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 171

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 171

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STEPHEN A. COPENHAFER was born November 15, 1856, is the son of John H., and Mary Copenhafer, of Manchester Township, and is of German and English descent. His boyhood was passed on the farm and in attending school. One year he spent in learning milling with Jacob Musser, of Lancaster County, then two years with Benjamin Small of Mt. Wolf; then he worked a year for F.U. Gantz, in Lancaster County, and then he returned to Mt. Wolf and for four years ran a mill on his own account. In 1883 he came to Hellam and rented a mill from Z. K. Loucks, in which he now carries on the business in its differ- ent branches. March 13, 1869, he married Emma S., daughter of M. L. Duhling of Manchester Borough. Mr. Copenhafer is a member of the Lutheran Church, and his wife of the United Brethren.

MONROE P. DECKER, son of John and Mary Decker, of Glen Rock, this county, was born Feb- ruary 5, 1860, and passed his earlier years in attend- ing school and working on the home farm. Janu- ary 6, 1879, he began to learn stone-cutting with L. B. Sweitzer, remained with him over three years, and April 1, 1882, removed to Wrightsville and commenced business for himself, now employing three hands and turning out some fine work in marble, which he ships to various points. Decem- ber 12, 1880, he married Emma M., daughter of Henry and Louisa Strayer, of Springfield township, and to this union have been born three children: Phebe Ellen, Elsie Viola and May Irene. "Mr. Decker has been a member of the German Reformed Church since 1879; is a member of the Riverside Lodge No. 503, A. F. & A. M., and of Chihuahua Lodge No. 317, I. O. O. F. He is of German de- scent through his great-grandparents.

JONAS DEISINGER, M. D., was born in Para- dise Township (now Jackson), York County, April 18, 1833. His parents were Jacob, and Salome (Davis) Deisinger of York County, and of German descent. They had eleven children, of whom Jonas is the eldest now living. His first twenty years he spent on his father's farm, receiving his education at the neighboring schools. For the next three years he attended select schools at York and other places, and taught during the winter in the common schools of this county. At the age of twenty-three he began to read medicine with Dr. C. S. Picking, and in 1858, entered the medical department of Pennsylvania College at Philadel- phia. From 1861 to 1868 he practiced medicine at Hellam. In 1866 he entered the University of Pennsylvania and graduated in the class of 1867. After graduating he returned to Hellam, where, with the exception of about three years, he has been since. In the fall of 1862, he was married at Hellam to Maria Mann, of York County. The Doctor is a genial gentleman, fond of his profession, and has acquired a lucrative practice; he is a mem- ber and an elder of the Reformed Church of the United States, was a school director two terms, is a member of the York County Medical Society, once president of the same, and-is also a member of the State Medical Association.

DAVID DETWILER was born in Lancaster County, January 27, 1818. His parents were Joseph and Susan (Garver) Detwiler, of Pennsylvania, and of German descent. They had seven children, of whom David is the eldest. He was brought up as a

WRIGHTSVILLE BOROUGH AND HELLAM TOWNSHIP.

farmer, and educated at the common schools. He was married, in 1849, in Hellam Township, to Sarah Stoner, a native of Pennsylvania, who has borne him five children, four of whom are living: Paul, Anna, David S. and Ellen. Mr. Detwiler is quite a prominent man in his community. He owns 140 acres of land, on which he resides; is at present au- ditor of Hellam Township, a director of the Sus- quehanna & York Turnpike, and Wrightsville & Chanceford Turnpike Companies. He was one of the organizers of the Wrightsville Hardware Com- pany, and for many years one of the directors. He is very wealthy, and since 1879 has retired from ac- tive business life, and resides in his magnificent home he built on the hill just at the edge of the town of Wrightsville.

PAUL DETWILER, son of David Detwiler, was born near Wrightsville, October 25, 1852. His mother was Sarah (Stoner) Detwiler, of Pennsylva- nia. He was reared on the farm and educated at the district schools, and after becoming of age worked for two years for his father, and then in partnership with his brother began farming near Wrightsville, and continued until 1879, when they dissolved, and he kept on farming alone. He was married. October 21, 1879, to Lizzie J. Emig, daugh- ter of Eli Emig. an old and respected citizen of York County. Two children have been born to this union : Martha, deceased; and Sarah. In the spring elec- tion of 1884; Mr. Detwiler served as judge of elec- tion. He and wife are members of the Lutheran Church.

PETER DIETZ, SR., was born in Hellam Town- ship July 14, 1812. His parents were Peter and Susannah (Lieppart) Dietz, of York County, and of German descent. They had a family of seven sons and two daughters, of whom Peter, Sr., was the third son. He was brought up on a farm, and educated at the German schools of his native town- ship. His whole life was devoted to farming, from which he retired in 1872, residing nearly all the time in the township in which he was born. In 1836 he was married in lower Windsor Township to Mary Luppert, who died in 1873, aged about sixty-two years, leaving a family of eleven children: Rebec- ca. Susan, Jacob, Mary, Elizabeth, Peter, Rachel, Michael, Daniel, Levi (deceased) and Sarah (de- ceased). The family belong to the German Reformed Church. David Newcomer was born in Hellam Township in 1841. His parents were John and Lena (Lehman) Newcomer, of York County, and of En- glish and German descent, respectively. He was brought up on the farm and educated in the public schools. Learning the shoe-making trade, he has followed it ever sinee. He was married, in May, 1870, to Elizabeth Dietz, and had two children: Annie and Sadie, deceased. Mr. Newcomer was a school di- rector one year.

WILLIAM DIETZ, the eldest of the three sons of Frederick and Martha M. (Strickler) Dietz, of York County, was born in Hellam Township, March 25, 1847, and received a good common school edu- cation. He has always followed the occupation of farming, in Hellam Township. . In October, 1877, he was married to Fannie Baer, daughter of John and Leah Baer, of York County, and has had born to him three children: Amos, Leah and Paul.

ANDREW J. DUDEN was born at York, Penn., January 25, 1841, and is the only child of John A. and Sarah (Jack) Duden. His father died in 1846, aged forty-seven years, but his mother is still living, aged about eighty-two years. He came to Wrights- ville, in 1847, and remained about ever since, receiv- ing his early education here. At the age of fifteen, he began learning the trade of wheelwright, and worked at it until twenty-two years of age, except- ing the time he served in the army. September 23, 1861, he enlisted at Harrisburg, in Company I,

Seventy-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served eighteen months in the department of the South. At Pocataligo, he was wounded by a rifle ball in the right cheek. He carried the ball for six years in his neck, when it was discovered that it had lodged against his collar bone, and was removed. On ac- count of the wound, he lay in the hospital five months, and finally was discharged on account of disability. He was virtually sergeant-major at the time he was wounded, but did not receive the appointment until after his discharge. In 1870, he engaged in the planing-mill business at Wrights- ville, in company with Mr. Zorbaugh, in which business he is engaged at the present day. He was one of the organizers of the Wrightsville Hard- ware Company, and is the present secretary; also of the Wrightsville and Chanceford Turnpike Com- pany and of the Wrightsville Hall Association, and is director of the latter. He has held various borough offices: burgess, councilman and school director, for several terms. November 24, 1864, he was married at Wrightsville, to Emma Mann of the same bor- ough, and has had three children: Charles F., Sally M., and Ralph. Mrs. Duden is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Duden is a Mason, a member of the I. O. O. F., and officer of the day of the G. A. R. He sold out the planing-mill, April 1, 1884, and is going to Columbia, to engage in pulver- izing rock flint. He is also proprietor of a cigar hox factory, and manufactures annually about 225, - 000 boxes, employing about twenty hands.

GEORGE D. EBERT, whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Manchester Township. December 24, 1824; his parents were Michael and Lydia (Diebl) Ebert, of York County, and of Ger- man descent. They had five children, of whom George D. is the third. He was brought up on a farm in Spring Garden Township, and was.educated at the public schools. At the age of twenty-three years he left home, and in 1849 was married to Sarah Smyser, daughter of Michael Smyser, who has borne him three children: William Winfield, Amanda and Agnes. Mrs. Ebert died March 19, 1884, aged fifty- nine years. Mr Ebert removed to Hellam Township in 1850, on a farm of 185 acres, upon which he has resided since. He has held every township office, and in 1880 represented the county in the State con- vention. As guardian and administrator he has been very successful in settling up estates. He was one of the organizers of the Wrightsville Hardware Company, the Wrightsville Furnace, of the First National Bank (of which he is director), and of the Wrightsville Star and the True Democrat at York; he is also a member of the Riverside Lodge, A. F. (& A. M., and of the I. O. O. F., and the family are members of the Lutheran Church. In 1867 Mr. Ebert made a voyage to- Europe and remained there several months. His father, Michael Ebert, was in the war of 1812, and held a commission as colonel. Mr. Ebert is also very largely engaged in raising and dealing in tobac- co. A Republican in politics, he stands very high in his community, and enjoys the respect of all who know him.

WILLIAM EMENHEISER was born in Lower Windsor Township, August 31, 1846, to Samson and Mary Emenheiser, of German descent. His ru- dimentary education was received at the public schools, during his early life on the farm. In 1864 he taught a term, and the following summer he at- tended the Normal School at Millersville; then at- tended the Normal Institute at York two terms; then in 1869 returned to Millersville for one term, and the same year received his professional certifi- cate; in 1871 he received his permanent certificate. He has taught public school sixteen terms, and three terms of select school. August 12, 1869, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Charles and Magdalena

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Sprenkle, and of the seven children born to this union four are living: Willie Edwin, Maggie, Anna and Edith. Mr. and Mrs. Emenheiser are members of the Lutheran Church at Kreutz Creek; he has charge of the church property of about ten aeres, which he keeps under cultivation, and is sexton and organist, as well as assistaut superintendent of the Sunday-sehool; he is also agent for the White Sew- ing Machine Company.

JOHN A. EMIG was boru in Hellam Township, March 13, 1851. He was reared on the home farm in Hellam Township, and received his education in the district schools; until he was twenty-five years old he assisted his father on the farm, after which he began burning lime. At the death of his father. in. 1877, he was appointed one of the executors of the estate, and has managed the settlement until the present day. In the spring of 1881 he pur- chased the farm of 122} aeres, upon which he now resides. January 8, 1880, he was married to Clara Striekler, daughter of Henry Striekler, of Spring Garden. They have had three children: Florence, Henry (deceased) and Walter.

HENRY W. EMIG, a prominent young farmer, was born in Hellam Township January 20, 1849. His parents were Eli and Magdalena (Crider) Emig, of York and Laneaster Counties respectively, and of German deseent, and parents of ten children, of whom Henry W. is the second. He was reared on the farm and educated at the publie schools. At the age of twenty-two he began farming for him- self on the place which he now owns and oeeupies. His father, who died in 1877, aged fifty-eight years, owned six large farms at the time of his death; his mother still lives in Hellam Township, aged about sixty-two years. Three sisters and four brothers reside in York County, the latter engaged in farm- ing. The farm upon which Mr. Emig resides, was purehased by him in October, 1883; besides this, he owns five farms, which came from his father. He is much interested in educational matters and pub- lic improvements, and like the family, belongs to the Reformed Church.

JOHN W. GABLE was born in Windsor Town- ship, York County, June 4, 1847, and is the seventh of nine children, and the third son of Jaeob and Annie M. (Jackson) Gable, of York County, and of German and English deseent, respectively. The first thirteen years he spent on his father's farm, and from that time until twenty-two years of age, was engaged as clerk in different mercantile estab- lishments in York County. He was educated at the common schools and one term at the eommer- eial sehool at Poughkeepsie, New York. Between the age of eleven and thirteen years, he worked at shoe-making and learned the trade. At the time he began the mercantile business for himself, in 1869, he also began manufacturing cigars, and now man- ufactures and handles about 2,000,000 to 3,000,000 of eigars annually. In connection with his mer- eantile business he owns and works a farm in Spring Garden Township. Mr. Gable is one of the organizers of the Eureka Building and Loan Association of York. He was married Septem- ber 23, 1875, in Hellam Township, to Elizabeth Hiestand, daughter of Henry A. Hiestand. To this union were born two children; a daugh- ter, Susan Hiestand, and a son, Chauncey E., who died August 4, 1881, aged about six months. He is a member of the Lutheran Church at Kreutz Creek; superintendent of the Sunday-school, and is an enterprising and very popular business man. In 1874 he was appointed postmaster at Hellam, which office he still holds.

JACOB GOHN, son of George and Magdalena Gohn, of Hellam Township, was born November 20, 1825; is of German descent, and was reared on the home farm. In March, 1847, he began butcher-

ing in partnership with Thomas Harris, but one year later dissolved the partnership and united with his brother, John Gohn, with whom for seven years he was engaged in the same business, and one year in the eattle trade. From 1856 to 1867 he was in the mercantile trade under the firm name of Heppenstall & Gohn, and for two years thereafter was with Levi and George Lehman, under the firm name of Gohn & Lehman. William Witman then eame in and business continued until 1871 under the style of Gohn, Lehman & Co., and then was changed to Gohn & Witman; as such it continued until March, 1876, since when Jacob Gohn has been in bus- iness alone, carrying a large stoek of groeeries, dry goods, boots, shoes, hardware, etc., having rebuilt and enlarged his storeroom in 1879. With Mr. James Cook, Mr. Gohn was the originator of the Wrightsville National Bank in 1862, of which he is a director, as well as director of the Wrightsville Hardware Company; he was also a large stoekholder in the furnace. January 11, 1855, he married Mar- tha, daughter of John and Sarah Heppenstall, and of the seven children horn to this union, the only son is dead, and six daughters living: Sarah, Mary Martha, Carrie May, Laura Silvers, Minnie and Nellie Levingston. Mr. and Mrs. Gohn are mem- bers of the Lutheran Church, and Mr. Gohn of Riverside Lodge, No. 503, A. F. & A. M. Mrs. Martha Gohn is of English deseent; her parents eame from England about 1812.

WILLIAM F. HIESTAND was born in Spring Garden Township, May 4, 1814. His parents were Abraham and Nancy (Fitts) Hiestand, of Lancaster County, were of German descent, and had a family of four sons and four daughters, of whom William .F. was the youngest son and seventh child. There are at present only our subjeet, one brother (Abra- ham), and one sister (Mrs. Wilson) living. Mr. Hiestand was reared on a farm and received his education in the distriet schools of York County. In 1866 he was married, in Laneaster, to Rebecca Doll of York County, and of German deseent, and to their union were born eight children: Herby A., Annias F., William, Mary E., Susanna, Franklin C., Bird J. and Margaret. Mr. Hiestand eame to Hel- lam Township in 1866, owns thirty-eight aeres in Hellam Township and 207 acres in Heidelberg Township, is retired at present on his homestead in Hellam Township, and owes his prosperous eondi- tion to his own energy and industry. He is a very liberal man, especially to churches and benevolent organizations, and takes a great interest in school matters, having been a school director. He has at present eight grandchildren living in York County.

ISAAC HINKLE, son of Henry and Sarah Hinkle, of Laneaster County, was born Mareh 4, 1832, grew to manhood on the home farm and was educated at the distriet school. For five years, from 1858, he farmed for Hahn & Himes, at Wood- stoek, and then, in 1863, moved to Mr. Miflin's place, known as the "Woodbine Farm." In 1879 he bought his present place of about 133 acres, on which are a good stone dwelling and a large bank barn. and here he largely earries on farming and also dairying. In 1858 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Kauffman of Lan- easter County. Besides being a successful agricul- turist, Mr. Hinkle is a stockholder in the Wrights- ville and Chanceford turnpike company, and in the Wrightsville Hardware Company. Mrs. Hinkle is a member of the Lutheran Church at Wrightsville.

DANIEL L. HOKE was born in Hellam Town- ship, August 22, 1849. His parents were George and Jane (Kendrick) Hoke, of York and Philadel- phia, respectively, and of German descent. They had five children, of whom Daniel is the youngest. He was brought up in a hotel and has always followed the hotel business. November 10, 1875, he was married

WRIGHTSVILLE BOROUGH AND HELLAM TOWNSHIP.

at Columbia, Penn., to Pauline E. Baker, daughter of Peter and Susan C. (Trainer) Baker, of Marietta and Columbia, Penn., and has had born to him four children: Daniel, Helen (deceased), Jane and Teresa. Mr. Hoke is a Master Mason and a very enthusiastic and popular Democrat. He has thrice been elected a member of the council of Wrightsville, and is a member at present. He was one of the organizers of the Wrightsville Hardware Company. August 1, 1884, he purchased and opened the Union Hotel at Wrightsville.

SAMUEL F. HOLLINGER was born in York Township, near Dallastown, May 16, 1844. His parents were Daniel and Elizabeth (Flinchbaugh) Hollinger. He was reared on the home farm and educated at the district schools. In the spring of 1865 he went to Lancaster County and farmed about one year, when he returned to York Township, and assisted his father on the farm for two years. In the fall of 1868 he began learning the trade of mill- wright with Jonathan Geesey, of Dallastown; re- mained with him for two years, and then worked at his trade for four years. In 1874 he began milling at Henry's Mill, in Hopewell Township, where he remained two years, going from there to Yost's Mill in York Township for two years, then to the Ness Mill in Springfield Township for two years; then to the Tunnel Mill in the same township for one year; then to Diehl's Mill near York for three years, and in April. 1884, came to Strickler's Mill near Hellam, where he is at present engaged. He was married February 23, 1878, to Emeline Lehman, daughter of J. W. Lehman of York County, and has had three children born to him: Lizzie (de- ceased), Millie and Annie (deceased).

WILLIAM J. HOUCK, justice of the peace, was born in York City, April 20, 1855. His parents were John and Genevieve Houck, of Germany, who had seven children, of whom William J. is the youngest. He remained in York with his parents until 1866, when he went with them to Baltimore, . where he attended the Catholic schools. In 1869 he returned to York, and began learning the trade of shoe-making with Philip H. Amig, served an ap- prenticeship three years and six months, and then worked for himself for three years. He was mar- ried February 5, 1875, to Mary A. Cramer, daughter of Charles Cramer, of York, and to this union three children have been born: William J., Charles E. and Fannie L. In March, 1876, he removed to Des Moines, Iowa, where he followed his trade but a short time, returning again to Hellam Township, where he opened a shoe store, in which business he is at present engaged. In the spring of 1878 he was elected justice of the peace of Hellam Township, and was re-elected in 1883. The family belong to the United Brethren Church, and are now co-op- erating in the construction of a new church edifice for that denomination in the village of Hellam.

JAMES L. JAMISON, M. D., son of William and Catherine Jamison, of Wrightsville, was born January 20, 1855. Until the age of fourteen his boyhood was passed at Wrightsville; he then went to Philadelphia, where he was in the employ of Dr. F. Getchell until seventeen years of age, when he returned to Wrightsville, and entered the employ of Kerr, Cook & Co., lime burners. October. 29, 1873, he entered the preparatory department of Lincoln University, graduated therefrom in June, 1875, and the following September entered the collegiate de- partment, from which he graduated June 3, 1879. His summer vacation of 1875 was spent in the Cats- kill Mountains; that of 1876 at Newport; that of 1877 at Cape May, and that of 1878 was spent in canvassing Newark and Elkton, Md. In June, 1879, he returned to Wrightsville, studied medicine under Dr. D. A. Stubbs, of Oxford, Ches- ter County, entered Jefferson Medical College in the

fall of 1879, graduated March 30, 1882, and in June began his-profession in his native town, where he has since built up a large practice. August 27. 1884, he married Francenia. daughter of Peter and Carrie Baldwin, of Lower Oxford, Chester County. The Doctor is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Lincoln, and the Alumni of Jefferson Medical College. He has had the care of his mother since boyhood. his father being infirm.

W. H. KERR was born in Wrightsville, October 19, 1828. His parents were Matthew and Jane (Wil- son) Kerr, natives of Ireland and York respectively, and the mother of Scotch descent. They had a family of eight sons and one daughter. of whom William H. is the sixth. He was educated at Wrightsville, and at the age of nineteen years he commenced boating on the Susquehanna and Tide Water Canal, and continued it for fifteen years. In 1861 be began the business of lime burning under the firm name of Robert W. Kerr & Co. In 1865 the firm changed to James L. Kerr & Co., and in 1871 to Kerr, Cook & Co., in 1879 to Kerr, Weitzel & Co. During all these changes, the subject of this sketeh retained his interest in the firm, being most of the time on the road, selling or collecting for the firm. October 25, 1857, he was married to Eliza Beaverson of Wrightsville, and has twelve children, seven of whom are living: Kate, Sarah B., Gertrude, Matilda G., Eliza B., Harry B. and Sewell. Mr. Kerr and family belong to the Presbyterian Church. Although living all his life in York County, he has never been drawn as a juror, nor had heever been in court as a witness in any case. About half his time is spent in traveling, in the interest of the firm. His father died in 1859, aged sixty-eight years.

JACOB KLINE was born in Lower Windsor Township, May 6, 1842. His parents were Henry and Eliza (Flury) Kline of York County, and of German descent. They had nine children, of whom Jacob is the fifth. He remained on the farm until twenty-two years of age, receiving his education at the public schools. When twenty-six years of age he began the business of cigar-making at Wrightsville, which he followed for a num- ber of years. In 1373, in company with Henry Keller of Lower Windsor, he began the man- ufacture of cigars at Wrightsville, and has followed it since with success. In 1876 he built the large brick building on Hellam Street in Wrights- ville, where the firm have their factory. They at first employed about twenty hands in the factory, but now have about fifty-three hands. In 1880 he erected an additional brick building, remodeling the first and raising the whole to a three-story building, in which he opened, in the same year, a general merchandising business They manufac- tured ahout 2,500,000 cigars in 1883. He was mar- ried at York, in 1867, to Eliza Lebernight, of York County, and has had six children born to him: John Henry (deceased). Martha Jane, William Edward, Howard Smith (deceased), Maggie May (deceased) and Eliza Bertha. Mr. Kline is a member of the I. O. O. F., and with his wife, of the Methodist Church. He was twice member of the Wrightsville Borough council.

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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 171

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