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 189

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 189

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E. G. HAKE, M. D.

FRANKLIN L. JACOBS, born in Lower Wind- sor Township, June 11, 1851. is the eldest son of William and Mary (Landes) Jacobs, natives of York County, and of English and German descent. He lived with his parents, working some at farming, but before he was twenty-one he learned the trades of cigar-maker and plasterer, and has followed both trades since. He began business for himself in his native township, when about twenty-one years of age. He was married. September 24, 1874, to Annie E. Paff, daughter of Amos Paff of Hellam Township, and has had four children, one-Horace C., died in infancy; the living are Mary Estella, William Garfield and Ivy Rebecca. He removed to Manchester Borough in the spring of 1875, and has since been engaged in the manufacturing of cigars, employing a few hands, and making 150,000 cigars per annum. His plastering work is done under contract, and he does most of the first class work in his neighborhood. He has held the offices of in- spector of elections and auditor of Manchester Borough; was elected chief burgess of Manchester Borough in the spring of 1884, and is an active

Republican. He belongs to the Evangelical Asso- ciation.

JOHN JACOBY was born October 22, 1819, on the place now owned and occupied by him, and where he has spent his life. His parents were David and Elizabeth (Miller) Jacoby, of York County, Penn., who reared three sons and one daughter. John was the youngest child and lost his father, when he was only fifteen years old. He grew up on the farm and attended the public schools. Oc- tober 15, 1844, he was married in Manchester Town- ship to Catharine, daughter of John E. Frantz, and has had fifteen children, four of whom have died: two unnamed infants; Catharine, a baby, and John at the age of twenty years. The living are Lewis, a carpenter; Henry, a butcher; Elizabeth; Sarah, married to Daniel Shettle; William, a butcher; Adam, a carpenter; Amanda, married to Alfred Shoop; Anna; Samuel, a butcher; Augustus, and Alfred, a merchant at York. Mr. Jacoby and wife belong to the Lutheran Church. For about thirty years he was engaged in butchering, but gave it up in 1878. He owns a fine farm of forty- eight acres, where he now lives, and some wood- land in Conewago Township. What he has he has earned by the sweat of his brow.

LEWIS JACOBY, carpenter and builder, was born in Manchester Township. York Co., Penn., August 19, 1844, eldest son of John and Catherine (Frantz) Jacoby, who were parents of fifteen chil- dren, eleven of whom are now living: Lewis, Henry, Elizabeth, Sarah, William, Adam, .Amanda, Anna, Samuel, Augustus and Alfred. Our subject was reared on his father's farm and has always lived in this township. He began learning his trade in York, Penn., in 1862, and started busi- ness for himself in 1880. Since he began contract- ing for the erection of buildings he has all the work he can attend to, and has built nearly every house in the village of New Prospect, on Cemetery Hill, near York, Penn. December 25, 1868, he married Adeline Myers, daughter of Peter and Sallie (Hum- mer) Myers, of Dover Township, and this union has been blessed with five children: Mary Alice, Adelia E., James Latimer. Laura E. (deceased) and Mar- garet Lucretia Mr. Jacoby is a member of the Lutheran Church.

H. C. KAUFFMAN is a son of Henry and Re- becca (Heininger) Kauffman of Manchester Town- ship, where our subject was born October 3. 1858. He received a common school education, and began the business of manufacturing cigars in September, 1881, in Manchester Borough. He gives constant employment to eighteen hands. February 19, 1880, Mr. Kauffman married Annie Schroll, daughter of Samuel and Anna (Snyder) Schroll, of Manchester Township. Two children have been born to them, Harry A. and Marcus L. His parents still live in this township, where they were born; his grand- father was also a native of York County-so that his ancestors were among the pioneer settlers of Manchester Township. Mr. Kauffman, although a young man, has been very successful in his busi- ness.

ALEXANDER KLINDINST, son of Daniel and Leah (Shindle) Klindinst, was born June 28, 1862, in York, Penn. He was reared on his father's farm, and attended the public schools of his native town- ship, also three terms at the Emigsville Academy; began teaching school at Eisenhart's schoolhouse, Manchester Township; after teaching two terms re- moved to York to accept a responsible business po- sition in the firm of E. K. Emig & Co. November 27, 1884, Mr. Klindinst married Katie A. Smyser, daughter of Augustus and Catherine (Schriver) Smyser, of Manchester Township. Mr. Klindinst is a young man of pleasing address, conscientious in the discharge of his duty, steady in his habits,

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trustworthy and esteemed by all who know him. He is a member of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church of York, Penn., the E. M. R. A. and E. L. and R. C., of Emigsville.

HENRY KOHR, is the second son of Henry and Lydia (Stauffer) Kohr, of York, and was born in Manchester Township, October 29, 1833. He was reared a farmer and married Mary, daughter of George and Eve (Fink) Bower. This lady died October 9, 1880, the mother of four children: George, Augustus, Emma and Stephen. Our sub- ject next married Isabella, daughter of Emanuel and Sarah (Zorger) Good, of Manchester Township. Our subject resides at Mount Wolf, where he is highly esteemed by his neighhors.

ADAM KOHR, born in Emigsville, November 14, 1834, is the eldest son of Lewis and Rebecca (Westhafer) Kohr, natives of York and Dauphin Counties, and of German descent. His father was a miller, farmer, distiller, tavern-keeper, etc., in his time, and died in 1861, aged sixty-four years. Adam Kohr was educated in the public schools of Emigsville, and has always followed farming. He was married at York, January 18, 1859, to Mary Fink. a native of York County, and daughter of John Fink, of German descent. They have had two children: Eli, died in 1875, aged sixteen years; and Hyman F., a school teacher and student at Newark, N. J., Commercial School. Mr. Kohr is a member of the church of the United Brethren in Christ, and has been trustee of Bethany Chapel, Emigsville, since 1871. He was director of the poor of York County from 1877 to 1880, and is an active Democrat. He removed to his present place of abode, an eighteen-acre farm, from an 118-acre farm, which he still owns near Emigsville. He also owns a small farm in Newberry Township. He has one brother in Illinois, and one in Michigan.

ZACHARIAH KOHR, born near Emigsville, August 18, 1851, is the youngest of ten children of Lewis and Rebecca (Westhafer) Kohr. He was reared on a farm near Emigsville, and educated at the common schools, until twenty years of age, when he began work at the trade of shoe-making, which he has followed since in connection with the cultivation of a farm of seventy-seven acres. His mother resides with him. He was married in York County, November 14, 1876, to Dollie Smith, daughter of Jacob Smith. They have two children: Allen Jacob and Edward Lewis. He is a member of the church of the United Brethren in Christ, and;is treasurer of the church at Emigsville. In politics he is a Democrat.

WILLIAM S. KUNKLE, auditor of York County, was horn April 7, 1843, in Manchester Borough. His parents were George and Mary (Bull) Kunkle, natives of York County, who had seven children, of whom three are dead-William S. being next to the eldest living. He lived mostly on the farm, was educated at the public schools, and learned something of the carpenter's trade, be- fore he became of age. In 1862 he enlisted at York in a nine months' regiment. From 1865 to 1868 he kept a livery stable at York. In 1867, he was mar- ried at York to Miss Owens, of Adams County, Penn. He belongs to the order of I. S. of A., and holds the office of Master of Forms, and has at different times held all the chairs. In 1875 he was elected constable, and held the office five years; he was elected county auditor in 1881, and served one term. In 1882 he was elected school director. At present he is engaged in raising Ha- vana tobacco, and works also at carpentering. He is an active Democrat

JABOB LICHTY was born in Manchester Township December 4, 1828. His parents, Michael Lichty and Hannah Forringer, natives of Lancas- ter County, and of German descent, married and

brought up their children in York County. Mi- chael Lichty died when subject was but three years old, leaving the widow and three children, subject being the youngest. The latter worked for differ- ent farmers until he was nineteen years old, when he began work at the trade of cooper. This he abandoned in 1858. and farmed until 1863, when he embarked in the mercantile business in New Holland, where he has since lived. He was educat- ed in the public schools, and one term in York County Academy. He was married to Mary Wolf. a daughter of Adam Wolf, of New Holland, and had nine children, two of whom are dead. He is an active Republican, and has been a member of the Republican county committee. He farms a small place of twenty-five acres, and carries a stock of general merchandise.

GEORGE LICHTENBERGER, retired farmer, is the son of George and Mary (Laucks) Lichten- berger, and was born in Manchester Township September 8, 1829. He was reared on the home farm and attended the public schools. He married Phebe M., daughter of Samuel and Ann (McGary) Prowell, of Fairview Township, the result of the union being six children: Carrie (deceased), Ed- ward, William, Maggie, Annie and George (deceased). Our subject's paternal grandfather, Casper Lichten- berger, married Catherine Nieman, who bore him the following children: George, Rudolph, Benja- min, Henry. Samuel and Eva. Our subject's mother is still living at the ripe age of eighty five, and is the mother of the following children: Henry, Sarah (deceased), Margaret (deceased). Elizabeth (deceased), Samuel, Mary (deceased), Leah, Jesse (deceased) and George.

SAMUEL LIGHTNER was born in Manchester Township April 18, 1828, and died April 3, 1881. His parents were Charles and Sarah (Myers) Light- 'ner, of York County, and of German descent. They were married in Lancaster, Penn .. August 9, 1821, and had six children-three sons and three daughters-of whom Samuel was the fourth child and second son. He was brought up on the farm and educated at the York Academy. Nathaniel Lightner purchased the tract of land lying about a mile and a half north from Harrisburg road, from Penn; it descended to Nathaniel second, then came to his son George, then to his son Charles, then to the subject of this sketch. Samuel Lightner was married, in Manchester, November 12, 1863, to Bar- bara M. Herman, of the same township, daughter of Emanuel Herman, of English descent. They had one son, Harry G., who is a farmer and at home. They were all brought up in the Lutheran Church. Samuel entered the army November, 1862, as second lieutenant of Company A, One Hun- dred and Sixty-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infan- try, and served nine months. He participated in the defense of Suffolk, at Somerton Road, and in the expedition up the peninsula. While in service he contracted disease, which resulted in his death.

ALBERT C. LIGHTNER was born in Man- chester Township, January 24, 1855. His parents, George and Anna Mary (Ebert) Lightner, were natives of York County, and of German descent, and had two sons and one daughter. Albert C. is the second and only one of the three now living. He grew to manhood on the farm, was educated in the common schools of West Manchester Township, supplemented by a thorough course in York Acad- emy. He was married in West Manchester Town- ship, December 24, 1878, to Isabel E. Sprenkle, a native of that township, and daughter of George W. Sprenkle, farmer, and of German descent. February 28, 1879, he removed from West Manches- ter to his farm where he now resides. His farm is situated in Manchester Township, about one mile north of York, and was bought from Penn by one

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of Mr. Lightner's great ancestors, and has remained in the Lightner family ever since. He was brought up in the Lutheran Church, and belongs to that denomination in York, Penn. He is a Republican in politics, devotes his entire time to the farming interest, and is one of the educated farmers of York County.

ALEXANDER W. LOUCKS was born June 1, 1845, and is the eldest son of Zachariah K. Loucks. His early life was spent principally at the schools. His primary education he received at the York County Academy, supplemented by a thorough course at Eastman's National Business College at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., from which he returned in 1864. From that time he assisted his father in business until 1867, when he took charge of his father's mill and farm, ahont one mile north of York on the Codorus Creek, to which he has given his entire attention ever since. February 5, 1867, he was married, in York, to Catherine Wan- baugh, a native of York, and a daughter of John and Mary Ann Wanbaugh. Four children were born to them: Annie Mary Kate, Henry John, William Ebert and Isabella Lydia. Mr. Loucks and his wife are members of Zion Lutheran Church, of York. Mr. Loucks has held different offices to which he was elected, such as inspector and school director. In politics he is an active Republican, and has served as member of the central county committee, and as a delegate to the county con- vention.

JAMES C. MAY, M. D., was born in Dover Township, York County. January 14, 1858. His parents were John B. and Caroline (Leatheny) May, of York County, and of German descent. They reared a family of four sons and three daughters, of whom James C. is the second. He remained on the farm until his fifteenth year, and attended the common schools and the York County Academy; at the age of seventeen he hegan teach- ing in the public schools. After teaching four terms he entered the office of Dr. Kain, at Manches- ter, and at the end of two years went to Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia, where he gradu- ated in March, 1881. Returning to Manchester he formed a partnership with his preceptor, and hegan practicing at once. In the spring of 1884, he bought the interest of his partner, and has since been practicing for himself. All his time is de- voted to his profession. In October, 1882, he was married, in Columbia, Penn., to Ellen M. Yinger, a native of Manchester. They have one child-a boy. Both are members of the Lutheran Church. Dr. May has served as school director for Manches- ter Borough.

ZACHARIAS METZGER, eldest of eight chil- dren of John and Elizabeth (Wilt) Metzger, was born March 21, 1823, on the old Metzger homestead, in Manchester Township. He was reared to farm- ing and November 30, 1848, married Maria Feiser, daughter of Jacob and Catharine (Bupp) Feiser. Three children blessed this marriage: Mary E. (wife of Abraham Hartman), Louisa C. (deceased) and Rev. John A. Metzger. Our sub- ject's great-grandfather, George Metzger, was the first of this name that settled in Manchester Town- ship, on the Altland farm, near the village of Man- chester. He was among the first settlers in this township.

SAMUEL R. MILLER was born in Conewago Township, September 13, 1834. His parents were Samuel and Lydia Ann (Rudy) Miller, of York County and of English and German descent. They had seven children-four sons and three daughters -of whom Samuel R. is the third child and second son. He was brought up on a farm, but also worked at milling and carpentering. His educa- tion he received at the common schools. At the

outbreak of the late war, he enlisted in Company E, Sixteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, a three- months' regiment. On his return home from the service he re-enlisted on the twenty-fourth of August, 1861, in Company E, Eighty-seventh Penn- sylvania Volunteer infantry for three years. He was in the battles of Wiuchester, Locust Grove, Mine Run, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor and front of Petersburg. In June, 1863, he was captured at Winchester, and for twenty-one days he was a prisoner at Belle Isle, and Libby prison; he jumped his parole, and after a French furlough, returned to his regiment. June 23, 1864, he was - captured again in front of Petersburg, held in different prisons, including Andersonville, where he was kept until Sherman's army appeared. From there he was taken to other prisons: Black- shear, Thomasville, Alhany (Ga.), and on Christ- mas, 1864, back to Andersonville again. April 8, 1865, he left Andersonville for Albany again, marched seventy-two miles to Thomasville, then to Baldwin, where he was finally released, and at the end of two weeks started for home, where he arrived June 15, 1865, after an absence of nearly four years. In 1866 he started for Ohio, but stopped a few months at Goshen, Ind., where he remained peddling pumps until the following spring, when he went to Ohio, where he farmed a few months, and then returned home. He was married in December, 1872, at York, to Rebecca Siffert. They have three children: Laura Jane, Edward and an infant. They settled at Round Town, about three and one-half miles northwest of York, in 1880. Mr. Miller is a Republican, was con- stable in 1875 and 1876, and was also tax collector for township and school at the same time.

SAMUEL MYERS, son of Samuel and Eliza- beth (Shelley) Myers, was the fourth of eight chil- dren, born on the 25th of December, 1802, at the old Myers' homestead, near where he now lives. He was reared on his father's farm and always followed farming. In 1823 Mr. Myers was married to Mary Ann Blausser, daughter of Matthias and Elizabeth (Bahn) Blausser, of Spring Garden Township. Ten children were born of this marriage: Samuel, Elizabeth (wife of Christian Brubaker), Mary (wife of Tobias Engle), Henry (deceased), Zacharias, Susan (deceased, wife of Jeremiah Shelley), Cassia (deceased), Ellen (wife of Amos Hively), Charles, and Eli (deceased). Mr. Myers is one of the oldest citizens of Manchester Township. He is held in high esteem by his neighbors; was director of the poor for York County in 1830-31-32.

EDMUND B. MYERS was born iu this town- ship, October 3, 1829. His parents, Benjamin and Louisa (Smyser) Myers (the latter, a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Smyser, of West Manchester Township), were married February 28, 1828, and had a family of seven children: Edmund B., Alex- ander A. (deceased), Andrew J., Albert S. (de- ceased), Eli S. (deceased), Ellen E. and Louisa S. (deceased). His mother's ancestors, the Smysers, were among the very first settlers in West Man- chester Township. Margaret Smyser (wife of Christian Eyster), was probably the first white woman that settled in West Manchester Town- ship. She and her husband located in the vicinity of Wolf's Church, where they took up 600 acres of land, October 30, 1736, as shown by the records in the surveyor-general's office, at Harrisburgh, Penn., The treaty of session was made October 11, 1736. Edmund B. Myers has traveled extensively; has made an extended trip through Europe, and two trips to California. He has recently become widely known throughout the entire country in connection with the wonderful cures effected by him, hy what is kuown as electro-vital nervaura, or laying on of hands (without medicine). Many in-

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valids who failed to get relief from thebest physi- cians of New York, Philadelphia and other cities, came to him, and in many instances have gone away in perfect health.

ANDREW J. MYERS was born February 6, 1833, in Mauchester Township, near Emigsville. upon the same place now occupied by him, and which was occupied by his father and grandfather. His parents were Benjamin and Louisa (Smyser) Myers, of York County, and of German descent. They reared four sons and one daughter, and bur- ied two children. Andrew J. is the third son. He grew up on his father's farm, but after he became twenty-three years of age learned the miller's trade, which he followed for six years. He attend- ed the common schools, and had one term at the York Academy. After giving up milling, he re-

Edmund Myers.

eight dwelling houses at Emigsville. His father died in 1880, aged seventy-one years.

JOHN B. PFALTZGRAFF is the second child of George and Eleanora (Braumer) Pfaltzgraff, and was born in Conewago Township, October 14, 1835. He was reared on the home farm, was educated at the public schools, and in 1856 married Susan, daughter of Henry Keeney. of Shrewsbury Town- ship. Nine children have been born to this union, viz .: Elizabeth, Henry (deceased), John, Ellen, Leah, George, Annie, Joseph (deceased) and Susan (deceased). In 1865 Mr. Pfaltzgraff was elected coun- ty auditor, and served one full term, giving entire satisfaction to the people, who, in 1875, called him to the responsible office of county commissioner, which he filled for one term equally to the satisfac- tion of both parties. The parents of Mr. Pfaltzgraff were members of the German Bap- tist Church, while Mr. Pfaltzgraff is a member of the I. O. of R. M. and of the K. of P.

HENRY B. PFALTZGRAFF was born in Manchester Township May 10, 1854. His parents were George B. and Eleanora (Braumer) Pfaltzgraff, of Germany, who came to America soon after being married. They lived in Baltimore one year, and then removed to Conewago Township, where they remained only a few years, and then removed to York Borough, where they lived several years, and then removed to Manchester Township, about three miles west of York, where the father died in 1873. They had a family of six sons and five daughters, Henry

B. was next to the youngest. As he grew old enough he began the pot- tery trade with his father, but in 1869 he commenced to manufacture pottery on his own account. For six years he manufactured red ware, and then removed his works to where they are now located, near the old homestead of his father. He employs four hands in manufactur- ing stone ware, to the amount of from 50.000 to 100,000 gallons annu- ally. He receives the clay for his wares from New Jersey, and makes none but the best of goods. He also runs a small farm of forty acres. In 1878 he was married, at York, to Elizabeth Bentzel, who died Sep- tember 25, 1881, leaving two chil- dren: Lucy and Elizabeth. October 2, 1882, he married, at Mount Wolf, Arabella Kohr, from which union two children issued: Henry and Mr. Pfaltzgraff belongs to the Dunkard Church, is a Democrat in politics, and was a dele- gate to the county convention in 1883.

sumed farming. January 24, 1860. he was married, at Jackson Township, to Mary Ann, daughter of Daniel Smyser. They had six children, of whom one, Lillie, died in her second year. The living are Allen, Jane (wife of Caleb Wogan), Lucy. Kur- vin and Minnie. They are Lutherans. Mr. Myers has repeatedly held positions of trust, such as in- spector, school director, and appraiser of merchan- dise. He is an active Democrat, and one of the organizers of the Drovers & Mechanics National Bank, and is yet a prominent stockholder. He also served five years as director and treasurer of the Paradise Mutual Fire Insurance Company. He is one of the firm of Emig, Ruby & Co., manufact- urers of cigars and dealers in leaf tobacco at Emigs- ville, employing about twenty-five hands. He owns and works a farm of 150 acres, and also owns

Isaac.

REV. WILLIAM S. PORR was born in Potts- ville, Penn., February 19, 1830. His parents were Lewis and Lydia (Zeigler) Porr, who had four sons and four daughters, of whom subject was the eldest son. His father was a tailor, and William S. worked some at the same trade. When quite a small hoy his father moved to Bernville, Berks Co., Penn. In his boyhood he spent much of his time with his grandfather at Reading, where he attended the common schools, and at the age of sixteen went to Stouchesburg Academy, where he remained two years, and thence went to Gettysburgh College, where he spent two years. On account of ill health he left, however, and prosecuted the study of the-

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ology privately, at Pottsville, under Rev. D. Steck, D. D. In 1854 he was admitted to the synod and licensed to preach. His first charge was Ashland, Penn., where he remained three years, then Har- risburgh three years; Palmyra, four years; Centre Hall, Centre County, nine years; Lancaster, six years; Steelton, two years; in 1882 he came to Man- chester, Penn .; has charge of three churches, and preaches in English and German. His father was German, but his mother was born in Pennsylvania. He was married, July 21, 1855, at Shaefferstown, Penn., to Henrietta, daughter of Tobias Fernsler, of German descent. They had six children, three of whom are now living: Theodore N., William H. and John Luther. Rev. Porr is an indefatigable worker in the church, and has organized a number of congregations, built and remodeled and beauti- fied a number of churches, and was instrumental in bringing a number of able men into the Gospel ministry, among whom are Revs. J. Harpster, now in Ohio; M. Fernsler and S. G. Shanon.

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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 189

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