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 195

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 195

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ISRAEL K. ZIEGLER was born in North Co- dorus Township, October 11, 1840, and is the son of John E. aud Barbara (Coller) Ziegler. the former born in North Codorus, April 14, 1806, and the lat- ter in Shrewsbury Township, January 20, 1804. They died, respectively, November 19, 1874, and March 25, 1883. They were the parents of five children. Subject's grandfather, John Ziegler, was born December 18, 1767, was married November 23, 1790, to Catherine Epley, and died July 9, 1845. He donated the land on which Ziegler's Church now stands, and, with his son John E., helped to build the edifice. Our subject was married, April 27, 1865, to Ann Maria Stick, daughter of Henry Stick. To this union have been born the following children: William H., February 16, 1866, died August 3, 1867; John C., born July 13, 1868: Janny M., December 16, 1869, and Edwin, May 17, 1878. Immediately after his marriage, Mr. Ziegler settled down to farming on the old homestead, which comprises 300 acres. which he now owns, and which is renowned for its dairy and grain products. Mr. Ziegler is also owner of 300 acres more at different places, and other val- uable real estate in York, Seven Valleys and in Gettysburg. Both the Ziegler and Stick families are among the oldest and most respected of York County, and have always been firm adherents of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Mr. Ziegler is now a resident of York Borough, to which point he re- moved in 1882,to obtain better educational facilities for his children.

JOHN K. ZIEGLER, farmer, son of John E. and Barbara Ziegler, was born in North Codo- rus Township, on the farm where he now lives. Mr. Ziegler married Elizabeth, daughter of Jesse and Elizabeth Shaffer, of Codorus Township. This

marriage was blessed with five children: Emma J., John C., William (deceased), Paul and Allen. Mr. Ziegler has been for many years a director in the York National Bank. He is widely and favorably known in York County, and has always been a prominent and influential man in his section of the county.

PARADISE TOWNSHIP.

P. S. ALWINE, son of Samuel and Mary Shaeffer, was born November 4, 1831, in North Co- dorus Township, and removed in 1840 to Paradise Township. When seventeen years of age he began to make brick, and frequently made the trip to Peach Bottom Township where he was engaged to make brick. When he attained his majority he began the brick business for himself and has followed this occupation ever since. September 20, 1860, Mr. Alwine married Catharine Dahlhammer, daughter of William aud Sarah (Sour) Dahlhammer. Eleven children were born to them: Emma J., Sarah E., Ida, Harvey, Samuel, William, Lewis H., Cora A., Edward R., Percy and Emery S. Mr. Alwine is widely known in York and Adams Counties. He taught school twelve terms in Jackson and Paradise Townships, and is one of the hest informed men in Paradise Township. His father was a native of Lebanon County.

A. Z. LEIB, son of Abraham and Matilda (Zeigler) Leib, was born February 3, 1853, in Jackson Township; was reared to farming; began to learn his trade (saddle and harness-maker), at Davidsburg. In 1876 he began business for himself at Baugh- mansville, Paradise Township. December 30, 1879, Mr. Leib married Sallie Baughman, daughter of J. B. and Lydia (Schwartz) Baughman, of Paradise Township. Three children have blessed this marriage: J. B., Lydia R. and Matilda G. Mr. Leib's ances- tors were early settlers in Paradise Township. Abra- ham Leib died when our subject was only six years of age. Matilda (Zeigler) Leib, the mother of our subject, is still living. Mr. Leib is held in high esteem by his friends and neighbors in Paradise Township. There were eight children in Abraham Leib's family, viz .: Emanuel, deceased; Elizabeth, deceased; Agnes; Jesse, deceased; John, now in Illinois; Jonas, in Adams County; A. Z. and Alice. Mr. Leib is a member of the Paradise (Lutheran) Church.

E. C. MASEMER, son of Jesse and Catharine (Joseph) Masemer, was born January 18, 1854, in Hellam Township, and for the past twenty-two years has been a resident of Paradise Township (his father having purchased the mill property, where our subject now resides, in 1876). Our subject began to learn his trade with Peter Kimkel, 1873, in Warrington Township, York County, and began business for himself in the spring of 1884. Febru- ary 10, 1883, he married Ida Ramer, daughter of Henry and Annie (Myers) Ramer, of Paradise Town- ship. One child was born to them-Ira.

JOHN S. TRIMMER, son of Barnet and Cath- arine (Schriver) Trimmer, was born January 13, 1812, in Paradise Township, where he now resides. He was reared to farming, and when eighteen years of age. learned the carpenter trade, and followed it about seven years. He then began the mercantile business, which he followed for twenty-two years, then retired from active business. He began busi- ness at Big Mount forty-eight years ago (1837).

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

PEACH BOTTOM TOWNSHIP.

WILLIAM E. AILES, son of William and Elizabeth (Black) Ailes, was born in Lancaster County, Penn., December 8, 1840, and was married, December 11, 1867, to Martha Jane Carrick, daugh- ter of Alexander Carrick, of Philadelphia, and has had horn to him nine children: Alexander C., Will- iam B., Robert E., George M., Elizabeth H., Joseph H., Charles M., Franklin A. and Edwin H. In the fall of 1869 Mr. Ailes came to York County and purchased the "Gordon property," a farm of 172 acres, and since that time he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits. He served with the Twelfth Pennsylvania Regiment, "Emergency " men, and participated in the battle of Antietam, and was drafted afterward in the One Hundred and Sixty- sixth Pennsylvania, and served one year, mostly at Suffolk, Va. He is a member of Corporal Baer Post 277, G. A. R., and also a Master Mason.

EPHRAIM ARNOLD was born in Lancaster County, Penn., November 3, 1834. His parents, William and Julia A. (Barnett) Arnold, were natives of that county, and of Irish extraction. They reared a family of eight sons and two daughters, and lost four by death in infancy. William Arnold was for many years a slate operator, but late in life his attention was given to mercantile pursuits. Our subject is the fifth of the children reared to matu- rity, and his early life was passed on a farm. After receiving a liberal education at Chestnut Level Academy and Millersville State Normal School he taught several terms in the public schools. When grown to manhood he passed several years as a canal boatman in summer, and continued to teach in winter. From 1862 to 1866 he was engaged as clerk with"McConkey Brothers at Peach Bottom; later with Rufus Wiley, same place; then with Lewis C. Wiley, Slate Hill, and again with Rufus Wiley. In the spring of 1873 he formed a partner- ship with Hugh N. McConkey, and bought out L. C. Wiley, general merchant at Slate Hill. About one year afterward he bought out his partner's interest and admitted James A. Towson, of Harris- burg. In 1878 Mr. Towson sold out to his son, who continued in the firm until 1882, having in; the meantime removed their store to Delta. Mr. Ar- nold married Eliza A. Patton, in Philadelphia, No- vember 28, 1867. Mrs. Arnold is a native of York County. and is a sister of John F. Patton, druggist, of York. The family are of Irish origin. Mr. and Mrs. Arnold have five children: Jolin P., William E., Mary L., T., Frederick and Edith R. Mr. Arnold was a member of the first council of Delta, was active in securing its incorporation, and has held and acceptably filled a number of other offices under the corporation. He was a charter member of Esdraelon Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and has been its secretary since its organization. He is also sec- retary of Mount Hebron Lodge, I. O. O. F., and is vice-president of the Delta Building and Loan Asso- ciation.

SAMUEL JOHN BARNETT was born in Peach Bottom Township, York County, Penn., January 5, 1846, the son of John and Catharine A. Barnett, who came from Lancaster County in 1838. His mother was a woman of great vigor and business activity. She was of German descent, with an admixture of Irish blood. His paternal grandfather was John K. Barnett, who lived near Fairfield, Lancaster County; his great-grandfather was Mark Barnett, who moved from Upper Hartford County, Md., to Ohio when that State was the "far West," and who is said to have lived to the age of one hundred and ten years. The nationality of the

Barnett ancestry is involved in some obscurity, though the original members in this country prob- ably emigrated at an early period from the north of Ireland. The name appears to be derived from the Roman title "baronettus," Norman French "baronette," English " baronet," from which comes the English-Irish name Barnet, Barnett or Barnette. Samuel J. Barnett was the fourth son of his parents, his elder brothers being Martin Sylvester, now a book publisher in St. Louis, Mo .; Sergt. David Alva, who lost his life in defense of his country in the war of the Rebellion while color- sergeant of his regiment, and William James, now a prominent farmer in Peach Bottom Township. Besides these there were two younger sisters, both now dead. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm and trained to agriculture. When he was six years old he lost his father, and his educa- tion was entrusted to his mother, who struggled hard to give all her children as good an education as the public and private schools of the community would afford. Samuel J. was fond of reading and an apt student. He early developed a talent for mathematics, and soon distanced most of his teach- ers in that line. Later, however, his tastes led him more into philosophical and metaphysical subjects. Early in the year 1866 he spent a few weeks at the Millersville State Normal School, where he almost immediately gained recognition as an original thinker and strong debater. His attendance at this school was broken by terms of teaching to raise funds. In 1869 he graduated in the elementary course. After further teaching and study he finished the scientific course in 1874, his only fellow- graduate being Frank Ibach, since a teacher in Pierce's Business College, Philadelphia. With the exception of a few intervals he followed the vocation of teacher from 1864 to 1884, most of the time in the public and private schools of his native township. In 1869, after finishing the elementary course at Millersville, he became princi- pal of the public schools at Shamokin, Penn., and organized the high school of that town. In 1874-75 he filled a similar position in Lehighton, Penn. As a teacher he was enthusiastic and thorough, and as a disciplinarian very successful. During the years of his teaching he usually gave a few months each year to farming. In 1865 he went to Cincinnati, where he was engaged for a time clerking for the National Publishing Company. In 1872 also he served as clerk to the Presbyterian Board of Edu- cation, Philadelphia. In 1880 he purchased the Delta Herald, after the paper had had a precarious existence of eighteen months. Under his care it has become not only a success as a business venture, but a power for good which is widely felt, the paper taking high rank with the older papers of York County. In 1884 he quit teaching and devoted himself to the editorial and business management of his paper. September 14, 1869, he was married to Miss Martha McCurdy, daughter of W. J. McCurdy, of Peach Bottom Township, and sister of J. C. Mc- Curdy, publisher, Philadelphia. She was a most lovely woman in heart, life and person, and proved a valuable helpmeet; but after three years of happy wedded life death removed her to a brighter world. After trying the world alone for eleven years, September 27, 1883, he married Miss Fannie K. Vogt, daughter of Herman Vogt, of York. Miss Vogt had for several years been a successful teacher in the public schools of York, and is a lady whose culture, vivacity and personal attractions win her friends wherever she goes. Her attainments render her an efficient help to her husband in his literary labors. Following this marriage a son was born November 6, 1884. In life, character and business, Samuel J. Barnett is upright and very conscientious. He has been a warm advocate of temperance, and

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an active worker in church and Sunday-school. In youth he united with the Slateville Preshyterian Church, with which he is still connected, and has for several years filled the position of Sunday- school superintendent. In politics he has been a Re- publican. Three times he ran as candidate for county superintendent in York County; but though ac- knowledged to stand head and shoulders above any other candidate, the strong political sentiment which was brought to bear against him caused his defeat. Mr. Barnett now lives in Delta, where he has built for himself a commodious dwelling and printing office.

WILLIAM BARTON was born in Peach Bot- tom Township, York County, May 23, 1832, on the farm of 180 acres now owned and occupied by him. His parents, William and Elizabeth (Heaps) Barton, were both natives of Harford County, Md. The subject of this sketch has passed his entire life on a farm, and by his industry and skill has acquired a competence. He has held the offices of assessor, inspector and school director. He married Miss Sarah M. Fulks, daughter of Benjamin Fulks, May 23, 1860, and has two sons: John A. and Harry A. Mrs. Barton is a member of the Slateville Presby- terian Church.

WALTER BEATTIE was born February 13, 1810, in Dumfriesshire, Scotland. His parents, Simon and Nancy Beattie. came to America in 1817, and settled in Peach Bottom Township. The family consisted of the parents and fourteen chil- dren-six sons and eight daughters-one daughter having died on the passage over. Walter, like his brothers and sisters, was brought up on the farm, and from his earliest boyhood was accustomed to hard and incessant labor, receiving his education during winters in the indifferent county schools of that day. He purchased in 1838 a tract of land known as the "Warm Spring Farm," and at present owns four farms in addition to a fine mill property known as Wiley's Mill. The family are members of the Presbyterian Church, and Walter has been active in work's of charity in the community where he resides. His too confiding disposition has oc- casioned him frequent pecuniary losses, nothwith- standing which he has, by his industry, become one of the solid men of the county. In politics Mr. Beattie has never aspired to office, though his fel- low-citizens have conferred on him various local positions, among others those of supervisor, assess- or and collector.

EMANUEL J. BLAIN was born in Fawn Township, York County, July 16, 1840. His par- ents, Moses and Sarah (Bulett) Blain, were natives of the same place, and of Scotch-Irish extraction. He is the second of fourteen children, being the, eldest son. His early life was passed on a farm and as a clerk in his father's store. Having received a good education at Bryansville High School and York County Academy, he devoted about four years to teaching a public school. He married, November 21, 1861, Mary S. Webb, daughter of William Webb, a prominent citizen of Fawn Town- ship. About 1863 Mr. Blain embarked in the mer- cantile business at Bryansville, and continued in the same at that place and at Delta until the open- ing of the York & Peach Bottom Railroad in 1876, when he entered the employ of that company as baggage master, which position he acceptably filled until February, 1884. He then resigned and re- sumed his old business as a member of the firm of Lloyd & Blain at Delta. While a merchant in 1875, Mr. Blain invested a large part of his capital in slate-mining, which proved a failure, and forced him to make an assignment for the benefit of his creditors. On settlement of his affairs, however, every claim was fully paid, which is a conclusive proof of his business integrity. He has held the

office of councilman of the borough of Delta. and is a Past Master of Esdraelon Lodge A. F. & A. M. He and wife are members of the Slate Ridge Pres- byterian Church.

CAPT. ASAPH M. CLARKE was born in Jef- ferson County, Penn., February 11, 1844. His par- ents, Dr. Asaph M. and Rebecca M. (Nichols) Clarke, were of English extraction. The subject of this sketch is the eldest of six children-four daughters and two sons. At the beginning of the war he enlisted in Company K, Eighth Pennsylva- nia Infantry (three months' men), and served chiefly in Virginia, taking part in the battle of Falling Water and others. He was honorably dis- charged July 9, 1861, and in November following entered Company F, Sixty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry as orderly-sergeant, and was promoted to second lieutenant July 27, 1863. De- cember 13, 1864, he was made first lieutenant of Company K, and commissioned as captain of the same company May 1, 1865. During his latter term of service he took part in the battles of Berryville, Opequan, Winchester, Mine Run, both engage- ments at Weldon Railroad, both at Hatch's Run, Brandy Station, Petersburg. Cedar Creek, Middle- town, Wilderness, Cold Harbor, White House, Fisher's Hill and a number of others of minor im- portance. At Winchester, June 15, 1863, he re- ceived a wound in his left ankle, breaking the bone, which caused his capture and subsequent confine- ment in Libby and Belle Isle until August, 1863. The promotions he received were for meritorious conduct and distinguished services, and since the close of the war he receives a pension on account of his wound. After his discharge he spent some time in the study of medicine, and afterward reg- istered as a law student, but did not complete a course in either. He was married, June 13, 1869, to Clara F. Butler, of Brookville, and has one son, Milton B., living, having lost a daughter, Nora, in infancy. Capt. Clarke is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Grand Army, Odd Fellows, I. O. K. M., K. of P. and other societies; is at this writing a justice of the peace, and was a candidate for the legislature in 1884. He is engaged in the jewelry business at Delta. The father of our subject, Dr. A. M. Clarke, was born in Hartford, Conn., March 22, 1808, was taken by his parents in infancy to St. Lawrence County, N. Y., and in 1819 brought to what is now Elk County, this State. He was mar- ried, March 6, 1831, and celebrated his golden wed- ding in 1881, and died suddenly in the spring of 1884.

JESSE T. CRAWFORD, second son of Joseph and Frances (Taylor) Crawford, was born in the ex- treme southeastern part of York County, March 25, 1831. His father was of Scotch-Irish origin, and his mother of the English Taylor family, well known in the southern part of Harford County, Md. Soon after their marriage they located on a small farm in Peach Bottom Township, where they reared a family of four sons and four daughters-two sons and two daughters are still living. The subject of this sketch received a fair education at Chestnut Level Academy, and adopted the profession of teaching, a pursuit which he followed almost con- tinuously for thirty years, in Pennsylvania, Mary- land and Kentucky. He taught one year in York, three years in Hanover, Penn., and for eight years had charge of the high school at Delta, where a large number of young persons of both sexes were prepared for teaching. He served five years as jus- tice of the peace in Peach Bottom Township, and after the incorporation of Delta, was elected to the same office in the borough, which office he still holds. He took an active part in this incorporation, made the survey, and has been town clerk ever since. He, in addition to his official duties, does an extensive business as a surveyor and conveyancer.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

He was one of the charter members of Esdraelon Lodge No. 176, A. F. & A. M., as well as of the Delta Building and Loan Association, of which he is the secretary. He was, in 1884, a candidate for county commissioner, but failed to secure the nom- ination. He married, September 5, 1860, Sarah A. Healey, of Harford County, Md., a descendant of the Ellicott family, of Ellicott's Mills, Md., and has had five children, four of whom, Elizabeth F., Ag- nes I., James C. and Joseph R., are living, and one Minnie J., dead. The eldest daughter is a teacher. His mother died in 1861, and his father in 1872.

RUDOLPHUS D. DODSON, born in Peach Bot- tom Township, February 27, 1856, is the youngest of four sons of Henry and Elizabeth (McCurdy) Dod- son, the former a native of Ireland, and the latter of York County, and also of Irish parentage. The subject of this notice was reared on a farm, attend- ing school in the winter until, at the age of six- teen, he entered a drug store in York, where he remained a year and a half. Some time after this he began the study of dentistry with Dr. W. C. Mc- Curdy, in Baltimore County, Md., with whom he remained two years. Returning to York County he practiced about two years, and then entered the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, where he re- mained one term. In the fall of 1882 he entered the University of Maryland, from the dental depart- ment of which he graduated in March, 1883. Since that time he has pursued his profession with success at Delta. He married Miss Rose A. Poist, of Peach Bottom Township, April 17, 1876, and has two chil- dren: Henry M. and Elizabeth O. He is the owner of a fine house in Delta, lately erected, and though a young man, has a lucrative practice.

CONSTANTINE F. DOUGHERTY, a native of Donegal, Ireland, was born October 10, 1839. He, with his parents, Henry and Mary Dougherty, came to America and settled at Delta in 1852. Constan- tine is the eldest of eight children-four sons and four daughters. He received a fair education in the public schools, and was for some time employed in a slate quarry. At the age of eighteen he began the trade of blacksmith, and has successfully car- ried it on ever since. During the war he spent about two years in the government employ in Wash- ington, D. C., and Baltimore. He married Miss Kate Barr, daughter of Hugh and Fannie Barr, of Don- egal, Ireland, at Philadelphia, June 6, 1866, and has ten children: James H., Mary E., Fannie, Michael H., Charles, Francis, Joseph, Kate, Susan T. and Sarah A. (living), and John F. (who died at the age of five years). In politics Mr. Dougherty is a Dem- ocrat. In 1884 he was elected chief burgess of Delta, though two-thirds of the voters of the place are Republicans. This fact is an evidence of the esteem in which he is held by his neighbors. His father died in 1879, at the age of seventy-three; his mother is still living. The family are members of St. Mary's Catholic Church, of Harford County, Md.

EDWARD W. EVANS was born in the slate district of north Wales, December 7, 1838, and came to America in 1860. He located in Peach Bottom Township, where he began work for John Humphrey in his slate quarry. In the spring of 1861 he went to California, where he, for several years, engaged in gold mining with varied success. He afterward traveled extensively through New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado, meeting with nu- merous adventures in those almost unexplored re- gions. In 1865 he came East, and was employed about two years in Utica and in Washington County, N. Y. On his return to Pennsylvania in 1868, he engaged in mercantile business at West Bangor, as a member of the firm of William E. Williams & Co., where he remained four years. He then resumed work as a quarryman, and has been so engaged

ever since. In December, 1881, he leased about ten acres of slate land, and reopened a quarry. After working a year and a half to remove the accumu- lated rubbish, he has succeeded in developing a pay- ing quarry. He married Miss Mary F. Roberts, at West Bangor, in 1869. She is of Welsh parents, and was born on the ocean, while her parents were on their way to America. They have one child- Hugh. Mr. Evans is one of the trustees of Esdrae- lon Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and is a Republican.

ROBERT T. FRY, son of Elias and Martha (Groff) Fry, was born at York Furnace, January 20, 1855. His parents are natives of Lancaster County, but came to York Furnace in 1854, where they still reside. Robert was married, May 18, 1880, to Ella E., daughter of R. K. Boyd, of Lower Chanceford, and has one child-Elias K. He has held the offices of clerk of Lower Chanceford and assessor of Peach Bottom Township. His present occupation is that of general merchant at Coal Cabin, on the Tide Water Canal.

DAVID FULTON was born in Peach Bottom Township, May 12, 1816. His parents, John and Elizabeth (Creswell) Fulton, were like most of the early settlers of this township, of Scotch-Irish descent. John Fulton was, for many years, a prom- inent school teacher, as well as farmer. He acquired a large tract of land by his industry and economy, and was the father of five sons and two daughters. David, the eldest of the family, was educated as a farmer, and was married June 29, 1839, to Sarah Jane, daughter of Allen and Margaret (Regan) Mil- ler. They have had six children: John H., Robert A., Martha A., Margaret A., Elizabeth J. and Agnes M,, all of whom reside in Peach Bottom Township. except Margaret, wife of Thomas Gregg, of Lan- caster County. Mr. Fulton has filled with credit the offices of supervisor and school director in his native township, and by his own industry has acquired a competency, while enjoying the respect. and confidence of his neighbors. The family are connected with the Slate Ridge Presbyterian , Church.

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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 195

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