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 169

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 169

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MALCOLM O. SMITH, editor and proprietor of the Hanover Herald, and a well known local historical writer, was born in York in the year 1846, and is a son of William W. and Charlotte (Stair) Smith; he received superior educational advantages, attending the York public schools, the York Clas- sical and Normal Institute, Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and the Pennsyl- vania College of Gettysburg; also has had a practi- cal experienee of five terms as teacher of select and public schools. In March, 1865, he enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Third Pennsyl- vania Volunteers, and was in service until August of the same year. Having previously learned the trade of a printer, Mr. Smith began his journalistic career in 1870, establishing the Glen Rock Item, which he successfully conducted until he sold out in 1872, aud in that year established the Han- over Herald, of which he is still the editor and proprietor. Mr. Smith is an able writer and has made his journal especially attract- ive by publishing historical matter of interest concerning the early "Annals of Hanover," and "Early History of York County," etc., to the care- ful compilation of which he has devoted much time and earnest labor. Many incidents, facts and much valuable history, as preserved by him, appear

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

in appropriate chapters in this work. The Penn- sylvania College bestowed on him in 1873, the honorary degree of A. B. Mr. Smith is a citizen of progressive ideas, and one of the most successful newspaper men of York County. He has taken an earnest interest in the affairs of the Grand Army of the Republic, and served as Commander of Maj. Jenkins Post, No. 99, at Hanover, for the first three years of its existence. He is secretary of the Hanover Agricultural Society, in the organization of which society he was especially active. His marriage with Miss Louisa H. S., daughter of Dr. F. E. Vandersloot, of Gettysburg, occurred in 1867. Three children, all of whom died in early childhood, were the fruits of this union.

ALOSYUS SMITH was born in Mount Pleas- ant Township, Adams County, in 1830, is a son of Joseph and Mary (Lawrence) Smith, both natives of Adams County, and is of German descent. His paternal grandfather was Charles Smith, a native of Germany, who came to America and settled in Adams County, where he died in 1832. Subject's father was born in 1792, and his mother in 1800; the former died in 1857; the latter in 1864. Mr. Smith was reared on the farm. and in 1849 came to Han- over and learned the blacksmith trade, and worked at it nine years; then began coach-making, which he followed twelve years; he then began the lumber business in 1872, and then the livery business and dealing in horses and mules. He was married, in 1854, to Miss Agnes Hember, also a native of Adams County, and has had born to him thirteen children. He is a Republican and with his wife a member of the Catholic Church.

A. J. SNIVELY, M. D., was born in Franklin County. Penn., in 1844; is a son of John and Cath- erine (Keefer) Snively, and is-of Swiss origin; the father was born near Greencastle, Franklin County, in 1799; the mother was born in the same county in 1802, and died in 1854; the father died in 1853. The Snively family emigrated from Switzerland to America in 1707, and settled in Lancaster County, in the Province of Pennsylvania. Dr. Snively was educated in the public schools of Chambersburg. In 1859 he entered West Branch High School at Jersey Shore, Lycoming Co., Penn., and was there prepared for the junior class at Princeton College. In 1863, he enlisted in Company D, Second Penn- sylvania Infantry, and served one year. In 1864 he was acting assistant-surgeon at Beverly, N. J. He graduated from the Bellevue Hospital Medical Col- lege, at New York, in 1866; located at Williams- burg, Blair County, where he was in practice two years, and then came to Hanover in 1867, where he has resided ever since, and has established a large and successful practice. He was married, in 1875, to Miss Mazie E. Gitt, daughter of J. W. Gitt, of Hanover, and is the father of two children: John U. and Roie I. He is a Free Mason, and a Repub- lican.

NATHAN STAMBAUGH, veterinary surgeon, at Hanover, Penn., was born in Jackson Township, York County. Penn., in 1840, aud is a son of Henry and Leah (Myers) Stambaugh, of York County. Until fourteen or fifteen years of age, he stayed with his father on the farm, and then learned the blacksmith's trade at Abbottstown, Penn., and fol- lowed it for about twelve years. He began the study of medicine when fourteen years old. In 1872 he came to Hanover, and began cigar-making, which he followed five years. Since 1879, he has devoted his whole time to veterinary surgery, and has a large practice in York and Adams Counties. When twenty years of age he was married at Abbottstown, to a Miss Livingston, who died in 1869, leaving three children. In 1871, he married a Miss Leas, who died in a few months. In 1872 he married at New Oxford, Penn., Mrs. Catherine Shultz, widow

of Jacob W. Schultz. Her maiden name was Lichty, of York County. In 1862 he enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Sixty-fifth Regi- ment Pennsylvania Militia, and served nine months. He next enlisted at Harrisburg iu Company C, Two Hundred and Second Pennsylvania Volunteers, in August, 1864, and served one year as color-sergeant. He took part in three battles: White Plains, Han- over Court House, aud Manasses Junction, beside numerous skirmishes. Dr. Stambaugh and wife are members of the Reformed Church. He is also a member of the I O. O. F., K. of P., and B. H. G. F., of [Post 99, G. A. R., and is also a stockhold- er of the Hanover Agricultural Society.

F. G. STARK was born in Prussia in 1835; is & son of Frederick L. and Anna E. (Kraemer) Stark, and the eldest in a family of four children. The father of Mr. Stark was born in the town of Berle- burg, in the district of Westphalia, and his mother is a native of the same town. Our subject's pater- nal grandfather was also a native of Germany, but came to America and here died. The father of Mr. Stark also came to America, and settled in Hanover. When our subject was ahout one year old, he was brought to America by his mother, who was accompanied by her brother, Henry Kraemer, her husband having come some months previous. Mr. Stark was educated at the public schools of Han- over. At a very early age he began learning the jeweler's trade under his father. In 1857 he went. to Littlestown, Adams Co., Penn., and engaged in the jewelry business, which he continued for some time, and then came to Hanover, and here con- tinued the business for a few months, then sold out. and went to Europe in 1859, and for some years worked in many of the principal cities in Germany and Switzerland. Returning to America in 1862, he again began the jewelry business in Hanover. He makes a specialty of fine watches, clocks, jew- elry and spectacles, etc. The marriage of Mr. Stark took place in 1871, to Miss Alice L. Gitt, daughter of Joseph S. (C. E.) and Anna Gitt, of New Oxford, Penn. One child has been born to him- George W., February 22, 1872. Mr. Stark is a Re- publican, and one of the leading business men of Hanover. Mr. Stark is a member of the Reformed Church; Mrs. Stark is a member of the Methodist. Episcopal Church.

W. C. STICK, an active business man of Hau- over, was born in this county in 1850. He is the fifth of a family of seven living children horn to Henry and Mary (T( man) Stick, natives of York County, and of German descent. Our subject passed his early life in Codorus Township as a farmer and teamster. He has been an active business man all his life and since 1879 a resident of Hanover, in which year he engaged in selling agricultural imple- ments, and in which branch he has heen extensive- ly engaged since. He is also the general agent for the celebrated D. M. Osborne Mower and Reaper Company, and as their representative travels exten- sively. Mr. Stick has done much to promote the business interest of Hanover, and is a member of the town council. He is one of the originators of the Hanover Agricultural Fair Association, of which he is now vice-president. His large reaper parade of 1881 was an event of local importance. In 1885 he originated the idea of an agricultural implement exhibit, and opened the new fair grounds, on the 3d, 4th and 5th of June, to a large attendance and a suc- cessful exhibition. Mr. Stick was united in mar- riage, in 1872, with Lamanda Rohrbaugh, of Carroll County, Md. They have one child living, John W. C .. and are raising an orphan child-Harry Lee Shields. Mr. and Mrs. Stick are members of the Reformed Church. Mr. Stick is a member of the I. O. R. M.

DAVID S. TANGER, of the firm of D. S. Tan-

HANOVER BOROUGH AND PENN TOWNSHIP.

ger & Son, hardware dealers, of Hanover, was born in Lancaster County, May 29. 1831, and is the second of two children of Jacob and Esther (Snavely) Tanger. His father was of Scotch descent and his mother of German extraction, both natives of Lan- caster County. Jacob Tanger, by a previous mar- riage, had seven children. In his early life he was a mason but abandoned this trade and for many years conducted a distillery, which he also discon- tinued, and engaged in farming, which occupation he followed until his death. David S. Tanger, the subject of this sketch, and now a prosperous and influential merchant of this town, upon the death of his mother, when he was only one year old, be- came a member of the family f his grandfather. Jacob Snavely, with whom he lived until the age of. fourteen years. After returning to his father's home for one year, he began to learn the trade of wagon-making, and followed it three years. He then removed to Petersburg, Adams County, and engaged in the mercantile business as a salesman, remaining there until 1852, when he located in Hanover. Here he began the business of carriage-making, which was an important industry of Hanover. At the ex piration of five years he quit the carriage business and was elected high constable of his adopted town, serving four years during the time of the civil war, and was an ardent advocate of the Union cause. In 1864 he engaged in the hardware trade, which he has conducted with unabated success since he began, and is now enjoying a large and prosperous business, with his son, John, as partner. He was married to Susanna C. Rupp, February 22, 1855. Their chil- dren were Fannie E., married to Samuel Hostetler; John Carroll, his present partner in business, and Mary R., deceased. His wife died November 9, 1859. November 13, 1863, he was married to Lizzie Harnish. The children, by this marriage, were Grant S. (deceased), Frank L., Annie Sue (deceased), Eva L., David A., Lizzie C. and Viola G. The family are members of the Reformed Church. Mr. Tanger has repeatedly been elected chief burgess, a member of town council, and scho ] director of Hanover. He is a liberal, public-spirited citizen, and takes an active interest in education. He be- came a member of the Masonic fraternity in 1861.

EPHRAIM A. TRIMMER, born in York County. January 10, 1833, is a son of John and Catharine (Masemore) Trimmer, both natives of York County. At the age of eighteen he went to Hampton, Adams County, where he learned the trade of mill-wright, which he followed until 1867, when he opened a grocery store in Hanover. Since 1874 he has been engaged in the fire insurance, agricultural imple- ment and fertilizer business. He was married January 25, 1856, to Miss Sarah Ann, daughter of Jacob K. and Sarah Weiser, and they have had seven children: Hamilton M., John W., Jacob C. (deceased), Ida C., Etta F., Weiser G., and Samuel P. Mr. and Mrs. Trimmer are both members of the Lutheran Church.

CHARLES L. TRONE was born in what is now Penn Township, York County, October 24, 1848; is a son of Charles and Mary (Reed) Trone, and is of German-English descent. He is one of six chil- dren living in a family of fifteen. The father of Mr. Trone was also born in York County, and his mother in Baltimore City, Md. His father was a machinist, and lived and died in York County. Our subject was brought to Hanover Township by his parents when one year old, and was here educated at the public schools. He remained at home until twenty-one years of age, and then began for him- self. For a number of years he was in the lumber- ing business, and then learned the upholsterer's trade and carried on that business nine years. In 1863 he was sutler of the Seventy sixth Pennsylva- nia Volunteers. Coming home he resumed his

former business, and at that continued until 1880, when he began the grocery business, and this he s'ill continues. In 1869 he married Miss Mary Swartz, a native of York, and daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Swartz. To this union have been born four children, three of whom are living: Cur- tis J., William S. and Lizzie M. Charles S. is deceased. Mr. Trone is a Democrat, a member of the school board, a Mason, and with his wife a member of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church.

ALEXANDER C. WENTZ, A. M., M. D., now a practicing physician of Hanover, was born in Manheim Township on the 14th day of July, 1855. His father, Edward R. Wentz, is a great-great-grand- son of Valentine Wentz, who was born in Parten- heim, Germany, July 10, 1717; was married to Barbara Jenawein in 1749, soon after immigrated to America and located in Manheim Township, York County. He is the ancestor of the Wentz family of Pennsylvania and Maryland, and died in April, 1788, leaving six sons, five daughters and twenty- nine grandchildren. The mother of Dr. Wentz, Margaret Couldren, is a native of Adams County, and is of Scotch-Irish descent. The Doctor is the elder of two children now living. His sister is married to Dr. Wesley C. Stick, of Glenville. IIe spent his youth at school and on the farm, and in 1873 entered Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg, from which institution he graduated in 1879. In the fall of the same year he entered the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, and from that institution received the degree of Doctor of Medicine in the spring of 1882. Soon after graduating he began the practice of his chosen pro- fession in the borough of Hanover, where he has met with encouraging success. Dr. Wentz was married, June 1, 1882, to Clara Bertron Ulp, daughter of the late John J. Ulp, wholesale dry goods merchant of Philadelphia. Her mother, Harriet K. (Porter) Ulp, is a descendant of the Annekajau family, originally from Holland. Dr. Wentz is a member of the Lutheran Church and his wife of the Epis- copal Church. He is a member of the Phi-Kappa- Psi College fraternity of the State and county medi- cal societies, and is one of the chiefs of Minnewa- karu Tribe No. 250, I. O. R. M.

DAVID E. WINEBRENNER, packer of her- metically sealed fruits and vegetables, was born in Hanover August 25, 1839, is a son of Henry and Sarah (Forney) Winebrenner, is the second in a family of six children, and is of German descent. His father was born in Hanover also. His mother was a daughter of Adam and Rachel Forney, first settlers of York County. In 1857 Mr. Winebrenner began learning the tanner's trade under his father. In 1865 he engaged in business in partnership with his father and brother, P. F. Winebrenner, the firm being known as H. Winebrenner & Sons, and this continued until 1867, when P. F. Winebrenner retired, David E. continuing the business with his father until 1884. In 1874 he began packing fruit and vegetables in partnership with his brother, H. C. Winebrenner, the firm being known as Wine- brenner Bros .; this continued until September, 1882, since which time he has been alone. For ten years he carried on tanning in connection with his other business, and also conducts a canning estab- lishment at Baltimore. He was married, in 1864, to Miss Elia B. Shriver, a native of Union Mills, Car- roll Co., Md., and a daughter of Andrew K. and Catherine (Wirt) Shriver. He has had born to him three children, viz .: Helen S., M. Katherine and David E., Jr. He is politically a Republican, and with his wife a member of the Emanuel Reformed Church. Mr. Winebrenner also served a short time in the late war in Company I, Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.

HENRY WIRT, the ancestor of the Wirt family

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

of Hanover, was born in Germany, immigrated to this country and arrived at Philadelphia February 9, 1738. Nothing is definitely known of him from the time of his arrival in America until the year 1750, when he purchased the farm now owned by John Kehr, near Iron Ridge Station, on the Hanover & York Railroad. He was appointed constable of Manheim Township, in which his property then lay, in 1750, and served in that office several years thereafter. He was naturalized April 10, 1762, and died the latter part of the year 1764, leaving a widow, two sons-Jacob and Christian-and several daughters. The house built by him is still stand- ing. Jacob, the eldest son, remained nearly all his life on the farm, and died uumarried in Hanover at an advanced age. Christian, the other son, was born May 12, 1763, and at an early age was appren- ticed to Henry Felty, of Hanover, to learn the trade of a saddler, and after serving his apprentice- ship went to Baltimore, but soon returned to Hanover, and in 1787 commenced business for him- self as a saddle and harness maker, which he con-

tinued very successfully until the year 1800. He

then bought the property on the Diamond at Hanover, long known as Wirt's Corner, from Col. Richard McAllister, and opened a general store. This received his close attention, and by good man- agement he was enabled to retire from business in 1816, with what was then considered quite a large fortune. He was never engaged in active business after this, but was always ready to encourage all public and private enterprises, having the public good for an end. He was married to Eve Catharine Gelwix, daughter of Charles Gelwix, and died

March 2, 1842. His sons were Henry, Jacob and William, and his daughters were Mary, married to Jacob Eichelberger; Catharine, married to George Emmert; Lydia, married to Adam Forney, and Deliah, married to Dr. George W. Hinkle. Henry Wirt, son of Christian, was born October 9, 1789, and received what educational training the town afforded in those days. He and one other pupil

were the only ones in Hanover who studied English grammar in his school-boy days. He entered his father's store at a very early age, and gave the hus- iness his entire attention. For some years during the sickness of his father, the whole care of the large business rested entirely upon him. He was married March 9, 1815, to Catharine, second daugh-

ter of John Swope, and in the spring of 1816 snc- ceeded his father in business at the old stand,

which he continued eleven years, and in 1827 retired to private life. He took great interest in all the movements that were then made for the advance- ment of the educational, spiritual and material

interests of his native town. He with several

others were instrumental in establishing the first Sunday-schools in Hanover, and after very deter- mined opposition, succeeded in putting the common schools in operation in Hanover during the year 1835. He was very much interested in the question of railroad connections to his native town. When the construction of the York, Wrightsville &

Gettysburg Railroad was projected, he used all his

powers to have it pass through Hanover. He heartily encouraged the building of the Hanover Branch Railroad, was the heaviest subscriber to its stock, and was a member of the board of managers for many years. He was for a long time a director in the bank of Gettysburg, the Hanover Saving

Fund Society and was president of both turnpikes that extended from Hanover. He died in the spring of 1859, aged about seventy years, leaving a widow, who died in 1876, six daughters and one son ( Henry) to survive him. Henry Wirt, son of Henry and

Catharine (Swope) Wirt, was born in Hanover Feb-

ruary 23, 1827. He received his education in the schools of his native town. Early in life he entered

his father's store and at the age of twenty years be- gan the mercantile business for himself, which he continned nntil 1850, when he retired from active business. He has served as chief burgess of Han- over two terms, secretary and director of the Hanover Branch Railroad Company, president of the Hanover Saving Fund Society for eight years, and in the year 1885, is a director in the National Bank of Gettysburg, director of the Hanover Saving Fund Society, a charter member and director in the Hanover Water Company, secretary of the Berlin &

Hanover Turnpike Company, president of the

Hanover & Maryland Line Turnpike Company and a member of the board of trustees of Franklin and Marshall College at Lancaster, to which institution he recently gave the first $5,000 toward creating an additional professorship in the theological depart- ment of that institution. Mr. Wirt was about fifteen years a member of the school board of his native town, and while serving in that office, was constant and earnest in his efforts to advance the cause of public education. He was married October 26, 1854, to Louisa, daughter of Mathias N. Forney,

who was a prominent citizen of Hanover and one

of the projectors of the Hanover Saving Fund Society. Mrs. Wirt's mother, Amanda (Nace) Forney, was the daughter of George Nace, also a prominent and influential citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Wirt are members of Emanuel Reformed Church of Hanover, of which he has been elder for sixteen

years. Jacob Wirt, second son of Christian and Catharine Wirt, was born February 24, 1801. He began the dry goods and general merchandise busi- ness for himself in 1827, succeeding his brother, at his father's stand, and continued at the same place eleven years. He then engaged in the lumber and coal business for a short time. When the Hanover Branch Railroad Company was organized, in November, 1849, he was chosen its president, served one year and then resigned. He was elected a director of the same corporation in 1860, and con- tinned until 1865. For a number of years he was president of the Hanover Saving Fund Society, which position he held until his death, and was recognized as an excellent financier. In politics he was a Whig originally, and afterward a stanch Re- publican. He was an ardent supporter of all enter- prises that contributed to the welfare of his native

town. He was a member of the Reformed Church.

Mr. Wirt was married to Amelia Danner, November 20, 1827, and died November 8, 1869. Their chil- dren were Emma C., born May 28, 1829 (married to

Dr. John A. Swope, of Gettysburg and now the representative in congress from the district to which York County belongs), deceased; Alexander

Jacob, born February 28, 1834, deceased; Eliza Christian, born November 13, 1831, deceased;

Ann, born May 10, 1836 (married to George W.

Forney, of Hanover; they have two children, J. Wirt and Nettie A.); Martha, married to Albert Bar- nitz, of York (he died leaving two children: J.

over); Danner, born October 21, 1840, deceased; Percy and Emma W. Mrs. Barnitz lives in Han-

Renel, born July 20, 1842, deceased; Calvin Clay, born April 12, 1844 (engaged in banking business in Baltimore; married Miss Ellen Buehler, of that city, and returned to Hanover. He died at the

age of thirty years); Florence Amelia, born

March 29, 1846, deceased. Robert Millard Wirt,

the youngest son of Jacob and Amelia Wirt,

was born January 16, 1853. Attended the schools of Hanover and afterward Pennsylvania Military

Academy, at Chester, Penn. He was married June

24, 1875, to Miss Bertha B. Barnitz, daughter of Dr.

C. S. Barnitz, of Middletown, Ohio. They have three children: Amelia D., Charles B. and Robert O. Mr. Wirt and family are members of the Reformed Church. He is a director of the Hanover

HANOVER BOROUGH AND PENN TOWNSHIP.

Saving Fund Society, secretary of the Hanover Junction, Hanover & Gettysburg Railroad, secre- tary and treasurer of the Hanover Water Company and treasurer of the Baltimore & Hanover Railroad Company.

FREDERICK W. WOLFF, a musician of some note and a resident of Baltimore, Md., was born in Hanover, Penn., November 17, 1858, and is the only son of Philip C. and Susanna (Snyder) Wolff, of York County. The father, a German by birth, engaged in the manufacture of buckskin gloves at Hanover about 1833, and continued the same until his death in 1883. The mother, of English descent, is also a resident of Baltimore. Frederick W. be- gan the study of music, when quite young, at Hanover, where he remained until twelve years of age, when he moved with his parents to Baltimore, and there received a collegiate education. Desiring to perfect himself in the study of music, he went to Leipzig, Germany, where he took a three years' course in the Conservatory of Music, and is an alum- nus of that institution. Besides being a very success- ful teacher of music he is also dealing extensively in real estate in Hanover, Penn.

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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 169

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