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 164

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 164

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of useful books. His ambition was to become the editor and proprietor of a newspaper, and with that end in view be applied himself vigorously to work, and his efforts were finally rewarded with success. In the year 1839 he became one of the editors and proprietors of the York Democratic Press, by the purchase of a half-interest in the paper, and con- tinued as such until he became finally the sole pro- prietor by purchasing his partner's interest, and has conducted the paper in his own name and interest ever since. The Press espoused the principles of the Democratic party, and as an exponent of those principles, and a disseminator of news, has proved a very acceptable paper to the people; and its editor, by hard work and the practice of the most rigid economy, has made it a success financially. (For a. full history of the Democratic Press see article. under that head in this volume.) In the year 1843, April 17, he was married to Margaret Gilbertborp,. danghter of the late William Gilberthorp, deceased. He has reared a family of six children (two sons and four daughters), one of which, the eldest, is Edward Stuck, the editor of the York Age. Oliver Stuck has held several important positions of honor and trust. In November, 1852, he was appointed State agent, on the Philadelphia & Columbia Railroad, by the board of canal commissioners, of Pennsyl- vania, the State. at that time, owning what is now; known as the Pennsylvania Railroad. This posi- tion he held until August, 1857-when the road; passed out of the hands of the State into the pos- session of the present owners by purchase-with. credit to himself and an unimpeachable record as a faithful and efficient officer. During his connection with the railroad he still devoted all his spare mo- ments to editing his newspaper, and upon retiring from the road gave his entire attention to the news- paper business. He kept the Press fully abreast of; the times, and succeeded in placing it beside the- most influential weeklies of the State. He has al -. ways taken an active part in the politics of the. county, and was the champion of the reform wing of the Democracy, denouncing the methods of those. who did not consider holding office a public trust,. but simply for their own pecuniary advantage. Against all politicians of this class he wielded his pen, denouncing the extravagance and corruption which disgraced the records of office-holders and reflected upon the fame of the Democratic party .. Much of the credit for the healthy state of affairs in this county is due to his efforts, through the Press, to bring about this great and wholesome change, and to the sterling gentlemen who rallied around his paper in its work for reform. In June, 1880, he was nominated by his party as their candidate for- register of wills of York County, and ran on the. same ticket with Gen. Hancock for president, re- ceiving the highest vote of any candidate upon the ticket. He entered upon the duties of his office in January. 1881, and filled it acceptably to the people, and at the end of his term was complimented by the. auditor-general of Pennsylvania, for the excellent manner in which the affairs of the office were ad -- ministered.

- WILLIAM STUCK, steward of the York Coun- ty Alms-house, was born in Springfield Township, York County, January 19, 1826; is a son of Charles and Rebecca (Snyder) Stock, is the fifth in a family. of fourteen children, and is of German deseent. His father was born in York in 1793, and his moth- er in the same county in 1797. His father was a. soldier in the war of 1812. His grandfather was one of the first settlers of York. and carried on dis- tilling. Our subject received a common school education, and at fourteen years of age began life for himself. In 1842 he began learning the carpen -- ter's trade, and in 1850 he began for himself, and thus continued until 1872, wben, on account of ill

YORK BOROUGH.

health, he was forced to abandon his occupation. In 1875 he was elected steward of the alms-house, which position he continues to hold, and under his stewardship the house and farm have been most successfully and satisfactorily managed. He was married May 30, 1849, to Miss Sarah Gilberthorpe, a native of York, born in 1826. He is a Democrat, and has been a member of the borough council. He was made a Mason in 1861, and a member of the I. O. O. F. in 1847. He is an elder in the German Reformed Church, of which Mrs. Stuck is also a member.

A. DUNCAN THOMPSON, clerk of the com- missioners of York County, was born in Hopewell Township, April 30, 1842. to Archibald and Rosana (Morrison) Thompson, and is of Scotch-Irish de- scent. The parents of Mr. Thompson were also born in Hopewell Township; the father in 1807, and the mother in 1821. His paternal grandfather was Alexander Thompson, a native of York County, and a soldier in the Revolutionary war and of 1812. The boyhood of our subject was spent on the farm, where he attended the public schools in the winter and labored on the farm in the summer. In 1862 and in 1863 he attended the Stewardstown Acad- emy, and subsequently taught school. In 1867 he began farming for himself, and so continued until 1881, when he came to York. In 1866 Mr. Thompson was married to Miss Annie E. Trout, a native of Hopewell Township, and daughter of Samuel and Catherine Trout. To this union have been born three children: Mary A., Margaret A. and James S. In 1868 Mr. Thompson was elected assessor of Hopewell Township: in 1879 he was elected school director, and in 1881 was elected .clerk of the commissioners, re-elected in 1883, which position he now occupies. He is a most ef- ficient officer, and one that has the confidence of the people of York County. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are members of the Presbyterian Church.

JOHN J. VANDERSLOOT, a stanch business 'man of York, is a native of the county, and was born November 24, 1836. His father, Rev. Freder- ick W. Vandersloot, was a minister of the Reformed Church, and for over fifty years a faithful and con- scientious Christian worker in York County. Our subject received a good education, having had the advantages of the schools of York and the York County Academy. He began his mercantile career when sixteen years of age in York, where he was employed for seven years. He was next employed by C. E. Morgan & Company, of Philadelphia, where he remained until 1861, when he returned to York and began business for himself. He has, by energy and application, established a leading and extended trade in dry goods, uotions, queensware, etc., and is a citizen of the progressive type. Mr. Vander- sloot was married October 12, 1869, to Miss Leanora V. Jaeger, of Philadelphia. They have four chil- dren: Catherine A., Mary A., Sarah C. and Will- iam J. The family are members of the Reformed Church, in which Mr. Vandersloot has taken a leading part, having been a deacon aud elder, and a teacher in the Sabbath-school for over twenty years.

DR. EDWARD F. WAGNER, son of Ernst and Barbara (Fahs) Wagner, was born June 26, 1860, in York, Penn., where he was reared. He attended the public schools of York, passed ex- aminations for the high school, but left York and went to Northampton County, attended one year Nazareth Hall Cadet School, at Nazareth, Penn., then went to the Moravian Theologieal Seminary, at Bethlehem, Penn. (His course here was in the classical department. In 1878 he returned to York and began reading medicine with Dr. J. W. Kerr. After three and one-half years he went to Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia, and graduated rom this institution March 29, 1834, and at once

began the practice of medicine, at York, Penn. Dr. Wagner graduated with honorable mention for his thesis.

W. H. WAGNER, M. D., was born in Dover Township, December 26, 1853, is a son of Joseph and Levina (Lauer) Wagner, and is of German origin. His father was born in Adams County, Penn., in 1824, and his mother in York County, in 1829. Our subject was reared a farmer, and at eighteen years of age began teaching school, and taught seven years. In 1878 he began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. J. R. Spangler, after- ward attended lectures at Jefferson Medical Col- lege, at Philadelphia, and graduated in 1881. He then began the practice of his profession in York, He was married in 1883, to Miss Mattie J. Stuart. a native of Philadelphia, and a daughter of James and Elizabeth Stuart. The Doctor and Mrs. W. are members of the Lutheran Church, and in poli- tics he is a Republican.

C. B. WALLACE was born in Chester County, Penn .. October 14, 1819, and is the son of Thomas and Mary (Jackson) Wallace, natives respectively of Chester County, Penn., and Maryland. The elder Wallace was a farmer and a justice of the peace of Chester County, and there he and wife died. C. B. Wallace was reared a farmer, but re- ceived a good education, and for a time was engaged in teaching school. In 1846 he commenced reading law with Thaddeus Stevens, of Lancaster. In 1847 he came to York, taught school in the county, and read law under Judge Durkee. In February, 1849, he was admitted to the York County bar, and has ever since been in active and successful practice. He has been identified with all progressive measures, and for six years has been a school director of York Borough. February 6, 1948, he married Frances A. Levergood, daughter of Jacob and Fanny Lever- good, of Wrightsville, and to this union have been born three children, viz. : Mary A. (wife of Edward M. Vandersloot, of York), Clayton J. (who is en- gaged in the wholesale boot and shoe trade with Mr. Vandersloot), and Louisa L. Mrs. Wallace and family are members of the Presbyterian Church.

WILLIAM WALLACE, a retired business man, is a native of Hopewell Township, born in 1822, son of James and Catherine (Gemmil) Wallace. His parents are both natives of this county ; the father born in 1789 and the mother in 1800. The family is of Scotch-Irish descent. Mr. Wallace began busi- ness running a woolen-mill and manufacturing woolen goods, which he continued until 1845. He then engaged in the mercantile business at Free- land, Baltimore Co., Md., where he remained until 1874, when he returned to his native township and there continued merchandising. Mr. Wallace was one of the projectors of the York & Peach Bottom Railway, and in 1874 removed to York and gave his entire attention to this enterprise, acting as secretary and treasurer. This position he held until 1882, when, on account of failing health, he was compelled to resign. He was married, in 1846, to Jennet Gem- mil, of Chanceford Township, this county. To them were born three children : James W., Mary A. and Katie A. Mrs. Wallace died September 11, 1881, a member of the United Presbyterian Church. Mr. Wallace is a Republican. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the United Presby- terian Church.

CAPT. H. B. WALTMAN. foreman of the machine department at A. B. Farquhar's, is a native of Mount Joy, Lancaster Co., Penn., was born November 25, 1838, is a son of Henry and Helena (Bupp) Waltman, and is of German descent. His father was born in 1798, and his mother in 1801. The former died in 1848 and the latter in 1875, Our subject was educated at the public schools of Mount Joy. In August, 1861, he enlisted in Com-

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHIES.

pany G, Ninth Pennsylvania Cavalry. He was commissioned second lieutenant November 9, 1861 ; first lieutenant August 8, 1862, and captain in 1864. He participated in the battles of Clarksville, Tenn., Crab Orchard, Chickamauga. Dandridge, Lafayette Grove, Waynesborough, Raleigh and many other minor engagements. He was honorably discharged at Lexington, N. C., in July, 1865. Prior to this service he had served a four-years' apprentice- ship at the machinist's trade, at Mount Joy, Penn. In 1866 he went to Harrisburg, and for two years was in the employ of W. O. Hickok, and then for more than one year had charge of Wilson Bros'. Works, at the same place ; he then went to Wheat- land, Penn., and subsequently to Erie, Penn., and was for nearly three years in the employ of the Erie, Philadelphia & Reading Railway, and then came to York, where he has since resided. In 1877 he took charge of the machine department at A. B. Farquhar's, and in this capacity still continues. He was married, in 1876, to Miss Sarah J. Harmon, of Harford County, Md., a daughter of Michael Har- mon. They have two children: Daisy H. and Harry J. Mr. Waltman is a Republican, a member of the G. A. R., and during 1882 was commander of Sedgewick Post No. 37.

NEVIN M. WANNER, attorney at law, was born at Washingtonville, Ohio, May 14. 1850. He entered Heidelberg College, at Tiffin, Ohio, in 1866, and after remaining there two years went to Frank- iin and Marshall College at Lancaster, Penn., from which institution he graduated in 1870. In that year he entered the law department of the Univer- sity of Pennsylvania, where he remained two years. He read law under Erastus H. Weiser, of York, Penn., and Gen. B. F. Fisher, of Philadelphia, Penn., and was admitted to the bar at York, August 28, 1872, since which time he has been in act- ive practice, and is now one of the leading lawyers of York County. He is a Democrat, and one of the leaders of that party in this county. He was mar- ried, in 1882, to Amelia D. Croll, a native of York County, and daughter of John R. Croll, deceased. Mr. Wanner is a member of the Reformed Church, and Mrs. Wanner of the Lutheran Church.

PROF. ATREUS WANNER, principal of the York High School, is a son of Rev. Aaron and Re- becca (Miller) Wanner, and was born in Washing- tonville, Ohio, September 26, 1852. His parents and grandparents were natives of Pennsylvania. He graduated at Franklin and Marshall College, of Lan- caster, Penn., in 1873, and in the spring of 1876, after having in the meantime taught school else- where, accepted the position of assistant principal of the York High School. In 1880 he was elected principal of the same school, which position he has since filled with marked ability. He is one of the most successful educators in this part of Pennsyl- vania. He was married, June 21, 1882, to Miss Clara J. Eckert, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth C. Eckert, of Gordonville, Lancaster Co., Penn.

JOHN B. WANTZ, son of Lewis W. and Lyddie (Bentzel) Wantz, was born March 19, 1836, in Hei- delburg Township, and in his youth divided his time between the common schools and farm work. His first work was in the flour-mill, after which he be- gan his trade as carpenter with Rogers & Wilt, of Dover. After learning his trade he worked at jour- ney-work two years, when the civil war of 1861 broke out. when he hegan work for the United States Government at Aquia Creek, Va., also at Washington, D. C. He then returned home and superintended an ore mine for a year, and afterward hegan building and contracting in York, Penn. August 23, 1868, our subject married Susanna Buh- ler. of Manchester Township. daughter of Andrew and Sarah (Hake) Buhler. Six children were born to this union: Lizzie E., Emerson H. (deceased),

Charles (deceased), Sadie Ellen, Carrie May (de- ceased) and Louisa A. A. Our subject's grandfather, Frederick Wantz, came from Alsace, Germany, to. York County, when a young man, and settled in Heidelberg Township, where our subject's grand- father, Philip Wantz, was born, and died in his eighty-third year. Mr. Wantz has been one of the leading builders of York for many years, having erected many of the finest residences in the western, part of the borough.

CHRISTIAN WARNER, son of Conrad and. Barbara Warner, was born in Germany, May 7, 1847, and came to this country in 1851, with his par- ents. He enlisted August 11, 1864, in the Two. Hundredth Regiment. Pennsylvania Volunteers, which formed a part of the First Brigade, Third Di- vision, Ninth Army Corps, of the Army of the Po- tomac. He was with his regiment when they par- ticipated in the battles of Butler's Front, Fort Steadman, and the battles before Petersburg on the 1st, 2d and 3d of April, 1865, and at the surrender of Lee at Appomattox. He was mustered out of service at Alexandria, Va., May 30, 1865. In 1867 he began working at his trade of blacksmith, which he has followed since. Mr. Warner has been in- spector of elections for his ward for six years, and was a member of the K. of M. C. (now disbanded), and for four years was a trustee of the Laurel Fire Company. He is an active Republican, and was an officer of the Young Men's Republican Club in 1880, and of the P. K. in 1884. Mr. Warner was married March 5. 1868, to Sarah Jane Smith, daugh- ter of Henry and Sarah (Roller) Smith. They have had born to them four children: Willie (deceased), Emma L., Lillie May and Harry Elmer.

GEORGE WEHRLY is a native of Lancaster County, Penn., where he was born in 1827. His father, Francis Wehrly, was a native of Germany; his mother, whose maiden name was Barbara Bren- ner, was born in Lancaster County. His father was by trade a weaver, subsequently engaging in the mercantile business. He removed to York County in 1845, settling in Strinestown, Conewago Town- ship, where he resided until his death, which oc- curred in 1878: the mother died in 1881. They were the parents of five children, our subject being the third child. He attended the common schools, and at the age of sixteen became a teacher, and taught seven years continuously in Lancaster County. He then embarked in the mercantile business at Strines- town with his brother Daniel, continuing four years. In 1854 he came to York and for one year was assistant recorder of the county. Removing to Emigsville he was an assistant of John Emig in the commission and forwarding business for three years. In 1857 he was elected recorder of York County, and served a three-years' term. His next business venture was in the wholesale liquor trade, in which he was engaged twelve years in Lancaster and York Counties. Returning to York he became proprietor of the Ginder House, and in 1883, he as- sumed the management of the Pennsylvania Honse, where he is located at this writing. Mr. Wehrly is a deservedly popular host and citizen, and is well- known and esteemed all over the county. He has served as councilman in Lancaster seven years; was postmaster at Emigsville and Strinestown, and in all has been progressive and honorable Mr. Wehrly was married, in 1849, to Miss Elizabeth A. Glatfelter, of Lancaster County They have four children living: Mary E. (wife of William P. Frai- ley, of York). Filie Gracey (of Philadelphia), Ida K. (wife of E. D. Bentzell, of York), and Anna C. . Mr. Webrly is one of the leading Democrats of York County.

NATHANIEL WEIGLE. a leading contractor and builder, was born in York County, April 12, 1823, and is the son of Martin and Charlotte (Light-

YORK BOROUGH.

mer) Weigle, natives of York County. Mr. Weigle attended the common schools at York and subse- quently attended the York County Academy one session. He then apprenticed himself to learn the carpenter trade under the instruction of Jacob Gotwalt, of York; after finishing his trade he ·worked at journey-work until 1860. He then began business for himself; his first prominent contract was for the building of the present Presbyterian ‘Church; he subsequently contracted for and built the German Reformed Church, the Presbyterian Chapel, St. Paul's Lutheran Church and Chapel, re- modeled Dr. Lochman's Church, built the York Opera House, and many of the finest and most prominent private dwellings in York. In connec- ·tion with his contracting he has established a large and well-appointed planing-mill, furnished with all the machinery for preparing all kinds of church. school and building material. Mr. Weigle has ex- tended his business relations to many of the sur- rounding towns and cities, and has achieved a rep- utation which is highly creditable. He is a worthy citizen, a member of the Masonic fraternity, and of the I. O. O. F. He has been prominently identified with the Lutheran Church and Sunday-school, for many years having served as deacon and elder. Mr. Weigle has been twice married. He was first united with Miss Catherine Gotwalt, of York County, in January, 1847, she died in 1864. Three children are living; Charlotte E., Henrietta B. and Annie K. In January, 1874, Mr. Weigle was married to Mrs. Mary J. Smyser, daughter of Jacob Weiser, of York.

THE WEISER FAMILY. On a proclamation of Queen Anne, of England, in 1708, owing to internal dissensions in Germany, ahout 4,000 Ger- mans were transported to Holland in 1709, and thence to England. They encamped near London, when, in the following year, Gov. Robert Hunter, of New York, who was then in England, and about to sail for his own country, invited with him about 3,000 of these Germans or Palatines to the town of New York, and they were soon afterward located on what was called the Livingstone District of that State, and turned their attention to agriculture. A chief of the Mohawk Indians, who had about this time visited England, presented to Queen Anue a tract of his land in Schoharie, N. Y., and in 1713 about 150 families were transferred through the wilderness to that place. Among these emigrants was the father of Conrad Weiser. with his wife and seven sons and daughters. He is the great ancestor of the Weiser family in this country. His Christian name is not for a certainty known. From one of his sons, the Weisers, of York County, are de- scended. The colony at Schoharie did not prosper. They commenced improving lands and building houses, and labored until 1723, when they were partly dispersed, owing to defects in their titles to lands. They then began to search for a new home, and began wending their course in a southeasterly direction, till they struck the Susquehanna. Here they made canoes, in which they floated down the river to the mouth of the Swatara, and thence to the fertile spot in Berks County, along the Tulpe- hocken Creek, where they settled among the Indians, in the fall of 1823. The father of Conrad Weiser having become familiar with the Mohawk language, was an interpreter, and remained at Schoharie until 1729, when, with his wife and four children, all that were then living, he also came to the Tulpe- hocken. It was his design to now devote all his attention to farming, but on many noted occasions his services as an interpreter were demanded by the authorities of Pennsylvania. He was a man of great benevolence. It was through him the Mora- vian people were made so attentive to Indian natives. He died and was buried in Berks County.

Conrad Weiser, his eldest son, was a justice under the king, and also an Indian interpreter. In 1736 he was sent to treat with the Six Nations of New York concerning a war that was to break out be- tween them and the Indians of Virginia. He was visited, August 14, 1752, hy Count Zingendorff, at Tulpehocken, who here met a numerous embassy of sachems of the Six Nations. The Count preached the gospel to the Indians. At the conclusion of his remarks to them he said concerning Weiser: "This is a man whom God hath sent. both to the Indians and to the white people. to make known his will unto them." For a quarter of a century he attend- ed all the important Indian treaties. In connection with the governor of Pennsylvania, Benjamin Franklin and several other persons, in 1752, he was appointed one of the trustees of the public schools, which were established through the efforts of Rev. Michael Schlatter; one of these schools was, about this year, started in York. During the French and Indian war he was lieutenant-colonel of a battalion of Pennsylvania soldiers. After an eventful and very useful life he died among his friends at Wor- melsdorf, Berks County, on the 13th of July. 1"60, at the age of sixty-four. His remains were interred and still rest in an historic old graveyard near that town. He left seven children, who, by marriage, were related to the Muhlenbergs.

Samuel Weiser, a descendant of the Tulpe- hocken settlement, came to York in 1780, and immediately commenced the business of a hatter in a building on the present site of Jacob Wilt's jew- elry store on East Market Street. He continued this business until 1822, but opened a dry goods store in 1808 on the corner still occupied by his descendants. During the war of 1812 lie employed about fifty workmen making hats, and sent wagon loads of them every Monday morning to Baltimore. He died in 1834, aged seventy-four years, and his remains were interred in the graveyard adjoining Christ's Lutheran Church. They have since been removed to Prospect Hill Cemetery. He was mar- ried to Eve Phfleager. and had eight children: Sam- nel, Jacob, Charles. Daniel, Catherine, Eliza, Mar- garet and Cassandra. Samuel, the eldest son, suc- ceeded his father in the manufacturing of hats until 1840, when he bought a farm one-half mile south of York, and died there in 1856. Augustus, his eldest son, died on the farm; Albert is living in Preston, Minn., engaged in the jewelry and drug business; Emilius is located in Decorah, Iowa, in the drug business; Louisa was married to John Ensminger; she is now dead; Alexander died unmarried; Catherine, married to John C. Rupert; Margaret, married to Josiah Poorbaugh, of Berrin, Somerset Co., Penn .; Annie, married to David Ziegler, of York; Florence, now dead, was married to Martin Bender, of York; Helen, unmarried, living in York.

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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 164

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