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 202

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 202

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REV. JOSEPH BITTINGER WOLFF, resi- dent pastor of Zion's Evangelical Lutheran Church at Glen Rock, and St. Paul's at Hametown, was born January 9, 1848. His parents, John George and Eleanor (Bittinger) Wolff, were natives of Adams County, Penn., and of German descent. They reared a family of seven sons and one daugh- ter. Rev. Joseph, who was the second of the fam- ily, was brought up on the farm, and educated at the public and private schools of his native county. In the spring of 1869 he entered Pennsylvania Col- lege at Gettysburg, and graduated in June, 1874, as A. B. In the fall of 1874 he entered the Theolog- ical Seminary at Gettysburg, and graduated from there in June, 1877. A few days after graduating he recived a call from Glen Rock, to take charge of Zion's Evangelical Lutheran Church, which he accepted. and has held since. In 1877 he was mar- ried, at Gettysburg, to Miss Priscilla E .. daughter of Daniel Cashman, of Adams County. They have one daughter, Anna Eleanor, and one son, Joseph Harold.

GEORGE P. YOST, M. D., was born in Carroll County, Md., May 8, 1848. His father, Philip, was a native of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, and when a small youth came with his parents to America. arriving at Baltimore in 1825, having been over five months in passage. His parents settled near the Mason and Dixon line in Carroll County, Md.,

where he was reared. He subsequently purchased a farm near his parents, and has followed farming up to the present time. The paternal grandmother of Dr. Yost was a French lady. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Lydia Utz, was a native of Carroll County, Md., of Welsh descent. Our subject was reared ou a farm, and at the age of sixteen began teaching, subsequently attending Irving Institute at Manchester, Md., two years. After teaching another year he entered the office of Dr. William A. Albaugh, of Sticks, located in North Codorus Township, and commenced the study of medicine. He graduated from the Washington University, Baltimore, Md., iu February, 1871, and began the practice with his old preceptor, with whom he was associated eighteen months. In 1872 he removed to Loganville, where he continued his practice for nearly thirteen years. In 1885 Dr. Yost located in Glen Rock, where he is now well established. In 1881 Dr. Yost was elected lecturer on Dermatology in the Baltimore Medical College, and for the past four years he has delivered weekly lectures at that institution. Dr. Yostis ardent in the practice of his profession, and an active worker in educational affairs. The Doctor is entirely a self- made man, never having had pecuniary assistance from any one, and having worked his way through schools and college by his own individual efforts.

SEBASTIAN ZELLER, farmer, was born in Bavaria, November 12, 1822, and came to America in 1847. Landing at Baltimore he stopped there about six months, and then came to York County, where, at Emigsville, he was engaged in burning lime for five years. From there he removed to Shrewsbury (1857), where he purchased a farm of seventy-five acres, on which he has resided since. He was educated in Germany, and was the elder of two sons of John and Barbara (Zuizor) Zeller. In 1848 he was married, at York, to Catharine Koch, a native of Bavaria. They had seven children, of whom two are dead: Sarah E. and John T. The living are Mary Ann, John A., Barbara, Franklin and Sophia. The family are Catholics. Mr. Zel- ler is a Democrat, and was one of the organizers of the New Freedom Building Association.

JOHN D. ZIEGLER, born in Shrewsbury Township. January 31, 1820, is a son of Michael and Magdalena (Dosch) Ziegler, being the third son and fifth child of a family of four sons and five daughters; was brought up on a farm, and educated in the subscription schools; began learning milling in Maryland at the age of twenty-one, and con- tinued it for five years; was married January 31, 1847, in Manheim Township, to Mary A. Nace, daughter of John Nace. They had nine children- two, George Luther and Julia A. are dead; Belinda, at home; Oliver C., miller and farmer in York County; Cecelia, wife of Chester B. Wentz, a mer- chant in Carroll County, Md .; Agnes, at home; Virginia, at home: John S., M. D., practicing at Melrose, Md., and Upton A., at home. Mr. Ziegler and wife are members of the Lutheran Church. His father died in 1857, aged sixty-eight, and his mother in 1847, aged fifty-nine years. He served six years as school director in Shrewsbury Township; is a director in the Codorus & Manheim Fire In- surance Company, and was one of the charter members of the Shrewsbury Savings Institution. He purchased his present farm of 126 acres about 1855, to which he has added forty-nine acres.

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SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP.

JOHN F. BECK (Commissioner of York County) was born August 16, 1829, in York, Penn. He attended the York schools one winter, and at the age of nine years, went to Loganville, where he received two winters' schooling. He worked three years at the carpenter trade. January 15, 1852, Mr. Beck married Matilda Leader, of York Town- ship. This marriage was blessed with the follow- ing children: Mary Catharine, Charles F., Milton G., Franklin J., Paul J., Emma A., Harry C., Martha J. and Harvey G. Mr. Beck has at various times held township offices-school director, auditor, etc. In 1884 he was elected one of the commis- sioners of York County, and it is not too much to say that the office was never held by a more worthy and upright citizen than John F. Beck. He comes from good German ancestry, who were among the early settlers of York County.

JOHN F. BOPP, farmer, son of John Bopp, Jr. and Barbara (Folkenstein) Bopp, was born August 3, 1827. Our subject was the eldest of eight children: John F., Leah, Sarah, Catharine, Henry (deceased), Israel (deceased), Peter and Jesse. August, 1850. Mr. Bopp married Maria Allison, of Springfield Township. There were born to them by this marriage: Uriah, Jacob (deceased), George (deceased), Emanuel, Amos, Malinda (deceased), Emma, Jesse, William, Elizabeth and Barbara. May 2, 1865, Mr. Bopp married Priscilla Allison, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Reichard) Allison, of Springfield Township; to this union were born John (deceased), Peter (deceased), Ella M. (de- ceased), Levina, Taby and Eli. MR. Bopp is a mem- ber of the Reformed Church, has been school director three terms, and is one of the most success- ful farmers of Springfield Township. For the past fifteen years he has been a director of the First National Bank of Glen Rock, and is also a director in the Codorus & Manheim Fire Insurance Com- pany, of York County, having been elected for a term of three years.

HENRY BOTT, son of Peter and Elizabeth (Zeigler) Bott, was born in West Manchester Town- ship, in September, 1818. He was reared on his father's farm. Mr. Bott married Sarah A. Zeigler, daughter of John E. and Barbara (Kohler) Zeigler (see Israel Zeigler's sketch for history of the Zeigler family). Five children blessed their mar- riage: W. W., Martin L., Henry C., John (deceased) and Rose E. (deceased). Mr. Bott's ancestors came very early to York; his great-grandfather came to York from Germany, long before the Revolutionary war. The subject of this sketch came to Springfield Township in 1855, and engaged in the mercantile business at Smyser's Station; has also been the agent for the Northern Central Rail- road, at this point, for twenty years, having turned over the agency to his son, W. W. Bott, about ten years ago. Mr. Bott is a prominent member of the Lutheran Church. of Seven_Valleys.

DAVID Y. BRILLHART, one of the successful farmers of Springfield Township, was born in that township, March 3, 1855. His ancestors were among the earliest settlers of York County. His parents were Jacob and Rebecca (Yost) Brillhart, residents of Springfield Township. Mr. Brillhart has been a resident of Springfield Township all his life, and engaged in agricultural pursuits, in which occupation he has been exceedingly prosperous. His farm, which contains over 200 acres of superior land, is well improved. He is also the owner of a valuable ore mine, which bears his name. Mr. Bril- hart was united in marriage, January 26, 1879, with

Miss Mary Alice Herbst, a daughter of Jacob and Julia (Diehl) Herbst, of Hopewell Township. Four children have been born to them-Jacob, Rebecca (deceased), David and Charles.

REV. CHARLES M. EYSTER. pastor in charge of the Lutheran Church, Seven Valleys, is the son of John and Susan (Eisenhart) Eyster, and was born December 21, 1857, in Jackson Township. Rev. Eyster attended the normal school at East Berlin, Penn., also Eastman's Business College at Pough- keepsie, N. Y., and took a full course at the Pennsyl- vania College and Theological Seminary, at Gettys- burg, Penn. Although quite a young man in the ministry, his first charge was a very important one. The Eyster family were among the very earliest set- tlers of York County. It is claimed by this family, that their ancestors were the first white people that settled in West Manchester Township, in the vicin- ity of Wolf's Church, about five miles from York.

MARTIN FEIGLEY (deceased), was born in Springfield Township, December 4, 1831. His grand- father, Peter Feigley, was also a native of this town- ship, and his great-grandfather settled in this town- ship when a young man, thus making the Feigley family one of the pioneer families of York County. Mr. Feigley married Ellen Reichard, daughter of George and Liddie Reichard, of York Township. This marriage was blessed with nine children: Lucy R., Levi R., Katie R., Ellen R., Lizzie R., Martin R. John R., Sarah R. and Peter R. The large ore bank. known as Feigley Ore Bank (see mining interests of York County), was purchased by Mr. Feigley, in 1867; over 30,000 tons of hematite ore have already been taken from this mine. Mr. F. has been a successful farmer, in connection with his mining business; was school directer for a number of years. The Feig- leys are members of the Brethren or German Bap- tist denomination.

WILLIAM FOUST, son of John S. and Rebecca (Erhman) Foust, was born April 25, 1836, in Shrews- bury Township. He was reared on his father's farm, and followed farming and distilling until 1860, when he began distilling for himself at Foust's distillery, which he rebuilt after taking possession himself. March, 1859, Mr. Foust married Henrietta Bricker, daughter of John and Christina (Zeller) Bricker, of York County. Eight children were born to this marriage: John Q. A., Luther, William, Robert, Frederick, Maggie Jane, Estella May and an infant deceased. Mr. Foust is a member of the Lutheran Church. Few men are better known throughout. York and adjoining counties than " Billy Foust."

PHILIP GLATFELTER (deceased), son of Philip and Anna M. (Emig) Glatfelter, was born in 1820, in Springfield Township. September 19, 1841, Mr. Glatfelter married Catherine Geiselman, of Springfield Township, daughter of George and Catherine (Erhart) Geiselman. This union was blessed with twelve children: Edward (deceased), George (deceased), William (deceased), Robert, Elenora (deceased), Emma, Jestie, Sarah, Mollie, Rosa, Lillie and Mahala. Mr. Glatfelter was a member of the Lutheran Church.

DEITRICK HILDEBRAND, second of four children of Casper and Susanna (Ness) Hildebrand, was born November 10, 1831, in Loganville, Spring- field Township. He was reared on his father's farm, and went to his trade (shoe-making) when fif- teen years old, and has always followed this occu- pation; has been justice of the peace seventeen years. April 8, 1858, Mr. Hildebrand married Anna Maria Leader, daughter of Charles and Sarah (Hildebrand) Leader, of Springfield Town- ship. Three children have blessed this union: Charles G., Annie and Robert. Our subject's grandfather was Casper Hildebrand. His grand- mother's maiden name was Cranmer, and it is worthy of mention about this family that the seven

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boys and the two girls all attained the ripe old age of eighty years. The father of our subject died in his eighty-sixth year. The subject of this sketch is a well known and highly respected citizen, and always active in any movement that has for its ob- ject the welfare of his township and fellow-citizens.

EMANUEL HILDEBRAND, the fourth of ten children of Adam and Rebecca (Combs) Hilde- brand, was born February 11, 1834. in Springfield Township. In his father's family were: Liddie (de- ceased), Sarah (deceased), Mary, Emanuel, Jona- than, Adam (deceased), Rebecca, Leah, Levi (de- ceased), and Annie (deceased). Our subject was reared on his father's farm. September 12, 1858, he married Annie Hain, daughter of George and Annie (Hupp) Hain, of Saxe Weimar, Germany. Seven children were born to them: Agnes, Caro- line, George (deceased), Catharine, Alice Ann, Nathaniel (deceased) and Emanuel (deceased). Mr. Hildebrand is a member of the Lutheran Church of Glen Rock, and one of the leading farmers of his township.

WILLIAM N. HILDEBRAND, son of Casper and Susanna (Ness) Hildebrand, was born in Logan- ville, Springfield Township, January 8, 1838. He was the youngest of four children: Aaron (de- ceased), Deitrick, Maria and William N. He was reared on the farm, and taught school ten terms in his native township. He was appointed store- keeper at Foust's Distillery by the United States Government, and in 1879 was appointed guager and storekeeper. March 26, 1864, Mr. Hildebrand married Susan Howard, daughter of Edward and Catharine (Strayer) Howard, of Springfield Town- ship. Four children were born to them: Freder- ick, Harry, Minnie and Maggie. Mr. Hildebrand is a member of the Reformed Church, and a well-in- formed, progressive citizen.

L. F. HILDEBRAND, merchant and postmas- ter, Loganville, was born in Springfield Township in 1848, and is the son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Feigley) Hildebrand. The father was a farmer as well as merchant, and died in September, 1880; the mother is still living, and of the three children born to those parents our subject alone survives. He assisted his father on the farm until sixteen years old, and then in the store until he suceeeded him in business. About 1870 he was appointed postmaster, and he has also served as school director. In 1875 he married Miss Lizzie Gontner, of Lancaster County, and to this union have been born three children: Jennie May, Daniel W. and Mary D.

GEORGE E. HOLTZAPPLE, M. D., son of Israel E. and Christiana (Leckrone) Holtzapple, was born May 22. 1862, in West Manchester Township, York Co., Penn. On his father's side his great- great-grandfather came from Germany. George E. spent the days of youth at home, engaged in work there and out on farms as a laborer. At the age of fourteen he was engaged a short time in the City Drug Store, York, Penn, after which he spent most of his time in study, giving instruction in instru- mental music. At the age of sixteen he com- menced teaching public school at Bott's, in West Manchester, where he taught four terms in suc- cession. During the spring previous to the last term he taught a select school in Seven Valleys. His school days in public school were spent at Nei-

man's, in West Manchester. In the spring of 1876 he went ten weeks to the York Collegiate Institute; in the spring of 1877 ten weeks to the York County Normal. The teachers were Kand and Gardner. In the spring of 1878 he attended ten weeks, and in the spring of 1879 eight weeks at Normal School, in Hartman's Building. He commenced reading medi- cine in the fall of 1880, under the preceptorship of Dr. George P. Yost, Loganville. He continued

his medical studies till March 13, 1884, when he graduated at the Bellevue Hospital Medical Col- lege, New York City. After graduating he went in practice with his preceptor at Loganville a few months, then located a few months at York, after which he bought out his preceptor's practice, the lat- ter going to Glen Rock, and Dr. Holtzapple taking his place at Loganville December 11. 1884, where he is practicing at present. The Doctor is a member of the York County Medical Society, a member of the West York Eye. Ear and Throat Dispensary, and also a member of Christ's Lutheran Church, York, Penn.

HENRY KREIDLER is the eldest of the five children of Michael and Catharine (Wackarman) Kreidler, and was born in York Township February 29, 1832. At the age of seventeen he began to learn milling, and has followed that business ever since. In 1878 he purchased his present farm of 100 acres, and erected his mill, carrying on exten- sively both milling and farming. In 1855 he mar- ried Miss" Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob Gable, of Windsor Township, and is now the father of twelve living children: Annie M., John C., Priscilla J., Mary J., Malinda A., Ida A., Jacob E., Sarah A., George E., Samuel E., Martha A. and Henry E. Mr. Kreidler has served as inspector of elections, school director and township auditor, and was once' elected justice of the peace, but declined to serve. He is a Mason of the Royal Arch degree, and with his wife is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Paradise.

D. M. LOUCKS was born in Windsor Township May 14, 1844, and is the son of Levi and Elizabeth (Myers) Loucks, now living in retirement at York. Our subject received a good education in youth, and for fourteen years, from 1859, was a school teacher. In 1867 he was elected justice of the peace, and served five years. In 1867 he began the manu- facture of cigars, which he followed until the spring of 1873. In 1872 he was elected to the legis- lature and served one term. In 1873 he removed to New Paradise in Springfield Township, and the same year was re-elected to the legislature. In 1880 he was elected justice of the peace of his township; his term expired May 6, 1885, but he refused to again accept a re-election. He was mar- ried, in 1862, to Miss Emeline Peeling, a native of York Township and a daughter of John Peeling, and to this union have been born five children: Joshua P., Joseph E., Addison P., Media L. and Ada E. Mr. Loucks has been very successful as a business man, and in his cigar manufactory employs at times as many as twenty hands.

GEORGE W. RENNOLL, son of Sam and Mary (Sheffer) Rennoll, was born April 23, 1847, in Shrewsbury Township. His parents were natives of this township. His grandmother, on his mother's side, was the daughter of Jacob Sheffer and Mary Gerbrick, of Shrewsbury Township. Our subject was the eldest son in a family of four: George W., Charles S., Nathaniel and Franklin (deceased). Mr. R. was reared on the farm, and began his occu- pation as miller in 1865 at Sheffer's Mill, Glen Rock. After having learned the trade and working a year here he went to Louck's Mill, operated by P. A. & S. Small; after three years at this mill he went to Small's Goldsboro mill; ten and a half years were spent here, when he was called to Small's ware- house in York for one year, then to his present mill, which he purchased in 1880, and after operating successfully for three and a half years he intro- duced in his mill the celebrated roller process mode of making flour, and it may be proper to mention here, as an evidence of Mr. Rennoll's push and energy in the prosecution of his business, that he was the second man in York County to adopt this popular method of manufacturing flour. He finds

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

ready sale with merchants in York for all the flour he can furnish. January 9, 1870, he married Re- becca Lancks, daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Beaverson) Laucks, of Spring Garden Township. Two children bave been born to this union: Annie E. and Charles Latimer. Mr. R. was a member of the American Mechanics until it dissolved. He is a member of the Lutheran Church.

E. P. ROHRBAUGH, M. D., a native of Codorus Township, was born in 1858, is a son of Peter L. and Elizabeth (Bortner) Rohrbaugh, and is the youngest of their ten children. The father died in 1882, but the mother still survives. Our subject received a good common school and academic edu- cation in youth, and for three years was a student of medicine under Dr. J. A. Glatfelter, of Seven Valleys, attending college in the meanwhile. He graduated from the University of Maryland in 1881, and also took a course at Johns Hopkins Uni- versity of Baltimore. For two years he practiced at Glen Rock, and then located at New Paradise, where he has an extensive patronage. In 1881 he married Miss Ellen Hengst, who has borne him two children: Charles H. and Annie C. The Doctor is a member of the York County Medical Society, also of the Yosemite Lodge of Red Men of Glen Rock, and with his wife of the Reformed Church.

SPRING GARDEN TOWNSHIP.

JOHN L. ARNOLD, son of Jacob and Sarah (Leib) Arnold, of West Manchester Township, was born August 5, 1849, at East Berlin, Adams Co., Penn. Mr. Arnold received a common school education. He learned his trade (miller) with his father and has always followed that occupation; he thoroughly understands his business, and at pres- ent has charge of one of the best equipped mills in York County-Matthew Tyler's mill. Mr. Arnold married Amanda Allison, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Musser) Allison, of York, Penn. This marriage has been blessed with five children: Arthur E., Nettie K., Howard E. (deceased), Claude A. and Mammie B. (deceased).

D. H. G. BEECHER, son of Samuel and Sarah A. M. (Wagner) Beecher, was born September 16, 1848, in Beecherville, Adams County, where, after attending the public schools, he began his first work in his father's paper-mill, remaining until his twen- ty-second year, when he came to Spring Garden Township, and for three years worked in the Erhart paper-mill; he then learned cigar-making and carried on the manufacture in York Township six years, when he returned to Green Hill, this township, his present home. December 8, 1872, Mr. Beecher married. Miss Catherine, daughter of George and Catherine (Shell) Druck, and has had born to him six children: George H. (deceased), Samuel A. (deceased), Annie L., Charles E. (de- ceased), Willie C. (deceased) and Harry D. Our subject comes from a good German family and is the third of nine as follows: Annie May, George C., D. H. G., Charles F. (deceased), Samuel (de- ceased), Clara J., Emma (deceased) Sally A. M. and Annie. The great-grandmother of our subject was Elizabeth, wife of John Beecher, died August 14, 1845, aged ninety years. His grandparents were David Beecher, born September 8, 1793, died April 13, 1880, aged eighty-six years, seven months and five days. Anna Mary Gilbert Beecher, born April 26, 1797; and their children were: Elizabeth, born December 25, 1815; died November 8, 1827, aged

eleven years, ten months and thirteen days; Ann Margaretta, born November 16, 1817, died June 21, 1822, aged four years, seven months and five days; Samuel, born March 5, 1820; Sophia Susanna, born September 27, 1822; Bernhard John, born August 23, 1824, died June 5, 1831, aged six years, nine months and twelve days; Catharine, born Decem- her 13, 1826; Lucy Ann, born December 17, 1828; David Henry Gilbert, born July 1, 1831, died No- vember 16, 1839, aged eight years, three months and fifteen days; George, born September 11, 1833, died October 24, 1846, aged thirteen years, one month and thirteen days.

GEORGE BENDER is a son of George Bender, a native of Germany, and a brick-maker by trade, who immigrated to America, settling in York County. Penn., and establishing the business now carried on by subject. George, Jr., was an assistant of his father from his youth up, and upon the death of his father was fully competent to succeed as manager and proprietor. This business he has successfully carried on in this vicinity up to the present time. His establishment adjoins the limits of York. Mr. Bender was married, January 21, 1863, to Miss Emma J. Kiser, of York, Penn. They have five children: Annie K., Lydia M., Imilda A., George F. and Jeremiah. Mr. Bender is a member of the Spring Garden Relief Association, also of the order of R. M. of York, and of the Ridge Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church of Frys- town.

EDWARD BLAUSER was born in Spring Garden Township, October 5, 1836, and is the third of ten children in the family of Jacob and Ann (Myers) Blauser, natives of York Township. He passed his time in attending school and assisting on the home farm until his seventeenth year; when he began his trade as carpenter. January 30, 1859, he married Miss Mary, daughter of John and Liddie (Sowers) Runk, and to this union have been born: Allen, Elizabeth, Ida, Lillie, Henry and Fernando. In 1875, Mr. Blauser began contracting and build- ing, and, being a master of his profession, has been very successful, averaging twenty-five to thirty-five houses per year. Among the specimens of his contract work may be mentioned the remodeling of the old German Reformed Church edifice, and the building of Bethany Chapel on King Street; the Methodist Chapel on East Philadelphia Street; the three story brick business house of A. C. Fahn; the dwelling of W. A. Tomes; Daniel Moore's resi- dence; Capt. William Fry's elegant cottage, etc., etc. Mr. Blauser has served as school director and is an esteemed citizen.

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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 202

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