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 206

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 206

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SAMUEL McCREARY, a native of Franklin Township, York County, was horn October 19, 1819, and is a son of John and Julia (Lease) McCreary. The great-great-grandfather, John McCreary, was a native of Scotland, a member of the high church of England, was married to Miss Edwards, of England, and a settler of Lancaster County, this State. The great-grandfather, Thomas McCreary, was born in Lancaster County, and married Miss Elizabeth Bowen, a native of Wales, and a member of the Society of Friends. He afterward joined the same church, and settled early in York County near Han- over, and was extensively engaged in farming, both in this and Adams Counties. The grandfather (Thomas also) was born in 1754. in this county, was a merchant and hotel keeper and captain of the State militia, and afterward major, and was married to Miss Mary Garretson, of this county. The father of our subject was born in Washington Township, this county, November 3, 1791, and died in December, 1822. Subject's mother died September 23, 1881, in her eighty-fifth year. Samuel McCreary left the

home farm at the age of sixteen, worked in a brick yard; he next served an appenticeship of two years at tailoring; from 1842-48 carried on brick-making in the summer and taught school in the winter; in 1849 began farming in connection with brick-mak- ing. He is the owner of a farm in Washington Township, and two tracts of woodland, one situated in Franklin and the other in Warrington Township. In 1848 he married Harriet A. Blackford, daughter of Aaron G. Blackford, who was born November 24, 1827. To this union have been born seven chil- dren: Julian Ruhl, Aaron B. (deceased), John L., Elizabeth J. T. Baker, Samuel L. (deceased), Katie R. and S. U. G. McCreary. Our subject, his wife and sister, Julia A. (who was born December 22,1821), together with two of his children, Katie R. and S.U. G., constitute the family at the homestead, and all but three belong to the United Brethren Church.

WILLIAM H. SCHWEITZER was born March 17, 1825, in Dover Township, and is the son of Will- iam and Catherine (Hoover) Schweitzer, also na- tives of Dover Township. His grandfather, George Schweitzer, came from Switzerland in 1784, and it was he who introduced the Swiss or bank barn into this country. He died in 1854, aged ninety-six years and six months. Our subject's father was born in 1800, and now resides in Ohio, to which State lie removed many years ago. At the age of twenty-one our subject left the home farm, and engaged in carpentering, which he followed seven summers, teaching school in the winters. In 1864 he hegan farming in Franklin Township, remaining four years In 1872 he was elected county recorder on the Democratic ticket and served three years and one month. In 1878 he settled on his present farm of thirty acres in this township. In 1864 he married Miss Nancy, daughter of Jacob Arndt, of Codorus Township, and to this union have been born seven children: Mary, Emma C., Lydia A,, William A., Lillie M., Ida (deceased) and Jacob O. (deceased).

LEWIS STRAYER, a native of Dover Town- ship, and son of Andrew and Catherine (Sheffer) Strayer, was born August 5, 1827. His father was born in 1780, was a farmer and carpenter and died in 1856; the mother died in 1875, aged ninety-three. Our subject left the home farm at the age of six- teen, and served an apprenticeship of two years at shoe-making, which trade he followed in Dover and Warrington Townships fifteen years. In 1859 he began farming in Warrington, four years later moved to Dover Township, and after one year re- turned to Warrington. In 1873 he came to Wash- ington Township, where he is engaged in farming and operating a chopping-mill, woolen and saw-mill. In 1870 he was elected county commissioner by the Democrats for three years. He was married, in 1847, to Miss Catherine, daughter of Peter Kapp, of Warrington Township. There have been born to this union eleven children, viz .: William, Emilia Kinter, George, Andrew, Peter, Henry, Martin, Sevilla, Katie, Mary and John C. Mr. and Mrs. Strayer are members of the Lutheran Church.

A. K. STRALEY was born in Dover Township, December 8, 1856, and is the younger of two chil- dren born to John and Mary A. (Kimmel) Straley. His grandfather, Philip Straley, was born in Dover Township, in 1793, and died in this township, Oc- tober 15, 1878; he married Rebecca Bassen, who was born in York County in 1797, and who died November 25, 1863. Grandfather David Kimmel, was a native of Washington Township, and mar- ried Elizabeth Gentzler, a native of Codorus Township. Our subject's father was born in 1823, and was a farmer, a teacher, a hotel keeper and a merchant, and died in 1882, being at that time post- master, a position he had held since 1870. Our sub- ject, Andrew J. Straley, remained on the home farm until twelve years old, from which time until 1880

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he assisted his father in the store, then became his partner, and is now his successor in business, and is doing a prosperous trade. In 1882 he was appointed postmaster at Hall.

WEST MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP.

JACOB ALDINGER was born February 22, 1833. and is a son of Frederick and Elizabeth (Myers), late of Sprinfield Township, formerly of Heidelberg Township. Subject's great-grandfather, Matthias Aldinger, who died in Germany, was of royal descent. On account of the persecutions of the family by Napoleon, the grandfather of our subject, after being driven up and down the Rhine from 1814 to 1817, succeeded in making his escape to America. He was the father of seven children: Margaret, Barbara, Frederick, Frederica, Elizabeth, Christiana and Louisa, all natives of Germany. The father of our subject had born to him eight children: John, Emanuel. Jacob, William. Daniel (deceased), Barbara, Matthias and Abraham. Our subject, a minister of the Old German Baptist Church, commonly called the Dunkard, was mar- ried, October 29, 1854, to Elizabeth, daughter of John and Lydia Sprenkle, of West Manchester Township, and to this nnion have been born three children: Samuel, Annie and Lydia. Mr. Aldinger is the owner of a fine farm of 217 acres in West Manchester, improved with two fine dwellings, a large bank barn and other out-buildings, also a tract of thirty-one acres in North Codorus Township, and also five acres in building lots at Brillhart's Station, in York Township. Mr. Aldinger has served York Township several years as school director.

J. L. BAER, Baer's Station, is a son of John H. and Malinda (Lan) Baer, of West Manchester Township, and was born February 20, 1854, in West Manchester Township. He was reared on his father's farm, and his time was divided between farm work and attending the public schools of the township. He also went several terms to Prof. Ruby's York County Academy. November 10, 1878, he married Martha J. Sprenkle. daughter of Peter and Matilda Sprenkle, of West Manchester Township. Two children have been born to this marriage: Katie and Erwin. He began general mer- chandising at his present location (Baer's Station, of Frederick Division of Pennsylvania Railroad), March 1, 1879. He is thoroughly familiar with its details, and well calculated for the business in which he is engaged. Mr. Baer's great-grandfa- ther, David Baer, was born April 11, 1780; died October 16, 1831. His great-grandmother, Maria Baer, was born June 20, 1772; died November 4, 1868. They lived on the same homestead on which his father now lives. His grandfather was born October 27, 1805; died June 10, 1845. He lived in the conjugal state seventeen years, and begat two sons and four daughters. His wife, Mary, was born February 14, 1800; died July 10, 1849. His father, John H. Baer, was born February 4, 1832; married O. Malinda Lau (born February 8, 1833) the 12th of May, 1853. He is the father of nine children- three sons and six daughters: J. L. Baer (born Feh- ruary 20, 1854), Rost Ellen (September 28. 1855), Kate (October 30, 1858), Clara Ann (September 26, 1860), George L. (May 19, 1862), Ida V. (April 17, 1864), Annie (September 2, 1865). Lillie May (Jann- ary 15, 1867), Harvey L., (April 3, 1870). George L. died September 12, 1863; Lillie May, July 22, 1868; Annie, December 28, 1870.

PETER BOTT, SR., was born August 31, 1801, and is the son of Peter and Elizabeth (Zeigler) Bott. The grandfather of our subject, John Bott, of Germany, was father of four children: Eve, Susanna, Elizabeth and Peter, all born in West Man- chester Township. Our subject's father, Peter Bott, had born to him nine children: Jacob, Peter, John, Adam. William, Henry, Mary. Eliza and Mary. The father of Mrs. Peter (Zeigler) Bott was Killian Zeig- ler, a native of Germany. who came when young to West Manchester Township. Peter Bott, our sub- ject, was married November 9. 1826, to Miss Eliza- beth, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Smyser, of this township, aud to him have been born ten chil- dren, viz .: Michael (married to Louisa, daughter of George Julius), Louisa (wife of Samuel Menough), Sarah (wife of Peter Yost), Eliza A. (wife of Will- iam Smyser); Caroline (wife of John Smyser), Will- iam H. (married to Lucy Hoke), Anna M. (wife of Joseph Martin), Peter J. (married to Sarah Hoke), Alice A. (wife of Dallas Julius) and Edward C. Our Subject, at the age of eighty-four, is leading a retired life on his homestead of ten acres. The family are members of the Lutheran Church.

WILLIAM H. BOTT is the son of Peter and Elizabeth (Smyser) Bott, natives of West Manches- ter Township, and was born January 23. 1841. He was married, December 9, 1871, to Miss Lucy, daughter of Michael Hoke, of old Manchester Township, and has had born to him four children: Flora K., Harvey H. (deceased), Minnie M., Lucy E. and William E. Mr. Bott is an agriculturist, and the owner of three farms. to-wit: his homestead of 223 acres, improved with fine buildings and extra large bank barn; another of 126 acres, well, improved and cultivated, and a third in North Cod- orus Township, also well improved with first class buildings and very productive. Mr. Bott was drafted in the first draft of the late war, but paid $350 for a substitute; he afterward enlisted in Com- pany B, Seventy-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served to the end of the war. Mr. Bott is a member of the Lutheran Church, and his family of the German Reformed.

ABRAHAM GENTZLER, farmer, son of Jesse and Eliza (Zorbach) Gentzler, eldest of nine children, was born November, 1836, in North Codorus Town- ship; he was reared on a farm and has always fol- lowed farming. October, 1859, he married Sarah Josephs, daughter of Henry Josephs, of Paradise Township. Seven children have blessed this union : Charles A., John H. (deceased), Katie (deceased), Henry F., Milton, infant (deceased) and Martin. Our subject's grandfather, Conrad Gentzler, was a native of York County and always lived in North Codorus Township, so that the Gentzler family is one of the oldest families in York County. The subject of this sketch is an industrious, progressive farmer; he has a thorough knowledge of farming and has farmed for the Hokes for the past eighteen years.

JACOB F. GLATFELTER, farmer, son of Charles and Louisa (Fishel) Glatfelter, of Spring Garden Township, was born August 23, 1835, in Spring Garden Township, where he was reared on his father's farm; he always followed farming. January 23, 1859, Mr. Glatfelter married Margaret Hyde. who bore him four children: infant (de- ceased), Charles H., Clara E. and Willie J. Mar- garet (Hyde) Glatfelter was the daughter of Joshin and Lydia (Wire) Hyde.of West Manchester Town- ship. February 5, 1884, our subject married Maria Hamme, daughter of Frederick and Margaret (Gentzler) Hamme, of Manchester Township. Mr. Glatfelter is the owner of an excellent farm of 121 acres, about five miles from York, in Manchester Township. He has lived on this farm since 1859.

ADAM H. HAMME, son of Jonas and Catherine

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WEST MANHEIM TOWNSIIIP.

(Eisenhart) Hamme, of West Manchester Township, was born December 3, 1833, in Dover Township on the old homestead farm, where his brother, John H. Hamme, now lives; as a boy his time was divided between school and farm work. October 25, 1860, he married Mary Ann Ketterman, daughter of George and Anna Mary (Bush) Ketterman, of North Codorus Township. This union has been blessed with four children: Alice M., Catherine J., Mary E. and John H. Jonas Hamme, our subject's father, died in his seventy-third year; his widow is still living. Christian Hamme, our subject's grand- father, was one of the first settlers of Dover Town- ship, having taken up the land and getting a patent deed for his farm. Our subject is a progres- sive, wide-awake farmer, and is the owner of one of the finest farms in the neighborhood.

HERMAN HOKE was born October 9, 1811, and is the son of John and Catherine (Harman) Hoke, natives respectively of Adams County and West Manchester Township, York County. Subject's paternal grandfather, Conrad Hoke, was a native of York County, was a farmer and the father of three children: Jacob, Conrad and John. The grandfather of Mrs. Hoke was a native of Germany. Herman Hoke, our subject, is the eldest of three children born to his parents, viz .: Herman, Eman- uel and John. September 19, 1832, our subject married Elizabeth Free, daughter of Peter and Mary Free, of Hopewell Township, and has had born to him seven children, viz .: Leab E., wife of Henry S. Tyson; Adam H., married to Sarah Smy- ser; Sarah A., wife of Noah Ness; Catherine A .; Rebecca L .; Emma J., wife of Samuel Rutter, and Mary A., deceased.

NOAH NESS, son of Mathias and Elizabeth (Myers) Ness, is the fifth of eleven children and was born February 2, 1835, in Springfield Township; was reared on' his father's farm and removed to West Manchester Township when nineteen years of age. In September, 1858, Mr. Ness married Sarah A. Hoke. daughter of Herman and Elizabeth (Free) Hoke, of West Manchester Township. Eleven children have been born to them: Catherine E. (deceased), Adam, Annie, John, Elizabeth, Sarah (deceased), Noah. Tillie, Emma, Thomas and Re- becca. Matthias Ness, the father of our subject, was born February 24, 1801, in Shrewsbury Town- ship. He died aged seventy-eight years, five months and twenty-nine days. Our subject's grandfather's name was Jacob Ness; he was a native of York County. Our subject's mother was born August 27, 1804. She died April 23, 1873, aged sixty-eight years, seven months and twenty- seven days. Matthias Ness was a prominent and well known farmer, having with credit to himself filled the office of county auditor for two terms.

HENRY H. SMYSER, son of David and Rebecca (Eyster) Smyser, was born July 16, 1840. The sub- ject of this sketch was the fifth of ten children: Eliza, Martin, Sarah, Louisa, Henry, Mary (de- ceased), Jacob, Amanda, Charles and Albert. Da- vid Smyser, the father of our subject, was born in 1806, he was a prominent and influential farmer, and was elected county commissioner in 1872. and served the full term with credit to himself and sat- isfaction to the people of the county. (For our subject's ancestral history, see sketch of the Smy- ser family. York Borough.)

J. MATTHIAS SMYSER, son of David and Rebecca (Eyster) Smyser, was born March 18, 1845, in West Manchester Township. where he was reared on his father's farm, and remained here until his twenty-sixth year. He married Amanda Smyser, daughter of Adam and Eliza (Brillinger) Smyser, Spring Garden Township. To this marriage were born seven children: Nettie E., Annie R., How- ard D., Matthias, Mary. Adam and Lucy E. Mr.

Smyser started in business as a member of the firm of Menges, Smyser & ('o., of York, Penn. He next began the milling business in West Manches- ter Township, at Smyser's Mill; during this time he was one of the firm of Fahs, Smyser & Co., grain, coal and general commission merchants; he was in this firm for eight years. He then removed to his present home, East Berlin, Adams County, where he is engaged in the banking business and is one of the managers of the Keystone Manufac- turing Company, of East Berlin. Our subject's an- cestors, the Eysters and Smysers, were the first set- tlers in West Manchester Township.

ABRAHAM H. SPRENKLE, son of George Sprenkle, was born in West Manchester Township, October 9, 1844, at the homestead where he has al- ways resided. December 3, 1867, he married Louisa Emig, daughter of Valentine and Rebecca (Loucks) Emig, of West Manchester Township. One child has been born to them, Harvey E. Sprenkle. Our subject's wife was born August 12, 1845; her people were among the first settlers of her native town- ship. It is claimed by the Sprenkle family that their ancestors were the first white people who took up land and settled in West Manchester Township; 900 acres of land were taken up by their ancestor, Adam Sprenkle, and the name Sprenkle is one of the best and most respected in West Manchester Township.

N. B. SPRENKLE, son of Jacob and Barbara (Baer) Sprenkle, was born April 6, 1857, in West Manchester Township, where he was reared on his father's farm. He received his education in the schools of his native township, and two terms in the York County Academy. He taught school one term at Sprenkle's School house in 1867-68, in West Man- chester Township; went into the grain and coal business in 1868 at Baer's Station, West Manchester Township; after three years there he moved to his present location, East Berlin, Adams County, where he is at present engaged in the grain, coal and Ium- ber business. February 16, 1879, Mr. Sprenkle mar- ried Kate Masemer, daughter of Jesse and Catharine (Joseph) Masemer. Our subject's paternal ances- tors, the Sprenkles, were among the pioneer settlers of West Manchester Township. (See history of Manchester Township.)

MARTIN B. SPRENKLE was born January 29, 1861, in West Manchester Township, and has been a resident of his native township all his life. He received a common school education and began business for himself at Baer's Station, on the Fred- erick division of the Pennsylvania Railroad when quite a young man, and is probably the largest buyer of wheat in West Manchester Township. Janu- ary 16, 1880, Mr. Sprenkle married Sallie E. Mar- tin, daughter of Solomon Martin, of Stoverstown, North Codorus Township. Two children have blessed this union: Sadie E. (deceased), and Charlee M. Mr. Sprenkle pays close attention to his busi- ness, and as a result of this his business is increas- ing every year.

WEST MANHEIM TOWNSHIP.

PHILIP J. BARNHART, collecting agent and farmer, was born in Heidelberg Township, June 8, 1846, is a son of Adam and Eliza A. (Jackson) Barn- hart, is of a German-English origin and the eldest of a family of four living children. He was reared on the farm, and received his education at the pub- lie schools of Heidelberg Township. In 1864 he came to West Manheim Township, and settled near

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where he now lives. He worked by the day until 1869, when he engaged in general merchandising at Green Point. He continued this eight years, and since that time has been engaged in farming and as general collector. In 1865 he married Barbara Kehlbaugh, a native of West Manheim Township, and daughter of Jacob Kehlbaugh. Four children have been born to this union: Mollie A., Lyman A., Missouri J. and Philip C. He is a Democrat, and for many years has taken an active part in pol- itics. Mr. and Mrs. B. are members of the Re- formed Church.

HON. SIMON J. BARNHART, present member of legislature from York County, is a native of Heidelberg Township, York Co., Penn .; was born April 19, 1848; is a son of Adam and Eliza A. (Jack- son) Barnhart, and is of Dutch-English descent. In a family of seven children, he is the second, and his par- euts are both natives of York County. At nineteen years, Mr. Barnhart began teaching school and this occupation he continued for twelve years. In 1879 he began farming in West Manheim Township, where he now resides. Politically he is an earnest supporter of the Democratic party, and after hold- ing various offices of minor trust he was, in 1884, elected to represent York County in the State Gen- eral Assembly, his majority in the county being more than 3,600. He was married March 4, 1877, to Miss Anna M. Houck, daughter of Henry P. and Angeline Houck, of Carroll County, Md. To this marriage have been born two children, viz .: Cora E. and Ellen J. Mr. and Mrs. B. are members of the Lutheran Church.

JESSE W. GARRETT, farmer, was born in what was formerly Manheim Township, York Co., Penn., October 4, 1836, is a son of Jacob and Eliza- beth (Wildason) Garrett, of German descent, and is the seventh of thirteen children. His parents were both born in York County, and the Garrett family has been known in this county 100 years. Mr. Gar- rett, at nineteen years, began the labors of life for himself; when twenty-five years old he began huckstering, and that continued for fifteen years, and then began farming; he now has 120 acres of well improved land, and is a successful farmer of West Manheim Township. In 1860 he married Miss Eliza A. Nace, of West Manheim Township. Eight children have blessed their union: John F., Eliza E. A., Emma J., Missouri E., Marcellus J., Horace J., Amelia C. and Birda E. He is a Repub- lican and has held the office of school director for seven years. He is a member of the Reformed Church and his wife of the Lutheran Church.

OLIVER W. GARRETT, farmer, was born in West Manheim Township, York County, November 21, 1845, is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Wildason) Garrett, and is of German descent. He was edu- cated at the schools of West Manheim Township, and in 1859 was hired out to work on the farm by his mother. Then he began the huckstering business, which he has since continued, but in 1881 he added general merchandising. He keeps dry goods, boots, shoes, groceries and notions. He has also a small but well improved farm where he lives. He was married, in 1866, to Miss Eliza Utz, and had born to him two children: Lillie A. and Minerva A. Mrs. Garrett died in 1872, and the next year Mr. Garrett married Emily Jane Klinedinst, a native of Manheim Township. To this union have been born seven children, viz .: Clara M., Annie E., Harrison M., Mary V., Oliver C., Jacob V. and Macy J. Mr. Garrett enlisted in 1865 in Company G, Seventy- fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers for one year. He is now a Democrat but was formerly a Republican, and with his wife is a member of the Lutheran Church.

E. C. HOFFACKER was born in Manheim Township, York County, in 1842, is a son of John

W. and Maria (Craunur) Hoffacker, and is of Ger- man extraction. His father was born in Carroll County, Md .. , and his mother, in York County, Penn. His father's death occurred in 1881, and his mother's in 1883. Our subject was reared on the farm, and at the age of twenty-one began life for himself. He is one of the leading and most suc- cessful farmers in the township. Mr. H., in 1864, married Miss Susanna Fridinger, a native of Mary- land. They have five children: Ida A., Granville T., Oliver S., John G. W. and Alice S. M. He is a Democrat, and has been school director five years. Mr. and Mrs. H. are members of the Lutheran Church.

J. D. STERNER was born in Carroll County, Md., in 1832, is a son of Nathaniel and Anna Mary (Feeser) Sterner, is the youngest in a family of seven children, and is of German descent. His parents were also natives of Carroll County, Md. He received a common school education, and at eighteen years of age began teaching school and taught seven winters. In 1857 he began clerking in the store of David Bachman at Bachman's Mills, Carroll Co., Md .; in 1862 he came to York County, and settled in West Manheim Township, and began general merchandising, which he has since con- tinued. He was married, in 1859, to Miss Sevilla Warehime, a native of Carroll County. They have five children living: Charles M., Ella M., George W., Emma J. and Martha S. He is a Democrat; in 1862 was elected justice of the peace of West Man- heim Township, and held the office three terms, or fifteen years. Mr. and Mrs. S. are members of the German Reformed Church. He has made his own way, in life, and is one of the leading citizens of West Manheim Township.

WINDSOR TOWNSHIP.

DANIEL ANSTINE, son of Simon and Eliza- beth (Smith), was born in Windsor Township July 7, 1855. After leaving the public schools of his township our subject learned cigar-making, which he followed as a journeyman six years, when, in 1876, he commenced manufacturing on his own account at Frysville. In 1883 he married Miss Matilda, daughter of Adam Sechrist,, of York Township.

JOHN W. BURGER is a prominent brick mer- chant of Windsor Township, and was born in Adams County, Penn., October 15, 1846. He has served as chief hurgess of Red Lion Borough, York County, and is a member of the Lutheran Church. He was married, October 27, 1867, to Millie Myers.

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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 206

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