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 162

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 162

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

DAVID SMALL was born in York, May 3, 1812, and was the son of Peter Small, a prominent citizen and master-builder, who died when David Small was twelve years of age, leaving five children: Daniel, John, David, Margaret (who became the first wife of Henry Welsh, Esq., ) and a half-sister named Sarah, intermarried with Lewis Templein, now living in Ohio, and the sole survivor of the family At the tender age in which we find him at his father's death, he was taken by Mr. Welsh, his brother-in-law, and initiated into the mysteries of printing in the office of the York Gazette then pub- lished by King & Welsh ("next door below the Ger- man Reformed Church, Main Street") the latter be- coming a partner in its publication in May. 1824. After the manner of the enterprising news boys of

the present day, he was not slow to lake advantage of opportunities as they presented themselves at that early date, and took pride in relating how he had taken part in contributing his professional skill to the demands of the citizens on the occasion of the visit of Gen. La Fayette to York, in 1825, of which he had a distinct recollection to the last. Mr. Welsh, in 1829, disposed of his share of the Gazette to George A. Barnitz, Esq., and subse- quently became proprietor of the Pennsylvania Reporter, at Harrisburg, and was elected State printer. Mr. Small Ieft York with Mr. Welsh and became foreman of the State printing. Owing to bad health, however, he was compelled to leave Harrisburg, and on the 1st of April. 1836, became part owner of the Gazette, with Hon. Adam J. Glossbrenner, continuing uninterruptedly in the proprietorship until his death, nearly half a centu- ry. In his salutatory to the readers of the Gazette, on assuming his share in the proprietorship, he tersely concluded: "The undersigned will not trouble the reader with a long string of promises- believing in the old adage that 'large promisers are generally small performers.' He would much rather be judged by his acts than by his promises to act," and this peculiar announcement at the beginning of his business career will be recognized as charac- teristic of his whole life. Before Mr. Small left Harrisburg, he became united in marriage with Miss Adeline Sprigman, daughter of Solomon Sprigman, bookbinder, of that city, the ceremony having been performed by Rev. A. H. Lochman, D. D., of York, then a resident of Harrisburg. In his wedded life he was assisted with good counsel and the encour- agement and comfort of a helpmeet in every emer- gency, rearing a family of three boys, whose con- duct in life has caused their parents but little jar in the family circle. In 1839 Mr. Small became postmaster at York for the umexpired term of Dan- iel Small, his brother, under President Van Buren, and was succeeded by George Upp, Jr., under Pres- ident Tyler, in 1841. Mr. Small was tendered a continuance of the postmastership under Mr. Tyler, but having contributed nothing to the elevation of that gentleman to the presidency, declined to be- come a supporter and beneficiary of his administra- tion. In 1845, however, he was appointed to the same position by President Polk, again by President Pierce, and was continued by Mr. Buchanan. The appointment of editors as postmasters has been tabooed, generally, by the government in the early days, but in the person of Mr. Small the custom was broken, and under the persuasive eloquence of prominent Pennsylvania politicians, the Hon. Amos Randall, postmaster general under President Polk, made the way clear for many prominent and intel- ligent officials, who have sprung from the editorial staff, with great benefit to the service, and without detriment to the interests of professional brethren, who, it was feared, would suffer in the prompt dis- patch of the mails, by narrow-minded competitors. In 1861 he was elected director of the poor, and served four terms successively. In 1862 he was elected chief burgess of York, and continued for nine successive terms, and in 1876 he was a presi- dential elector on the Tilden ticket. He was a director of the York National Bank about thirty years, and of the Farmers' Insurance Company about ten years. As a printer Mr. Small stood well in his profession. He was practical, and in his early days one of the fast compositors of southern Pennsylvania. As an employer he was kind, not exacting, dignified, but approachable, and solicitous for his employes, and always commanded their respect and good-will. His standing in the Demo- cratic party in York County, while in health, was at the fore-front, and while not a brilliant leader, was a wise counsellor, and much of the grand Dem-

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHIES.

ocratie majority in the county is owing to his wis- dom and taet; and, although prominent in politics, he never permitted himself to be named before a county convention for office except for director of the poor, in which he was solely governed by a de- sire to contribute to the welare of the unfortunate class who come within the ministration of that of- tice, and it is to his eredit that his memory is still retained in gratitude by many of those who partie- ipated in the humane treatment experienced in the days of his directorship. Mr. Small died August 8, 1885, and. as a mark of respect to the deceased, Chief Burgess Heiges issued the following procla- mation:

"By the death of David Small on Saturday last. York has lost one of its most prominent and honored citizens. In view of his long and useful public career in various positions of trust and re- sponsibility in this community, and on account of his exemplary private life, and because of his hav- ing so acceptably filled the office of Chief Burgess of York for nine consecutive years, I have directed the borough flag to he suspended at half mast until after the funeral of David Small, Tuesday after- noon, August 11, 1885, and I recommend a suspen- sion of business, as far as possible, from 3} to 4} p. m. of said day, and especially on the part of all offices and employes of the borough; and I further ' direet that the bells on the engine houses be tolled between the above mentioned hours as tokens of respeet for the memory of the deceased.

"GEORGE W. HEIGES, "Chief Burgess. " YORK, PENN .. August 10, 1885."

The funeral of Mr. Small took place on Tuesday afternoon, the services commeneing at his late resi- denee at 33 o'clock. Rev. J. O. Miller, of Trinity Reformed Church. officiating. The remains were interred in the family lot at Prospeet Hill Cemetery, attended by a large eoneourse of relatives and friends. In accordance with an expressed desire in life, the employes of the York Gazette printing- office acted as pall-bearers. Thus eloses the career of a useful man who has left his impress for good upon the community, and leaves one land-mark less to connect the past with the present; leaves a void in the family and social cirele, and many regrets among those who knew him best and had eause to remember his many kindnesses in word and deed; and to whom it will be gratifying to know that his end was peace. and his departure without a strug- gle, entering into a rest he longed for, as the rest which endureth forever. [The above sketch is comprised of extraets from an obituary notice in the York Gazette of Tuesday, August 11, 1885.]

LUTHER A. SMALL. ex-chief burgess of York Borough, and son of David and Adaline Small, was born August 16, 1843. He is the youngest in a fam- ily of four children and is of German origin. He received his education at the York publie sehools and the York County Academy. At eighteen years he began learning the printer's trade, and sinee then his life has been that of a printer and editor, and he is connected with the Gazette Printing Com- pany. The marriage of Mr. Small with Miss Susan Groff was solemnized in 1865. Mrs. Small is also a native of York. They have one child, Emma V. Mr. Small is a thorough Demoerat, and for quite a number of years has takeu an active part in politi- cal affairs. During the years 1881 and 1882 he was a member of the town conneil. In 1883 he was eleeted chief burgess and re-elected in 1884. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and I. O. R. M.

1750, and settled near Chambersburg. Mr. Smith is next to the youngest of eight children. He at- tended the schools of his native section first, and afterward entered an academy at Uniontown, Md .; then engaged in teaching, and was licensed to preach February 28, 1843, and ordained February 26. 1846. His first eireuit in Franklin County had twenty-six appointments, each of which he visited every four weeks, by traveling 150 miles. The first year of Mr. Smith's labors brought 100 mem- bers into the church, among them John Diekson. now hishop of the Pennsylvania Conference. He next went to the Harrisburg circuit, then to Littles- town circuit, during which time through his preach- ing Revs. J. S. Wentz, L. W. Craumer and W. B. Raber beeame members of the church and after- ward sueeessful ministers of the Gospel. His next appointment was at York, where he served several different times. He is now a highly respected and honored citizen of the town. Few itinerant minis- ters of the Gospel have had so varied an experience as Rev. Mr. Smith. He has been an earnest, faith- ful and devoted worker in the cause of the church, and has served many other appointments, the work of which our limited space liere cannot describe. lle has been presiding elder of York for several years, was a member of the board of education in York, and filled many other positions of trust. His reminiseences, published in the church journals, are read with great interest. He was uneeasing in his interest to furnish facts and statistics of church history for this work.

WILLIAM SMITH, one of the leading druggists of York, is a native of Laneaster County, where he was born in 1822. He decided upon a mercantile career and, in 1834, entered the drug store of C. A. Morris, now deceased, but who was an old and val ued eitizen and business man of York. Having be- come thoroughly acquainted with the drug business and possessing good business qualifications, he was admitted as a partner in 1846, and continued in this relation until 1872, when he became the head of the firm, having in association with him G. P. Yost, who had been one of the chief elerks of the firm of C. A. Morris & Co., sinee 1859. Horace Smith, a son, was admitted as a partner, April 1,1879: he has also become thoroughly acquainted with the business hy long serviee. The firm is finely located on East Mar- ket Street, and are doing a large wholesale and retail business.

GIBSON SMITH, dealer in grain, flour and eoal, was born in Cumberland County, Penn., in 1823, is a son of Abraham and Sarah (Smith) Smith, and is of German origin. At the age of four years, Mr. Smith came with his parents to York County, and the family made settlement in the "upper end." In 1856 our subjeet began his present business. He was married in 1852 to Miss Susan Fahs, daughter of John Fahs. To this union have been born two children. Edgar F., born in York County, in 1854, was educated at the publie schools, at York County Academy and Pennsylvania College, at Gettysburg; graduating from that institution, he went to Ger- many and after two years received a degree from the University of Goettingen. He is now professor of natural science at Wittenburg College at Spring- field, Ohio. Allen J. was born in 1865, in York, Penn. He has received a liberal education and is now attending lectures at the University of Penn- sylvania.

REV. REINHART SMITH was born in the county of Shopfheim, grand dukedom of Baden, Germany, near the river Rhine, May 15. 1836, to Joseph and Rosina (Ruetehli) Smith. He was edu- cated at the publie schools and received a good Ger- man education. In 1854, in company with his parents, he came to America. landing at Castle Garden, New

REV. J. C. SMITH, of York, is now the oldest itinerant minister in the Pennsylvania Conference of the church of the United Brethren in Christ. He was born in Franklin County, Penn., January 22, 1819. His grandparents came from Switzerland in | York, September 4. The family proceeded to Lehigh

YORK BOROUGH.

County, Penn., and thence moved to Shelby County, Ohio, where his parents died in 1855. Early in life our subject was forced to make his own way, and for a time worked upon a farm, and then entered a hat factory as clerk. He studied privately from 1855 to 1860 with Rev. A. Linbagh, Reading, Penn., while he was clerk. In 1860 he entered the theological seminary at Mercersburg, Penn. Completing his labors at the seminary, he was licensed to preach, and since that time has been actively engaged in the ministry. In 1863 he removed to Sullivan County, and the first year received for his services $197.85. In 1866 he came to York County and accepted the pastorate of the Reformed Church at Dallastown, and there remained until 1868, when he removed to York and here has since resided. The. marriage of Rev. Smith was solemnized, in 1863, to Miss Anna Hoelker, of Philadelphia. Mrs. Smith died in 1864 and our subject was next married. in 1866, to Miss Hannah C. Shaffer. They have five children, viz .: Aaron H., Anna A., William R., Charles S. and Emma A.

S. MORGAN SMITH, inventor of Smith's Suc- cess Turbine Water-wheel and manufacturer of mill machinery, was born February 1, 1830. in Davie County, N. C., second son of John W. and Sarah Purden (Beauchamp) Smith. He is of English-French descent. His parents were born in Davie County, N. C., his father in 1811 and mother in 1816. By occupation his father was a farmer and yet resides in his native county. His mother died in 1866. The paternal grandfather of Mr. Smith was also born in Davie County, N. C., and his great-grandfather in Frederick. Md., and his great-great-grandfather was a native of France. who emigrated from England to America and settled in Frederick City, Md. The subject of this sketch was educated at the public schools of Davie County, N. C., and the Moravian College at Beth- lehem, Penn., from which he graduated in 1861. During his collegiate course he prepared himself for the ministry, and from 1861 to 1866 was pastor of a Moravian Church. In 1866 he went to Canal Dover, Ohio, and had charge of a congregation at that place for five years. In 1871 he quit the ministerial work, on account of a serious throat trouble, and returned to York. About 1871 Mr. Smith hegan giving his attention to the invention of water-wheels and the manufacture of mill machinery. He was united in marriage, in 1862, to Miss Emma R. Fahs, a native of York County. Children have been born to this marriage as fol- lows : Charles E., Stephen F., Beauchamp H., Sarah P., Susan E. and Mary D. In 1864 Mr. Smith was elected chaplain of the Two Hundredth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served until the close of the war. He is a Republican, and a member of the G. A. R. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Moravian Church.

THE SMYSER FAMILY. On the 17th of Feb- ruary, 1715, by the historic little village of Rugel- bach, in the kingdom of Wurtemburg, now Ger- many, was born Mathias Smyser, the ancestor of the Smyser family in York County. His father, Martin Smyser, was an industrious peasant, and a member of the Lutheran Church. The boyhood days of the son were spent in the schools of his na- tive place, and assisting the father in tilling the soil and weaving. The visit of William Penn to Germany to invite the industrious peasants of that country to his new province across the sea, caused many thousands to emigrate. On September 21. 1731, the good ship "Britannia," with Michael Franklyn as captain, set sail from Rotterdam, stop- ping at Cowes to pay proper obeisance to the En- glish flag and government, thence to Philadelphia, freighted with 267 German emigrants, 141 of whom were males, and 126 females. Among them were

Mathias Smyser, then but sixteen years old, his mother, Auna Barbara, aged fifty. his sister, Marga- ret, aged twenty. and his brother George, aged nine. It was just at the time of their arrival that the first permanent settlements were being made west of the Susquehanna, and we next hear of him as a weaver, amoug the original settlers of Kruetz Creek, in York County. Having received money from Ger- many, he obtained a laud warrant from the propri- etors, and took up a large tract of land near the present village of Spring Grove, about the year 1740. Being anxious to have near neighbors, Ma- thias divided his plantation into smaller tracts, and presented all except one to new immigrants. Wheth- er his brother, who had now grown to manhood, was the recipient of one of these farms, is not known. but they did live near each other, on different tracts of land, for some years. He eventually found that he had parted with his best land, so he sold the re- mainder, and purchased a tract of 400 acres from Mr. Henthorn, about three miles west of York, on what is now the Berlin Road. erected buildings and moved there on May 3, 1745. He remained there until his death in 1778. about the time his distin- guished son was fighting the battles of the new government. His brother George also disposed of his property, and bought a farm north of York, where he resided several years, but eventually moved to Virginia, and thence to Kentucky, where many of his descendants now reside. Mathias Smyser left to survive him three sons: Michael, born 1740; Jacob, born 1742; Mathias, born 1744. Anna Maria, next to the youngest daughter, was born 1757; Susanna, the youngest, born 1760. The dates of the births of the other daughters, Dorothy, Sabina, Rosanna and Elizabethi, cannot be ascer- tained. Michael, the eldest son, became a conspic- uous personage during the Revolutionary war.

COL. MICHAEL SMYSER, the eldest son, was born in 1740, and was long and extensively known as a highly respectable farmer and tavern keeper in what is now West Manchester Township, near the site of his father's home. He owned a farm of 200 acres. Though not favored with a liberal educa- tion, he was known as a man of discriminating mind and sound judgment. He was early associated with the Revolutionary patriots, and was a useful man in the councils of that day, as well as on the field of battle. He was one of a committee of twelve from York County, who raised money in 1775 to send to the inhabitants of Boston, when the port of that city was closed by the British, collect- ing £6 12s 1d from his own township. If the American cause had failed, every one of that com- mittee would have forfeited his life on the scaf- fold of the enemy. He joined the Continental Army as a captain in Col. Michael Swope's regiment of York County volunteers, and was captured by the enemy in the engagement at Fort Washington, north of New York City. on the 16th of September, 1776. Several months of distressing imprisonment followed, during which time he was unremitting in his efforts to alleviate the sufferings of others, and hold and animated in the advocacy of his country's cause. After his release and return home, in 1778. he was elected a member of the house of repre- sentatives of Pennsylvania from York County, and from that time to 1790 was seven times re-elected to the same position. From 1790 to 1795 he repre- sented his county in the State senate, being the first person to fill that position under the State constitu- tion of 1790. Here, his warm attachment to our political institutions enabled him to act with honor to himself and his constituents. After the war he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, and kept a tavern. He died in the year 1810, and his remains are interred near those of his father in the graveyard of the First Lutheran Church of York.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

He left three sons and four daughters, namely: Peter, Elizabeth, Sarah, Jacob, Mary, Michael and Susan.

JACOB SMYSER, the second son of Mathias, the immigrant, was a prosperous farmer, and for some years a justice of the peace. In 1789 was elected a member of the house of representatives of Pennsylvania, and soon after died at the age of fifty-one years. He left seven sons and one daugh- ter, viz .: Henry, Jacob, Martin, John, Daniel, Cath- erine, Peter and Adam.

MATHIAS SMYSER, the youngest son of the im- migrant, resided on the mansion farm of his father, where he quietly pursued the useful and respecta- ble occupation of an agriculturist. He was a man of the strictest integrity. He was in the Revolu- tionary war as a teamster, driving a baggage wagon. He lived to the age of eighty-four years, much longer than the other two of these brothers, and left five sons and two daughters, namely: Catharine, Polly, George. Jacob, Mathias, Philip and Henry. A centennial celebration was held by the de- scendants of Mathias Smyser, the elder, on the mansion farm now owned by Samuel Smyser, in West Manchester Township, on May 3, 1845. It occurred on Saturday, and was a bright and pleas- ant day. The meeting organized by electing George Smyser president. Jacob Smyser (of Mi- chael) and Martin Ebert, vice presidents, and Philip Smyser and Rev. S. Oswald, secretaries. After a sumptuous dinner, the exercises were opened by Prof. Charles Hay, now of Gettysburg, and an ad- dress was made by the venerable president, who yet remembered seeing his aged grandfather, whose location on that spot, 100 years before, they were then celebrating. A series of resolutions was passed, letters read from absent ones, an historical narration prepared by Philip Smyser was read, and an address delivered by Rev. S. Oswald. The fol- lowing beautiful sentiment is an extract from his speech: "My thoughts while here have been made up of some sort of pleasant mingling together of the present, the past and the future. At one time my imagination carries me back 100 years. I look up, I look around me, but I see naught except the bine vault of heaven, and a dark, dreary forest, en- livened only by the sweet warbling of the feathered songsters, and the rapid darting of the squirrel among the wide-spreading branches of the forest oak. I look again and see a solitary adventurer, firmly treading this thick forest; the sturdy oak falls before the ax wielded by his vigorous arms; and soon where once that forest stood now waves the golden grain. But with the rapidity of thought I am carried back to this hour. and here I see a nu- merous assembly, the descendants of that hardy adventurer, congregated to celebrate the day which dates the flight of a century, since first he called these lands his own." Prof. Charles Hay made a short address, after which a resolution was adopted christening the old homestead "Rugelbach," in honor of the birth-place of their ancestor. The meeting adjourned recommending "that future gen- erations hold a similar celebration in the year 1945, and furtber, that we entertain the hope that this homestead of our ancestor be held in the name of Smyser." At this meeting, a committee was appoint- ed to ascertain the number of descendants of Mathias Smyser, the elder, then living, reported as follows: Descendants of Col. Michael Smyser, 244; of Jacob Smyser, 177; Mathias Smyser, 160; Dorothy, mar- ried to Peter Hoke, 240; Sabina, married to Jacob Swope, of Lancaster County, 54: Rosanna, married to George Maul, who moved to Virginia, 66; Eliza- beth, married to Leonard Eichelberger, who lived near Dillsburg,'116; Ann Mary, married to Martin Ebert (whose father came from Germany in the

same vessel with her father), 64; and Susanna, mar- ried to Philip Ebert, 47; in all, 1,162.

JOSEPH SMYSER was born in West Man- chester, three miles west of York, on the Ruegel- bach farm, in 1811, is a son of Matthias and Eliza- beth (Eyster) Smyser, and the third eldest in a family of four children, viz .: Elizabeth, Sarah, Joseph and Samuel; the three last named are now living within the same square, in York, Penn .: and Elizabeth died in the year 1829. The early life of our subject was spent on the farm. In 1844 be moved to York. where he has since resided. The marriage of Mr. Smyser took place, in 1835, to Miss Sarah Weaver, a native of Adams County, Penn. To this union have been born five children, three of whom are still living: Catherine L. E., Ellen S. and Alice M. Politically Mr. Smyser is a Repub- lican. Mr. and Mrs. Smyser are members of the Lutheran Church.

SAMUEL SMYSER, retired farmer, was born in West Manchester Township, on the old Smyser homestead in 1813, to Matthias and Elizabeth (Eyster) Smyser, and is of German origin. Mr. Smyser worked on the farm for his father until he was twenty-five years of age, when he began life for himself and continued farming for twelve years. In 1863 Mr. Smyser came to York and here has since resided. He now owns the old Smyser home- stead, which has been in the family for 140 years, and where the family centennial was beld in 1845. The marriage of Mr. Smyser occurred, in 1866, to Miss Rebecca M. Lewis, daughter of Dr. Robert Lewis, of Dover. Mrs. Smyser was born in Dover, in 1825. The father of Mrs. Smyser died in 1846, and her mother in 1867. Mr. Smyser is a Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Smyser are members of the Lutheran Church and are among the prominent people of York.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 162

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