife, of the Epis- copal Church.

SOLOMON MYERS, justice of the peace, was born in Adams County, March 14. 1829, and is a son of John and Elenor (Hummer) Myers, natives re- spectively of Adams and York Counties, and of Ger- man and English descent. The father, a farmer and carpenter, came to York in 1850, and engaged in hotel-keeping, which he followed until 1866, when he retired. He died August 29, 1868, followed by his widow, November 9, 1871. Of the seven children, born to these parents, five are living: Solomon, Julia (Smyser), Harriet (Mundorf), Ma- tilda (Spangler) and Sarah Ellen (Brubaker). The deceased were Lee H., who died in May, 1884, and Sarah Jane, who died in infancy. John Myers had held the rank of captain in the State militia twelve years, and for three years, as a Republican, served as county commissioner. Both he and wife were connected with the Lutheran Church. Solomon Myers was reared a farmer in Adams and York Counties until twenty-one years old. He received a good education, and for thirteen years taught school in York County-nine years in the borough. In 1861, as a member of the Worth Infantry, of York, he was assigned to the Sixteenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, as second lieutenant of Company A; was advanced to the first-lieutenancy. and was mustered out after a service of three and one-half months, when he organized a company, which was attached to the Eighty-seventh Regiment as Company E, and of which he was captain; he served in all the engagements of his regiment, ex- cepting the battle of the Wilderness, when he was on detached duty, and was mustered out October 14, 1864. In 1861, also, he was elected justice of the peace, but was then unable to serve on account of military obligations; on his return from the war, however, he entered upon the discharge of the du- ties of the office, and has since served, with the ex- ception of one term. Since 1882 he has been dealing in pianos, organs and musical instruments generally, and carries a general stock from all the leading makers. Mr. Myers is treasurer of a lodge of Free Masons, and for a number of years was a represen- tative to the Grand Lodge of the I. O. O. F. of the State. He was married December 8, 1872, to Mar- garet A., daughter of John Orwig, of Shrewsbury.

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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 159

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