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 198

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 198

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JACOB G. BORTNER is a son of Jacob and Catherine (Garbeck) Bortner, of Codorus Township, where our subject was born November 23, 1826. He was reared on his father's farm, and after learning his trade, at Krouse tannery, Maryland, married March 10, 1852, Matilda Messomer, daughter of Daniel and Christine (Reitz) Messomer, of Manheim Township; this marriage has been blessed with seven children: Castila A .; Syrian P .; Josephine A .; Levi- na H., deceased; Catherine A .; Alvan J., deceased; and Matilda H. He built his tannery in 1851, and has kept it running at its full capacity ever since, employing on an average ten to twelve hands. Mr. Bortner manufactures (in connection with his tan- ning) flavine and extract of black oak bark. He built his present residence in 1852. Mr. Bortner is one of the leading business men of Shrewsbury Township.

JOHN L. BOYER was born in York County, Penn., November 7, 1820. His parents, Samuel S. and Sarah (Le Fevre) Boyer, were natives of Penn- sylvania. Samuel Boyer, the great-grandfather, came from Switzerland. John L. spent the first twenty-one years of his life on the farm, in York County, getting his education at the local schools. At the age of twenty-one, his parents removed to Carroll County, Md., where they lived twenty years_ and then removed to Frederick County, where they died. John L. was married in Carroll County, to Nancy La Mott, daughter of Joshua and Elizabeth (Hershey) La Mott, Maryland and Pennsylvania, and of French and German descent. Joshua La Mott was a general in the war of 1812. To this union were born four children: Sarah Jane. deceased; Elizabeth W .; Joshua H. La Mott; and BelindaW., deceased. In 1870 Mr. Boyer removed to New Freedom, where the family has since resided. Mr. Boyer is a member of the German Reformed Church and his wife a member of the Mennonites. Joshua Henry La Mott Boyer was born in Carroll County, Md., November 22, 1857, was educated at the com- mon schools, and taught singing when but sixteen years of age. He is organist and choir leader and quite a speaker.

WILLIAM H. BRENISE, superintendent of

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

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Young & Co's. flavine and extract works, at Shrews- bury Station, was born in Shrewsbury, December 29, 1856. . His parents were Samuel and Mary (Klinefelter) Brenise, of York County, who had six children, of whom he was the youngest. He was edncated at the public schools, and at the age of sixteen years he began working in the above works, and April 1, 1883, became superintendent. He has under him fifteen men, and under his supervision 2,000 tons of bark are annually converted into flavine and extract. His father, who was a carpenter, died at Shrewsbury, May, 1883, aged sixty-seven years. Mr. Brenise belongs to the K. of P., of Glen Rock.

FRANKLIN W. BROWN, merchant, was born in West Manchester Township, October 10, 1850. His parents, Jeremiah and Christiana (Geise) Brown, were natives of Adams and York Counties, respect- ively, and of German descent. They had four children, of whom Franklin W. is the third son. He was brought up on a farm and attended the public schools. Until 1882 he was clerking in different places. From 1869 to 1870, he worked at cigar-mak- ing at Loganville. In April, 1874, he came to Glen Rock, and clerked for Miller & Glatfelter for seven or eight years. In 1882 he began business for him- self by engaging in the merchandising business. November 5, 1878, he was married at Loganville, to Elenora Goodling, daughter of Daniel Goodling. They have one child-Thomas Morris. Mr. Brown is a member of the German Reformed Church, and his wife a member of the Evangelical Association. He is also trustee of the K. of P., and held the office of district depnty from 1883 to 1884; he was, auditor of Glen Rock from 1876 to 1878.

HENRY G. BUSSEY, M. D., was born at Green Spring Plantation, Harford Co., Md., in 1816, and is the third son of Henry G. and Elizabeth (Harris) Bussey, of French and Scotch descent, respectively. The paternal grandfather was a colonel during the Revolutionary war, and the maternal grandfather a captain. Henry G. Bussey was a captain in the war of 1812. Our subject received his elementary education at the Green Spring Academy, on his father's premises; he then read medicine for two years with Dr. W. J. McElheney, of Bel Air, Md .; then, in 1834, entered the University of Maryland, from which he graduated in 1837; he practiced in Peach Bottom Township, this county, a few months, then in Maryland until 1840, when he settled in Shrewsbury Borough, where he has ever since en- joyed a lucrative practice. In 1837 he married Miss Catharine Boarman, who bore him two children (Mary Elizabeth and Henry G.), and died in Janu- ary, 1884. The Doctor has held a number of offices, among them those of inspector and judge of elec- tions, school director, physician to the county prison, physician to alms house in his native county, pro- thonotary, 1857 to 1863, and in 1874-76 State senator. In 1848 he was nominated for congress, but declined in favor of J. B. Dana.

ALEXANDER DAVID COLLINS was born in Hopewell Township, York County, February 14, 1853, and was the third son and child in a family of four sons and two daughters. His parents, Corne- lius and Elizabeth (Gordon) Collins, were natives of York County, and of Scotch-Irish descent. He grew up on the farm; was educated at home and in Stewartstown Academy. He entered the Shrews- bury Savings Institution, in 1876, as assistant cashier. In 1879 he went to Cheyenne, Wyoming Territory, where he clerked in a bank two years. He returned to Shrewsbury in the spring in 1882, when he was elected cashier of the old bank, which position he has since held. He is a member of the United Presbyterian Church.

REV. FREDERICK EMANUEL CREVER was born in Carlisle, Penn., April 9, 1826. His parents, James and Mary (Cart) Crever, were natives of

Carlisle, and of German descent. His father was one of the founders, and for many years the editor and proprietor of the Carlisle Republican, now the Carlisle Herald. Frederick K. was educated in the public schools of Carlisle, and beginning at the age. of nineteen, served an apprenticeship of three years at the carpenter's trade, and worked three years more as journeyman; was baptized in infancy, and brought up in the Lutheran Church; united with the Methodist Episcopal Church; early felt called to the ministry, but learned his trade to satisfy his father; joined the conference as a candidate in 1853, and was appointed to Sinnamahoning Circnit; at once applied himself to the course of study re- quired by the rules of his church, and, at the end of two years, was ordained deacon, and two years later elder, and was appointed to Newport Cir- cuit, Perry County, Penn., remaining one year; continued in the regnlar work of the ministry until 1876, holding some of the most important charges in Pennsylvania and Maryland the full time; was placed on the supernumerary list in 1878; a year and a half later, on the superanuated list. His last regular charge was Castle Fin. He removed to his farm of ninety-five acres, two miles south of Shrewsbury, where he now resides, and is still a member of the conference, preaching where he may be called, averaging about twice a month, often in York and vicinity. In 1861 he made a war speech in McConnellsburg, in connection with the raising of troops, and during the war acted as vol- unteer chaplain, visiting hospitals and battle fields. He has always been an active temperance worker. He was married, February 26, 1857, to Rachel Ann Hendrix, of Shrewsbury Township, and daughter of Isaac Hendrix, and they had seven children, of whom five are dead: Katie, aged eighteen months; Charles A., aged four years; Susan, aged two years; James F., aged eighteen months, and Benjamin A., aged fourteen years. The two living are Annie Rozilla and James Willis, student. Mrs. Crever is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, al- though brought up in the Lutheran.

REV. EDWARD CRUMBLING, resident pas- tor of the Evangelical Association at Glen Rock, was born in Hellam Township, January 27, 1856, and is the eldest of two sons of Tobias and Sarah (Bupp) Crumbling, of Scotch and Swiss extraction. His early life was spent in the country, and from the age of twelve to seventeen he was engaged, when out of school, as clerk in the mercantile busi- ness. From the age of seventeen to twenty-two he taught in the public schools during the winter months. Having been educated in the public schools he began studying with a view to the minis- try at about the age of twenty, and at once entered the local service. At twenty-two he entered the active work of the ministry, uniting with the Cen- tral Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical Association, as preacher on trial. After traveling Baltimore Circuit, Md., two years he was ordained deacon, and returned to Alberton Station, a part of the same circuit, where he was retained two years more. After an experience of four years he was ordained elder, which is the highest order in his denomination. He was appointed to Glen Rock in 1882, and Yorkana Circuit in 1885. He was mar- ried, March 15, 1881, at East Prospect, to Miss Ar- villa Kise, a native of York County, and has two children: Mary Edith and Annie Elva. His only brother is also in the ministry. His parents reside in Lower Windsor Township, aged fifty-eight and forty-five years, respectively. He is an honorary member of the society of Rechabites.

JOHN L. DAY, born in Shrewsbury Township, August 4, 1817, was the eldest of a family of three sons and two daughters of David and Rebecca (Low) Day, natives of York and of English descent.

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SHREWSBURY TOWNSHIP.

His grandfather, Matthew Day, was born in Chester County, Penn., and came to York County in the latter part of the eighteenth century. John L. grew to manhood on the farm, was educated in the schools of his neighborhood, and has never fol- lowed anything else but farming. At the age of eighteen he began farming on his own account. He was married, in September, 1847, in Shrewsbury Township, to Susan L. Taylor, daughter of John Taylor. He has had six children: John Millard, died, aged two and a half years; Sherman E .. died, aged eight months; Rebecca C., wife of Henry Nonemaker; Otis C., Emma A. and Wilbert S. He went to Ohio before marriage, remained one year, returned to Pennsylvania, and after marriage re- moved to Maryland, where he farmed twelve years; removed to where he now lives in 1864, and owns forty acres of land. He is a trustee of the Method- ist Episcopal Church at New Freedom, of which church himself and wife are members, and he also is a member of the I. O. O. F., at Shrewsbury. He has one brother in Maryland and one in Ohio, and two sisters in York County. His father died Janu- ary 7, 1871, aged eighty years; his mother in 1839, aged fifty years. His wife's father, John Taylor, died November 27, 1861, aged seventy-three years, and her mother, January 24. 1873, aged seventy- eight years. Mrs. Day is a sister of Dr. John A. Taylor, of Shrewsbury Township.

ADAM DIEHL, a farmer, and son of Adam and Catherine (Shafer) Diehl, of York County, and of German descent, was born near Hametown, February 25, 1821, and is the third son and sixth child in a family of eight children-four boys and four girls. He was brought up on a farm, and at- tended the public schools. Early he learned the blacksmith's trade, and to do repairing of farming implements. At the age of twenty-one he began working for his father, and worked for him until twenty seven years of age. His father died in 1848, aged sixty-two years, and his mother died aged eighty-two years. November 26, 1846, he was married at York, to Annie Tyson, of York . County, and of English descent, who died in 1882, leaving eight children, one of whom died. The living are Isabel, Agnes, Harrison, Emma, Adam, Alexander and Ezra. Mr. Diehl is a member of the Lutheran Church, and has donated a good deal of money to all churches. He is a director of the Shrewsbury Bank, and has been for eight or nine years. The farm on which he resides contains about 155 acres, and has been brought to the highest point of culti- vation by his untiring energy.

SAMUEL K. DIEHL, son of Isaac and Rose Ann (Klinefelter) Diehl, of York County, was born in Shrewsbury, December 24, 1848, and was the sec- ond of ten children. He remained on the farm until twenty-one years of age, attending in the meantime the public schools, and in his twentieth year he taught school two terms. At the age of twenty-one years he entered the mercantile house of J. S. Seitz, at Hametown and Seitzland, as clerk, and until 1875 he clerked for different firms at Hametown and Seitzland. In 1875 he went into business at Seitzland with Henry A. Young, baving purchased the interest of Mr. Seitz. In 1878 Mr. Young retired, selling out to an elder brother of our subject, of Nebraska, the business being then conducted by S. K. Diehl & Bro., dealers in general merchandise, phosphates, etc. He was married in Shrewsbury in 1872, to Rosa Hildebrand, of Hope- well Township, Penn., of German descent, and has six children: Charles Schuyler, Isaac Palmer, Ma- bel Ella, Mary Naomi, Minnie Estella and an infant. The family are members of the Evangel- ical Lutheran Church. Mr. Diehl was inspector of elections in 1880. In 1882-83 he engaged in the manufacture of cigars with Seitz & Co., Seitzland.

REV. ALFRED FRANKLIN DREISBACH, A. B., resident pastor of the Reformed Church, at Shrewsbury, was born in Northampton County, Penn., September 8, 1851. His parents were Jacob and Matilda (Gormanton) Dreisbach, of Pennsylva- nia, and of German and French descent. They had a family of eight children-three sons and one daughter (of whom Rev. Alfred is the youngest) now living. Of the parents, the mother died in 1861, at the age of forty-nine years, while his father is still residing at his native place. The primary educa- tion of our subject. was received at the public schools, but at the age of sixteen years he went to Easton Collegiate Institute, where he remained nine or ten terms. He studied the languages under Rev. Dr. E. W. Reinecke, of Nazareth, Penn., for two years, and also taught school for six terms. At the age of twenty-one he entered Franklin & Mar- shall College at Lancaster, Penn., and graduated in 1877 as A. B. He at once entered the theological seminary at Lancaster, from which he graduated in May, 1880, and in August he was called to his pres- ent charge, and was ordained as soon as called. June 29, 1880, he was married at Lancaster, Penn., to Mary E. Hoffmeier, daughter of William M. Hoffmeier, of Lancaster, and of German and Scotch- Irish descent. He reorganized a neglected congre- gation at New Freedom, and built a church and parsonage at Shrewsbury. At present he preaches at Shrewsbury; at St. Peter's, in Springfield Town- ship; at Jerusalem, in Shrewsbury Township; and at Bethlehem in Codorus Township, and at New Free- dom.

DAVID C. EBERHART, D. D. S., was born in Mercer County, Penn., November 19, 1826. His parents, Abraham and Esther (Ammond) Eberhart, were natives of Pennsylvania and of German de- scent. Paulus Eberhart, the progenitor of the Eber- hart family in America, came from Wurtemburg, Germany, in 1744, the original seat of the Eber- harts (who were reigning dukes for over 300 years), and settled in Baltimore County, Md. It appears from tradition his eldest son Paul was born on the ocean. He settled the manor in Westmoreland, Penn., where the grandfather and father of the subject of this sketch were born, and where a num- ber of the old members of the family are buried. Sergeant Lawrence Eberhart, of Frederick County, Md., one of the family, distinguished himself in one of the engagements with the British, in South Car- olina, during the Revolutionary war, by rushing to the rescue of Col. Washington, who was beset by a British officer and some dozen dragoons, and hand- ing the colonel his sword, thus enabling that officer to cut his way out [see Romances of the Revolu- tion, by Bunce]. He died in Frederick in 1840, aged ninety-five years. Abraham, the father, died at Chicago Lawn, Ill., in 1880, aged eighty-four years, where the mother is living at this writing (1884) aged eighty-four years. David C. is the third son of a family of seven sons and three daughters; grew to manhood on a farm in Mercer and Venango Counties; received an academic education, and at the age of twenty-one began the study of dental surgery; also studied medicine awhile at Middlesex, Penn., and at Warren, Ohio, and practiced that profession at New Bedford, Penn., a few months. In 1850 he went to Baltimore, Md., where he prac- ticed dentistry for two years, studying theology in the meantime, and was licensed to preach in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and assigned to Shrewsbury Circuit. His health failing, he aban- doned the itinerant ministry, and resumed the prac- tice of dental surgery, preaching only occasionally. He was appointed chaplain of the Eighty-seventh Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, in February, 1863; was captured at Winchester, Va., June 15, 1863; taken to Castle Thunder, transferred to Libby

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCIIES.

Prison, released and rejoined his regiment Octo- ber 7, 1863, and was mustered out in October, 1864, and resumed the practice of dental surgery at Shrewsbury. He was married, in 1854, at Shrews- bury, to Mary E.daughter of Dr. James Gerry, and had born to him five children, two of whom are now living: James Gerry.a distinguished minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, in Illinois, and Zelia C. His wife died in 1867, aged thirty-two years. He was next married, in 1872,at Shrewsbury, to Wanetta I, daughter of William D. Benton, of Maryland, and they have had two children: Winona S. and David Cleon. Dr. Eberhart is Past Master, and now sec- retary, of the Masonic Lodge at Shrewsbury; is chaplain of Post No. 342, G. A. R .; was justice of the peace from 1874 to May, 1884; school director four terms; chief burgess in 1876. He is an active Sunday-school worker, having been superiutendeut of a Sunday-school for twenty years.

SAMUEL D. EHRHART, son of Henry and Julia A. (Diehl) Ehrhart, of York County, was born March 20, 1858, and is the fifth of seven children. His ancestors came to America before the Revolu- tion. He was brought up in Shrewsbury Township, and educated at the district schools, and was two sessions at Glen Rock, teaching one year in Shrews- bury Township. When seventeen years of age he began huckstering in York, and continued it two years, and then engaged in the butchering busi- ness in Shrewsbury, which he carried on for two years; he also engaged in the horse business (sale and exchange), in which latter business he is still engaged, selling about one car-load per week. In February, 1879. he was married to Tillie Blosser, daughter of George Blosser, of Shrewsbury, and has three children: Erastus, Lester and Hannon. Mr. Ehrhart is a member of the I. O. O. F. Mount Vernon Lodge, No.143, K.of P., and Friendly Circle No. 287 of Glen Rock. The family are members of the Lutheran Church.

GEORGE P. EVERHART, merchant, and a na- tive of Manchester, Md., was born March 11, 1840. His parents, George and Catherine (Shower) Everhart, were natives of Maryland, and of German descent. Their ancestor, Paulus Everhart, came to America in 1744, and settled in Germantown, going to Maryland in 1752, to what was then Baltimore County, Bachman's Valley. His son George, a farmer, remained in that portion which was con- verted into Carroll County. He had four sons: George, Jacob, John and David, and five daughters. George, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in 1800, and is still living at Manchester, Md. He had a family of five sons and six daughters, of whom George P. is the third son. He was educated at the Manchester Academy, and trained for the mer- cantile business by his father. In 1864 he began business at New Oxford, Penn., but soon returned to Manchester, where he clerked in his father's store until 1866, when he removed to Shrewsbury and engaged in the mercantile business until March, 1872, when he removed to Shrewsbury Station, in the same county, where he formed a partnership with Messrs. Kolter & Young, under the firm name of G. P. Everhart & Co. In October, 1878, Kolter & Young retired, and from that time Mr. Everhart has conducted the business alone. He is also en- gaged in the forwarding business, owning a line of cars, handles produce, railroad ties, lumber, coal, phosphates, etc. In 1866 he was married at Ab- bottstown, Penn., to Mary E. Haner, daughter of Rev. D. J. Hauer, and had three children, only one of whom is now living. He was one of the or- ganizers of the Shrewsbury Station, and Shrews- bury Turnpike Company; has been president of the Shrewsbury Savings Institution since 1876; is ex- press agent, railroad agent and postmaster at Rail Road; he was also postmaster at Manchester from

1861 to 1864. In 1873 he was elected auditor of Rail Road Borough; in 1874, chief burgess; in 1876, one of the borough council, and again in 1883. Mr. E. is a member of the Reformed Church of Shrews- bury. He is a Master Mason, and Past Master of Shrewsbury Lodge No. 423, of which he was one of the charter members.

ISAAC K. FOLCKEMMER, stone-cutter, was born in Shrewsbury, February 9, 1847. His father, Jacob, died in 1871, and his mother, Susan (Boyer), in 1864. Both were of German descent. They had a family of nine children, four sons and five daugh- ters. Isaac K. was educated at the public schools, and from fourteen to seventeen years of age carried the United States mail between Shrewsbury and Rail Road. When seventeen years of age he be- gan to learn the trade of stone-cutter at London, Ohio, where he remained three years, and then re- turned to Pennsylvania. He then worked one year at Philadelphia, and about three months at York. In 1869 he went to Harrisburgh, where he worked five years at his trade. He then came back to Shrews- bury, and in 1875 bought out his employer, and has since then managed the business for himself. In 1872 he was married, at Shrewsbury, to Mary S. Klinefelter, daughter of Joseph Klinefelter, and has two children: Joseph and Clarence. Mr. Folckem- mer is a member of the lodge of I. O. O. F. and Encampment ; was in the council, and is a school director.

JOSEPH S. FREELAND, farmer, was born in Baltimore County, Md., August 15. 1851. His par- ents were Caleb and Sarah A. (Hendrix) Freeland, of Maryland and Pennsylvania, respectively, and of Scotch and German descent. They had two children, a son and a daughter. Like his ancestors, Joseph S. was brought up a farmer. He was educated at Me- chanicsburgh, Penn., and taught school for a while. In 1867 he and his parents left Baltimore County for York County, and since that time he has lived upon a farm, which, for generations back, belonged to his ancestors. In 1872 he was married, in Balti- more County, to Edith Mackay, daughter of R. G. Mackay, of Pennsylvania, and of Irish-Scotch de- scent. They have four children: Helen, Clarence, Maud and Agnes. The family belong to the Method- ist Protestant Church, although Mrs. Freeland was brought up in the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Free- land was school director two terms, was a director for three years of the Shrewsbury Savings Institu- tion, and is treasurer and one of the organizers of the New Freedom Cemetery Association.

PROF, WILLIAM J. FULTON was born near Delta, York County, November 5, 1860. His par- ents, John J. and Sarah Ann (Heaps) Fulton, were natives of Pennsylvania and Maryland, and of Scotch-Irish descent, respectively. He was brought up on a farm, but spent most of his time at school. From the public schools he went to York Collegiate Institute, from which he graduated in 188 ). He then entered Lafayette College, at Easton, Penn., and graduated in 1882, receiving the degree of A. B. He then commenced the study of law under ex- Judge Robert J. Fisher, of York. He was appoint- ed principal of Shrewsbury English and Classical Academy March 5, 1883. He was married, June 28, 1883, at Easton, Penn., to Margaret Neigh, daugh- ter of George P. Neigh, Esq., of Easton. He was admitted to the York, Penn .. bar August 25, 1884, and while retaining the principalship of the acad- emy, is, at the same time, actively engaged in the practice of law.

MARTIN GABLE was born June 9, 1824, in Darmstadt, Germany. and came to America in 1844. Landing at New York, he soon removed to Balti- more, where he learned shoe-making, at which he worked twelve years. He was educated in Ger- many, and followed farming. Two brothers fol_

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lowed him to America. His parents, Jost and Eliz- abeth (Brodrecht) Gable, died before he left Ger- many. He was married, in Baltimore, in 1849, to Miss Catharine Kettering, a native of that city. She died in 1870, leaving one daughter, Fannie, now the wife of Joseph A. Klinefelter. Another child, Catharine, died in infancy. He removed to York County, and has lived about Shrewsbury ever since 1856; came to Rail Road in 1877. He followed shoe- making five years in York County, and huckstering about ten years; was collector for several years, and since 1877 has kept the toll gate at Rail Road. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, as was also his wife. He earned his property by his own in- dustry.

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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 198

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