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 185

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 185

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

at Crestline, Ohio, and married Miss Maggie Nel- son, on October 14, 1882; he has one son named Latimore C. Lane. John Wilson, the grandfather of J. Jay Lane, on the maternal side, was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, during most of the cam- paign; was in several battles, one of them the bat- tle of Brandywine. A brother of his was taken prisoner by the British, and held at Philadelphia un- til he, with two others, broke prison and returned to the American army after knocking down the guard. Also his paternal grandfather, Joseph Lane, was in the same army of the Revolutionary war and died in the hospital caused from fever caught in the service of his country, his own father being quite a small lad at that time was near losing his life by the Hessians who came over to this country to fight for England, some of the descendents of whom still live in a portion of this county.

JANE M. LINDSAY is the daughter of John and Mary (Snodgrass) Lindsay, representatives of highly respectable families of Scotch-Irish origin, whose ancestors were among the early emigrants from the north of Ireland to America. The Lind- say family is quite numerous in Pennsylvania, and some of them have attained considerable distinction in the history of the State. Robert and Mary Lindsay, grandparents of Jane M. Lindsay, came to Lower Chanceford during the latter part of the last century. They had two children: John H. and Mary A. The former, who was the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in York and moved to Lower Chanceford Township in 1811, and purchased the farm which his daughter now owns. He was married in 1821, and had two children: Jane M. and Mary A. Lindsay. The youngest sister is dead. Miss Jane Lindsay was born August 31, 1823, and at the death of her father inherited the farm on which she has resided since her birth. She is an active worker in the church, and an in- fluential member of the Pine Grove Congregation.

FREDERICK MCSHERRY, son of Joseph and Annie (Burkholder) McSherry, of Lower Chance- ford and Lancaster County, respectively, was born and educated in Lower Chanceford Township. His father was engaged at the blacksmith trade at Lower Chanceford. At the age of twenty-six years, Fred- erick McSherry engaged in the mercantile business at Airville, formerly McSherryville, and has since followed the same business. He was born June 26, 1819, at Lower Chanceford, and was married, May 30, 1849, to Tolitha M. Smith, daughter of Peter and Cassey McCleary, of the same township. They have ten children living: Joseph L. B., William R., Napoleon B., Smith B., Edmond E., Ella F., Elmer N., James A., Jackson McC. and Nelson M. Janu- ary 1, 1867, he was appointed postmaster at Mc- Sherryville and kept that office for two years. He was also township auditor and hank tax collector.

WILLIAM MANIFOLD, farmer, is a son of Joseph and Rebecca (Martin) Manifold, natives of Hopewell and Chanceford Townships, respectively, was born February 8,1852, in Hopewell Township. In 1859 he removed with his parents to Lower Chance- ford, where he now resides. In 1880 he hecame the owner of his father's farm of 130 acres which he occupies in companionship with his two sisters- Margaret and Keziah. His mother was a daughter of Rev. Dr. Martin, for many years pastor of Slate Ridge and Chanceford Presbyterian Churches.

NELSON MICHENER, a son of Isaac and Re- becca (McHenry) Michener, natives of Bucks County, Penn., was born June, 1809, upon the old homestead. In 1832, he moved to Delaware County, Penn., and, 1836, was employed upon the construction of the Tide Water Canal. In 1841 he purchased a farm of 103 acres, located in Lower Chanceford Township, where he has since been en- gaged in general farming and the practice of veterin-

ary surgery. Mr. Michener was married to Eliza Halderman, February 3, 1831, daughter of John and Catherine Halderman, of Bucks County. Mr. Michener is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Lower Chanceford.

T. Z. H. MURPHY, born in Chanceford Town- ship, February 9, 1840, is a son of George and Re- becca (Hughs) Murphy, natives respectively of York County, Penn., and Hartford County, Md. He en- tered his father's store as clerk at the age of seven- teen, and remained eleven years; at the age of twenty-eight formed a partnership with Robert Reed, and opened a store at Collinsville; bought his partner's interest in the store, and continued the business at that place until 1872; in 1875 went into business at Woodbine, his present location, dealing in general merchandise, grain, coal, fertilizers, etc .; has been postmaster at Woodbine since 1878; is a school director in Lower Chanceford Township, and a trustee of the Presbyterian Church of Chance- ford Township; was married June 29, 1868, to Mar- gery McVey, daughter of Henry McVey, of Lan- caster County, and they have seven children: Eugene, Harry, William, Hughs, Charley, Eliza- beth and Margery.

THOMAS J. NEELY (deceased) was a son of William and Jane Neely, natives of Ireland, who emigrated from that country to the United States, and settled in Lancaster County in 1833. He was born November 11, 1836, and at the age of twenty- three, located in Centreville, Lower Chanceford Township, and engaged in stock-dealing, and the purchasing and selling of valuable horses. He was a well known business man of York County, and a successful and esteemed citizen. He was married, in 1861, to Hannah J. Colvin, daughter of William C. Colvin, of Centreville, who died February 23, 1883. Mr. Neely died May 30, 1884. Four daugh- ters are descendants: Lizzie J., Maggie C., Mary A. and Cora.

BENJAMIN PEDAN, before the time of the Revolutionary war, became a prominent aud influ- ential citizen of the lower end of the county. He was appointed justice of the peace for his township under the first constitution of the State of Penn- sylvania, in June, 1777, and in the year 1790, was one of the five representatives of York County who helped to frame the second constitution of the State. For many years after this event he served as justice. In 1805, he was elected a member of State legislature. In the taxable list of Chance- ford Township for the year 1783, he was assessed for 307 acres of land, one slave, five horses, six cows and six sheep. Benjamin Pedan was married to Jane Giffin, and came from Frederick County, Md., in 1772, bought 307 acres of land, added eighteen adjoining acres, and at the time of his death, in 1813, owned 325 acres and a number of slaves. He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church. He had eleven children. His first wife having died, he married a second time. John Pedan was the ninth child by the first marriage, and was born June 7, 1780, in Chanceford Township (now Lower Chanceford), where he remained until his death in 1840. His father died in 1813. John Pedan was married to Nancy Campbell, who was a native of Stewartstown, Ireland, and immigrated to America about 1800. John Benjamin Pedan grew to manhood on his father's farm in Lower Chance- ford, and received his educational training in the public schools of his native township. In 1863 he enlisted in Capt. Stevens' company of ninety-day men, who entered the service during Lee's second invasion of Pennsylvania. In 1864 he purchased the farm of 140 acres, on which he now resides .. Samnel M. Pedan, Esq., whose portrait appears in this work, was a son of John and Nancy (Campbell) Pedan, was born on the old homestead, and there

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LOWER CHANCEFORD TOWNSHIP.

lived and died; he was for fifteen years known as a prominent justice of the peace of his township. He was a man of excellent character and sterling worth. He served in various positions of honor and trust among the people of the lower town. His death, while he was yet in the prime of life, on February 11, 1882, was deeply felt by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. He was never mar- ried. The other members of the family of John Pedan are Margaret J., Martha E., Allie E., Annie A. and Charles J.

JOSEPH PEIRCE, merchant of Airville, is a son of George and Jane Peirce, of Chester County, Penn. He received his early education in the ex- cellent schools of his native township-Brandywine. He was employed as a clerk in a store and also taught school. At the age of eighteen he became a partner with his brother-in-law, A. C. Sin, in farm- ing and storekeeping. He afterward entered the employ of a Philadelphia business firm as a sales- man. In 1855 he moved to York Furnace, in Lower Chanceford, and purchased the mercantile stock and rented the store stand of John Bair & Co. In 1866, he purchased a farm of sixty acres from J. J. McSherry, of Airville. To this farm he has added eighty-five acres. At the same time he began the general mercantile business, which he is yet con- ducting at Airville. He has been postmaster for twenty five years. His marriage with Lydia, daughter of Hartly Potts, of Bucks County, took place in 1852.

CYRUS PLETT, a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Ferguson) Plett, natives of Lancaster County, was horn in York County, August 1, 1839. He was reared on the old homestead farm, and at the age of eighteen learned the carpenter's trade, which oc- cupied his attention for a number of years. Mr. Plett is now engaged in the lumber business and farming. He was married, December 23, 1869, to Maggie Painter, a native of York County. They have four children: Thomas E., Eugene C., Everett B. and Etna G.

WILLIAM G. ROSS (deceased) was the son of Hugh and Rebecca (Glenn) Ross. Hugh Ross, son of William and Margaret (Evans) Ross, was born May 10, 1785, in Lower Clrinceford Township. He succeeded his father as justice of the peace, which office be held about forty years, and resigned the position in 1861. He was married to Rebecca Glenn. They had three children, viz. : William G., James E. (now living in Missouri) and Rebecca I. H. William G., the eldest son, was born September 29, 1830, on the " Ross Homestead " in Lower Chanceford. He received his early educational training in the schools of his native township, and afterward entered the Chamberlain Commercial College in Baltimore, where he graduated. Upon the death of his father, in 1873, he succeeded him as the owner of a large estate of 650 acres. He married Miss Julia A. McConkey, daughter of Maj. James and Mary A. (Ramsay) McConkey, of Peach Bottom. They had three children, two of whom-Marian and Hugh-survive. Mr. Ross died in 1884. He studied farming as a science and practiced it as an art, and at the time of his death owned one of the most valuable tracts of land in York County. The large and abundant crops brought him in a hand- some revenue as a reward for his judicious labors. For many years he was a director of the York & Peach Bottom Railroad, and was also one of the directors of the First National Bank of York, and served in various other positions of honor and trust. As a gentleman and neighbor he was universally esteemed and respected and was a noble representa- tive of true manhood. For many years he was a · member and an active worker in Chanceford Pres- hyterian Church, to which his honored ancestors belonged.

DAVID SHENK was horn at Spring Forge, this county, and was a son of George Shenk, of the same place. David Shenk came to Lower Chance- ford in 1838, and was married, in 1837, to Magda- lena Brown, who is now living upon the homestead. They had six children: Daniel. Henry, Mary J., Sarah E., John and William. He was a forge-man by trade and died February 14, 1879.

DANIEL SHENK was born in Codorus Town- ship, January 1, 1838, and is the son of David Shenk, who was born in 1816, at Spring Forge, Codorus Township, and who, March 22, 1837, mar- ried Magdalena Brown, subject's mother, who was born in Codorus Township in December, 1813, and became the mother of six children: Daniel. Henry, Mary Jane, Sarah Elizabeth, John and William. David Shenk was a forge-man by trade and died in 1879. At the age of seventeen, Daniel Shenk began learning carpentering with Jarrett Borton, of Peach Bottom, and at the age of twenty-six, engaged in business on his own account in Lower Chanceford, as builder, and still continues in that occupation. April 17, 1862, he married Elizabeth J., daughter of Harman Snyder, of Lower Chanceford. To this union have been born seven children: Eleanor Ann, John, David Herman, Sarah Alice, Emma Florence, Henry Francis and Lydia Louisa. Mr. and Mrs. Shenk are members of the Pine Grove Presbyterian Church.

JOHN SHENK, boatman and farmer, son of David and Magdalena (Brown) Shenk, was born March 16, 1846, and lived at home with his parents until the age of sixteen, when he engaged in hoat- ing on the Susquehanna and Tide Water Canal. He continued this occupation until 1880, when he settled on a farm of ninety-three and one-half acres, which he had some time before purchased in Lower Chanceford. and engaged in cultivating it. He was married, February 13, 1878, to Mary C. Poteet, daughter of Jesse Poteet. Their children are Jesse and Beatrice Myrtle.

ROBERT SMITH, one of the prosperous farm- ers of the lower end of York County, was born on Christmas Day, 1820, in Lower Chanceford Township. He is a son of James H. and Jane (Smith) Smith. At the age of four years he was adopted by his uncle, Robert Smith, and at his death inherited the excellent farm near Airville, which he now owns. November 16, 1843, he married Sarah R., daughter of Henry Manifold, of Hopewell. They have five children living: Robert H., J. Hume, Lizzie T., Sam- uel H. and J. Charles. The subject of this sketch is a son of Capt. James Hume Smith, a veteran of the second war with Great Britain, in 1812, who died in 1834. The farm which Mr. Smith now owns was originally deeded to his great-grandfather by the proprietors of Pennsylvania about 1740. Ever since that time, this valuable farm has been owned by a lineal descendant who bore the same name as his great grandfather, Robert Smith. This is one of the very few farms in the county owned by a de- scendant of the first settlers.

DR. WILLIAM F. SMITH, physician and sur- geon, of Airville, son of Dr. William F. and Maria L. (Clarkson) Smith, whose ancestors were among the first settlers in this section of York County, was born here January 13, 1836. He lived with his par- ents until the age of twenty years, when he began the study of medicine with Dr. John Atlee, of Lan- caster City. He graduated with the degree of M. D., in the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, March 14, 1861. During the civil war he entered the army as assistant sur- geon of the One Hundred and Fifth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, which position he re- signed October 5, 1862. In the spring of 1863. he joined the Twenty-eighth Regiment Pennsylvania troops, and was promoted to the position of surgeon

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

of the Seventy-third Pennsylvania Regiment, and remained in the service until the close of the war in 1865. In this capacity he had rare advantages for gaining a thorough and practical knowledge of the science of surgery. During the campaign on the peninsula in Virginia, he had charge of the Division Hospitals of Gens. Kearney and Geary, of the Second Division of the Twentieth Army Corps. He was mar- ried October 31, 1865, to Hannah M. Murphy, daughter of George S. and Rebecea Murphy. They have three children: Rebecca M., Mamie L. and William C. Since his return from the army, he has practiced in Airville and the surrounding country with abundant success. Dr. Smith is a gen- tleman of more than ordinary degree of educational training and intellectual culture. He is a publie- spirited eitizen, and mneh honored and respected in his community. In 1872 he was nominated on the Republican tieket for State senator, a position which he would have filled with eminent ability. Dr. Smith and family are members of the Chance- ford Presbyterian Church.

EDMUND M. SMITH, son of Peter and Cas- sandra (McClary) Smith, was born at Centreville, April 15, 1838. At the time of his father's death, he inherited the homestead property of seventy- seven aeres, on which he has since resided and skill- fully farmed. He was married, November 16, 1864, to Emeline Mundorff; they have six children, viz .: Peter M., Cyrus, Curtis H., Hannah J., Ross and William F. Mrs. Smith is a daughter of Jonathan and Hannah (Wade) Mundorff, of Lower Chance- ford, and was one of a family of ten children as fol- lows: William, Mary A., Hannah J., Susan, Jon- athan, Barbara, Amanda, John W., Emiline and Margaret. Her father died in 1866, aged 'sixty-one years, and her mother in 1880, aged seventy-eight years.

ALEXANDER SNODGRASS was born No- vember 9, 1825, in Lower Chanceford, and is a son of Joseph and Hannah (Smith) Snodgrass. His mother was a daughter of John Smith, of the same township. At the age of nine years he went to live with John MeCleary, at Bridgeton. He began learning the blacksmith's trade when seventeen years of age, and followed it four years. At twenty- one he engaged at boating on the Susquehanna Canal and continued eighteen years, and then pur- chased a farm of fifty acres in Lower Chanceford, where he now resides. He later purchased a farm of 128 acres in the same township. Mr. Snodgrass was married, June 26. 1854, to Corinna McConkey, daughter of Jesse McConkey, of Peach Bottom Township. He and his wife are members of the Union Chapel of his township.

ROBERT G. SWEENEY was born in Lower Chanceford Township, York County, May 18, 1812, and removed to Peach Bottom in 1840, where he purchased a farm of forty-eight acres, on which he still resides. In connection with farming he works at blacksmithing. His father, James Sweeney, was a native of Ireland, who immigrated to Chaneeford Township at the age of sixteen years, where he subsequently married Miss Jennet Gibson, a native of York County. Mr. Sweeney is a quiet, respectable citizen, who attends closely to his own business, but takes an active interest in politics.

GEORGE UREY (deceased), son of George and Barbara (Mundorff) Urey, was born December 8, 1811, in Lower Chanceford. His grandfather eame to that township about 1700, and purchased a traet of land now known as Centreville. Subjeet was reared, educated, lived and died on the homestead. In 1838 he married Annie E. Kline-Young, of Chanceford Township, and had three children: George, Annie E. and Peter. His wife died in 1841, and in 1843 he was married to Margaret Hevner, of Chaneeford Township, and had four children:

Mary, Elias W., Barbara E. and Benjamin T. His second wife died in 1850, and in 1852 he married Mrs. Catherine Urey, of Lower Chaneeford. He died May 2, 1875. He was a farmer. and was also engaged on the Tide Water Canal. Elias W. Urey, son of George and Margaret (Hevner) Urey, was born on the homestead in Lower Chanceford Town- ship, February 9, 1845, and was educated at the puplie schools of his township. In 1873 he engaged in the hotel business at York Furnace, and in 1877 he began boating and followed this until 1880; then kept hotel at McCall's Ferry until 1883, when he came back and took the hotel at York Furnace, which he still keeps. March 12, 1867, he was mar- ried to Ella Mehaffey, of Lancaster County, and has two children living: Emma and John M.

WILLIAM WILSON, son of James and Mary (Bunting) Wilson, was born January 22,1824, in the township where he now resides. His father was a native of Lancaster County and his mother of Ches- ter County. His father was drowned on the 17th of March, 1836. After Mr. Wilson grew to man- hood he was a pilot on the Susquehauna River for a period of thirty years. For a number of years he was proprietor of the hotel at McCall's Ferry. In

1854 he was married to Mary E. Ayers, of Lower Chanceford. They have six sons and daughters, viz .: William T., Hannah M .. James M., Clarkson F., Sarah E. and Jo. Elien. Mr. Wilson took the eensus of Lower Chanceford for the year 1860, has been inspector of elections, township assessor and road supervisor, and is the present assessor of his township. James M. Wilson, his son, was born in 1861 at McCall's Ferry, and married Sarah Stokes of the same township. They have one child, John

LOWER WINDSOR TOWNSHIP.

JOHN E. BEARD, EsQ., son of Joseph and Su- san Beard. of Heidelberg Township, York County, was born in Lancaster County, Penn., November 11, 1813. At eighteen years of age he was appren- tieed to the tanner's trade with Jacob Bayler, of York, Penn., and served until twenty-one years of age. He then worked for some time with John Kiine, of Marietta. His father bought forty acres of land and a tannery, and in 1846 our subject began business for himself, renting the tannery from his father. After a few years he bought the prop- erty from his father, inereased his facilities for do- ing business, and introduced steam into his tannery in 1845 or 1846. He has been in business ever since 1836, with the exception of eleven years, during which his sons carried on the business. At present his son Henry is associated with him in business. They tan about 1,300 hides annually. Mr. Beard was married in 1839 to Nancy, daughter of John Gehly, of Windsor Township, and they had five children, of whom two sons and two daughters are living. Mrs. Beard died in 1850. Mr. Beard's second mar- riage was in 1856, to Maria, daughter of Henry Leber. By this union they have three children: Emma, Elmira and George. The latter is teller in the bank at Cheyenne, Wyoming, and receives a sal- ary of $1,500 a year. Mr. Beard was elected justice of the peace five times. He was appointed assist- ant assessor of internal revenue, and served four years; was elected county commissioner for one term. Mr. Beard is a stockholder and director in the Wrightsville National Bank. He is a member of Lodge No. 74, I. O. O. F., York, Penn.

ABDIEL BORTNER, justice of the peace, was born March 27, 1851, son of Jesse and Mary A

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LOWER WINDSOR TOWNSHIP.

Bortner, and is of German descent. He was reared on the farm, and received his education at the pub- lic schools, afterward attending the Millersville Normal School in 1870. He then engaged in mer- cantile business in Manheim Township, near Han- over, Penn., for four years, and sold the "Domes- tic" Sewing Machine for one year. In 1876 he moved to East Prospect, built a slaughter house and engaged in the butchering business. He also owns a house and lot in East Prospect. He was elected justice of the peace in 1882. He served as constable two years, and has been school director since 1884. Mr. Bortner was married, October 24,1870, to Anna M., daughter of Isaac and Sarah Glatfelter, of Springfield Township. By this union they have one son, Franklin M., born May 30, 1873. Mr. Bortner has been a member of the Lutheran Church since 1870, and is at present a member of the Can- adochley congregation.

JOSEPH B. BUDDING, son of Levi and Cassie Budding, of Wrightsville, Penn., was born May 6. 1854. He left home at five years of age and lived with his uncles, Levi Kauffet and George Kauffet, until he grew to manhood. In 1873 he embarked in the mercantile business at Yorkana, starting in a small room with a capital of $1,600. In 1878 he began the manufacture of cigars, employing about ten hands, and now handles about 6,000,000 cigars annually. He also deals in leaf tobacco. In 1880 he took his brother Jacob into partnership with him in the store. Mr. Budding was married, Octo- ber 8, 1878, to Emma J., daughter of John E. and Maria Beard, of Lower Windsor Township, York County. This union has been blessed with three children, of whom one son and one daughter are living. Mr. Budding is a stockholder in the York City Market House, and in the York Tribune Com- pany. He was the first postmaster at Yorkana, when that office was established in 1876.

JACOB K. BUDDING, son of Levi and Catha- rine Budding, of Wrightsville, was born January 27, 1857, is of German descent, and was reared on the home farm. He was educated at the district school and also attended the normal school at Mil- lersville. In 1880 he entered into partnership with his brother, Joseph B. Budding, in the mercantile business at Yorkana, at which point he is at present assistant postmaster.

HENRY BURG was born August 11, 1834, son of Henry and Catherine Burg, of East Prospect, York Co., Penn. He taught school three terms, and in 1864 engaged in the dry goods business, which he continued six years. In 1870 he bought a farm of 100 acres near East Prospect, on which he erected new buildings, and where he has since resided. Mr. Burg was school director three terms, and was also assessor. He is a member of Winona Lodge No. 944, I. O. O. F., of East Prospect, and also a member of the Lower Windsor Grange Lodge No. 565, of Lower Windsor. October 1, 1857, he married Re- becca, daughter of Samuel and Rebecca Gilbert, of East Prospect. By this union they have been blessed with seven children. Their son, Harris W., a graduate of Eastman's College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., has clerked three or four years, and taught school five terms. Mr. and Mrs. Burg are members of the Evangelical Church of East Prospect.

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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 185

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