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 207

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 207

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WILLIAM BROOKS BIGLER, M. D., was born October 6,1833, in Fairview Township, York County. His father's family was of Swiss origin; his moth- er's of Scotch-Irish, having immigrated to this country from County Antrim, Ireland, about 1752, and settled in Delaware; thence the great-grand- father, Brooks, went to Cumberland County, Penn., purchased a tract of land from William Penn, on Yellow Breeches, and built a mill, where he made flour for Braddock's army. This mill is now owned by Elias Hake. David Bigler was a farmer; was married in December, 1832, and had a family of three sons and five daughters. He died in August, 1872. William B. Bigler attended Jefferson Medical Col- lege, from which he graduated in 1865. He has been school director, and was a member of the legislature, 1883-84. October 12, 1865, he married Amelia M. A.

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Boyer; to them have been born the following named children: William M., Edith M. and Mabel B. Dr. Bigler is a Mason.

JAMES CROSS was born in Windsor Township, York County, in 1826, and is the son of James and Elizabeth (Grove) Cross. The father was born in this township in 1787, was reared a farmer, filled the office of justice of the peace; in 1814 married Eliza- beth Grove, who was born in Chanceford Township, in 1787; became the father of two boys and four girls, and died June 9, 1872; his wife died November 15, 1842. James Cross, the grandfather of our subject, was one of the earliest settlers of York County, having taken up from the government the farm on which his grandson now resides, at a time when the Indians were numerous in the township. He was a prosperous farmer, and served his country in the war of 1812. James Cross, our subject, still cultivates the farm entered by his grandfather. He was mar- ried, in 1859, to Jane Ann Wallace, who was born in Hopewell Township, in 1835, and who is the mother of one son-James Nelson Cross. The family attend the Guinston United Presbyterian Church, of which Mr. and Mrs. Cross are members.

DANIEL L. GEHLY, was born October 15, 1807. His father, a farmer, was born May 20, 1773. in War- wick Township, Lancaster Co., Penn. His mother, whose maiden name was Nancy Lehman. was born in the same township, February 28, 1779. They were married October 20, 1801. Their children were Lidia, born September 18, 1802: David, October 31, 1804; Daniel L. (as above) and Nancy, May 27, 1811; all deceased, except Daniel L. The father died in 1846; and the mother in 1858. Daniel L. commenced wool manufacturing in 1825, which business he still continues. In 1835 he was elected lieutenant-colonel of the Sixty-fourth Regiment, Pennsylvania Militia; in 1846 was elected member of the State House of Representatives and served one term. October 28, 1828, he married Margaret Ann Dosch. Of the eight children born to this union four are living, viz .: John C., D. W., T. H. and Mary M. Mr. Gehly's great-grandparents came from Germany; his grand- father, Frederick Lehman, was horn in Lancaster County; his grandmother, Anna Habaker, was born in the same county, three miles north of Lititz. Mr. Gehly is a member of the Evangelical Church.

HARVEY WHEELER HAINES was born Octo- ber 11, 1838, in Stark County, Ohio. His father, Charles H. was born in 1814, in Windsor, York Co., Penn .; and in Lancaster City, in 1834, he married Barbara Funk; she was born in Lancaster County in 1816. They had nine children-three boys and four girls now living: Charles H. was a carpenter by trade, but for many years engaged in farming. Harvey W. Haines tanght school for many years in the city of Baltimore, but is now engaged in farm- ing near Freysville Church, in this township. Feb- ruary 16, 1871, he married Mary E., daughter of David Leber: Florence Leber and Horace Becker are their children. Mr. Haines' grandfather came to Windsor Township, from Frankford, Philadel- phia, after the war of 1812. When Harvey W. was a child his father and neighbors, owning large farms, would take sickle or cradle and go to the valley or Lancaster County to work six or eight weeks at harvesting to earn money to buy bread for the year; now the grain in Windsor is as good as in the limestone lands, and farmers can hardly get laborers to put away their crops. Land that was then $5 or $10 per acre is now worth $100 per acre. Mr. Haines is a F. & A. M., and is the present auditor of the township.

AMOS HENGST was born in Windsor Township, October 12, 1841, and is the son of Samuel and Bar- bara (Anstine) Hengst, also natives of Windsor Township, as were Michael Hengst and Simon Ans- tine, subject's grandfathers. Samuel Hengst was

born, reared and lived all his life on the same farm. He held the office of school director, and was a lien- tenant of militia. He was the father of nine chil- dren, of whom eight are living, viz .: Henry, Benja- min, a member of the Evangelical Church for thirty- eight years; Samuel, a merchant; Reuben, in the grocery and commission business at Baltimore, Md .; Amos, Catherine, Julia and Magdalena. Leah died in infancy. The father died January 28, 1884, and his wife, November 25, 1871. Amos Hengst was reared a farmer, taught school thirteen terms, was engaged in mercantile business sixteen years, and then purchased one of his father's farms of about fifty acres, with improvements, and is still engaged in farming. He has served one term of five years as justice of the peace. November 24, 1874, he married Debbie S., daughter of George and Mary (Schnell) Fox, of Windsor Township. F. B. Fox, a brother of Mrs. Hengst, has been a professor in Knapp's Institute, Baltimore, for twenty-five years, and A. F. Fox, another brother, has for twenty-five years been in the real estate business at Washington.

JEREMIAH BIXLAR JONES, for thirty-one years a preacher of the Gospel in the church of the United Brethren in Christ, was born in Carroll County, Md., April 3, 1829. His father, John Jones, of Welsh descent, and mother, Elizabeth (Bixlar) Jones, of German descent, were also natives of Car- roll County, Md., and were the parents of eleven children-eight boys and three girls. The father died in 1873, and the mother in 1864. Jeremiah B. Jones was married, February 4, 1868, to Miss Amanda Anstine, who has borne him the following children: Mary K., Claria A., Annie B., Maggie E. and Gracie W.

DAVID FRANKLIN MAISH was born January 5, 1845, in Windsor Township. He is a son of George and Lydia (Moser) Maish; the former a native of Fairview Township, and the latter of York Township, born February 15, 1816. They were married November 22, 1838, and are the par- ents of eight children-three sons and five daugliters. George Maish has always followed farming. David F. Maish is also a farmer. March 15, 1877, he mar- ried Eliza J. Paules. Their union is blessed with one child. George P. Maish.

SETH MINNICH, of Windsor Township, was born in Hopewell Township, York County, Sep- tember 13, 1849. His father, Daniel Minnich, was born in Hopewell Township also, January 9, 1828, is a house carpenter by trade, and in 1848 married Elizabeth Miller, a native of Shrewsbury Township, and born March 22, 1829. Of the five children born to this union three are still living. Seth Minnich by trade is a painter. In 1877 he married Annie Smith, who has borne him three children: Daniel B., Howard H. and Addie I. In 1880 Mr. Minnich was elected justice of the peace, which office he administered in so satisfactory a manner that he was re-elected in 1885. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and also of the Reformed Church.

PHILIP MITZEL was born January 24, 1826, and is the son of Philip and Lydia (Saylor) Mitzel. The former was born in Windsor Township, No- vember 30,1800, and the latter in Chanceford Town- ship, where they were married; they were the par- ents of three sons and two daughters, and the father died March 13, 1832. The mother is still living, aged eighty one years. Her daughter, Elizabeth Croley, dicd May 22, 1885, aged sixty-three years, three months and twenty-two days. Philip, our subject, is a merchant, and manufacturer of and dealer in cigars. He has served as school director and township assessor, and is a member of the Evangelical Association. March 9, 1848, he married Catherine Hengst.

JOHN SEITZ is the son of Jacob and Priscilla

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

(Tyson) Seitz, and was born in Hopewell Township, February 9, 1827. He was educated in the public schools, then learned milling, which he followed fifteen years, then learned blacksmithing, which he followed for six years. In 1878 he established a general merchandise business at Spring Vale, where he is now doing a good trade, and where he is also the agent for the York & Peach Bottom Railroad, and where also he has served as postmaster six years. Mr. Seitz, besides, ownsa farm of seventy- five acres, which he conducts in conjunction with his other business. In 1857 our subject married Miss Matilda, daughter of Frederick Husal, of Chanceford Township, and to this marriage were born twelve children, as follows: Jacob, Susan, Emanuel, Eller, Carrie P., Lemuel L., Savills, Emma J., Tillie, John H., Janie and Alice. Mr. and Mrs. Seitz are members of the United Brethren Church of Zion, Windsor Township.

DANIEL STEIN is the third of the eight chil- dren of Daniel and Mary M. (Holtzapple) Stein. and was born in Windsor Township, December 8, 1826. After receiving an education in the public schools he left the homestead, engaged in farming, and in 1881 purchased two farms of 164 acres in all, which he now rents and lives in comfortable retire- ment at Spring Vale Station, in a fine dwelling erected in 1859, but remodeled in 1882. In 1854 Mr. Stein married Miss Susan, daughter of Henry Grove, of this township. To this' union have been born six children, named Mary, Ellen, Susan, Daniel C., Sarah and Henry. During the late civil war Mr. Stein was drafted, but, unfortunately, owing to business and family matters, was compelled to hire a substitute. Mr. and Mrs. Stein are respectively members of the Lutheran and Presbyterian Churches of Frystown.

YORK TOWNSHIP.

WILLIAM H. CROLL, son of Joseph and Eliz- abeth (Reisinger) Croll, was born in Mauchester Township, March 23, 1840. About 1850 the family removed to York Township, where our subject at- tended school until his sixteenth year. He learned the printing business at the York Gazette office, after which he worked in Philadelphia and Pitts- burgh, after which he assumed full charge of the Hanover Gazette, this county. At the first call for troops by President Lincoln he promptly enlisted in Company A, Sixteenth Pennsylvania Volunteer In- fantry, and at the expiration of his three months' term enlisted in Company I, Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, in which he faithfully served for three years, eighteen months of which were served on the field. Having been thrown from a horse on a night charge and partially disabled, he was detailed by Gen. Butler to the charge of the Government print- ing office at Norfolk, Va. March 31, 1866. he mar- ried Laura V. Whitehurst, of Norfolk, Va., who has borne him the following children: Eugenia A., George (deceased), Minnie E., Wilson J. (deceased), Lucy and Alma. Mr. Croll in 1872 was elected county auditor, and was re-elected to the same office in 1884.

FRANK P. DIETZ, son of John and Susanna (Lutman) Dietz, was born in Hellam Township, January 18, 1847; was brought up on the home farm and began milling in 1868, learning his trade at Diehl's Mill, Spring Garden Township. He worked two years at this mill as a journeyman, after learn- ing his trade, and ran it on his own account for

eight years, when he removed to his present loca- tion, known at this time as Louck's Mill, on the Baltimore Pike, four miles south of York, near New Paradise, he having purchased this valuable mill property, which embraces ninety-six acres of good land in connection with a large saw and flour-mill. In December, 1870, Mr. D. married Clayanna Jane Dosch, daughter of J. C. and Charlotte (Leber) Dosch, of Windsor Township. Six children have been born to them: Mary M., John C., Dora S., Eddie (deceased), Harry S. and Charles L. (de- ceased). Mr. D. has a large custom trade in York, Paradise and Loganville for his flour, and is the fortunate possessor of the best water-power in York Township, which enables him to run his mill in dry seasons when the neighboring mills are forced to stop. Mr. D. is a member of the Reformed Church of New Paradise, and has been a member of Con- ewago Tribe I. O. of R. M. of York, Penn.

AMOS DRUCK, son of George and Catherine (Shell) Druck, was born November 10, 1851, in Hel- lam Township. and is the fifth of twelve children: Henry (deceased), Elizabeth (deceased), Susan (de- ceased), Amos, Aaron, George W., Moses F., John Wesley, Emma Jane, Annie (deceased), Elemina (deceased) and Catharine. November 25, 1872, Mr. Druck married Eliza Campbell, daughter of Henry and Lydia Campbell, of Windsor Township. Seven children were born to this marriage: Florence L., Edward H., Mary J., Emma J., Virgie May, Daisey May and Annie (deceased). Mr. Druck was reared on his father's farm, and began business (the manu- facture of cigars) in 1879, and employs from ten to twelve hands at this business. The Druck family settled early in York County; our subject's grand- father, Gottleib Druck, was born in Hellam Town- ship. Mr. Druck is a good citizen and highly esteemed by those who know him well. He is a member of the Evangelical Church.

GEORGE W. DRUCK, son of George and Catherine (Schell) Druck, was born April 18, 1857, in Hellam Township, was reared on a farm and went to his trade of cigar-maker in 1881, which oc- cupation he still follows. July 12, 1881, he married Eliza A. Stump, daughter of Benjamin and Eliza Ann (Mitzel) Stump, of York Township. Two in- teresting children have been born to this union: Elenora and Martha Washington. Mr. and Mrs. Druck's ancestors were early settlers in York Coun- ty, and Mrs. Druck's great-grandfather, Adam Stump, and great-grandmother are buried in the family burying ground in York Township, at the Stump homestead. The subject of this sketch, George W. Druck, is a steady, worthy young man, and held in high esteem in his neighborhood.

JOHN FLINCHBAUGH (farmer), son of Adam and Catherine (Dohm) Flinchbaugh, was born July 3, 1819, in the old homestead on the farm where Mr. Flinchbaugh now lives and which he owns. He was reared to farming, and has always followed that oc- cupation. January 5, 1843, he married Julia Ann Flinchbaugh, daughter of Jacob and Denah (Diehl) Flinchbaugh, of Windsor Township. Thirteen children were born of this marriage: Charles, Adam. Amanda (deceased), Jacob, Ephraim, Eli, David (deceased), Samuel. John (deceased). Liddie Ann, Julia Ann, Mary and Annie. Adam Flinch- baugh, the father of our subject, died in his sixty- first year. Catherine Flinchbaugh, his mother, died in her sixty-eighth year. The Flinchbaugh family has always been very numerous in this sec- tion of York Township. The subject of this sketch has been for many years one of York Township's leading. influential farmers, and no man in the township enjoys a better reputation for sterling honesty than John Flinchbangh.

AMOS GABLE, son of Valentine and Mary (Miller) Gable, is the second in a family of nine

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YORK TOWNSHIP.

children, and was born in Windsor Township, York Co., Penn., June 10, 1838. At eighteen years of age he began learning the blacksmith's trade, which he followed for about twenty-five years. In 1878 he purchased his present residence and thirteen acres of land in Longstown, and here has since resided. Mr. Gable was married, in 1865, to Miss Leah Erb, daughter of Jacob Erb, of Spring Garden Town- ship. They have two children: Levi E. and Solo- mon E .; another son, Jacob, died on June 17, 1868, aged two years, five months and eighteen days. Mr. and Mrs. Gable are members of the United Brethren Church at Longstown.

DR. JAMES. B. GLATFELTER, son of H. K. and Lucinda (Elhart) Glatfelter, was born in York Township, December 6, 1856. He was educated at the township schools, and after completing his school work took up the study of dentistry at Adamstown, and began the practice of his profes- sion in Adams County, where he remained two years. In 1879 he located in Dallastown, where he has been very successful in his profession. Dr. Glatfelter was married, in 1876, to Lizzie McLean, daughter of Jacob McLean, of Adams County. They have two children: Melvin and Maud. The Doctor and wife are members of the Lutheran Church.

WILSON F. GLATFELTER, son of William and Catherine (Flinchbaugh) Glatfelter, was born De- cember 19,1860, in Hopewell Township, and reared on his father's farm. He received his education in the public schools of his native township. He went to his trade in 1878 and worked journey work until 1884, when he embarked in the furniture business in Dallastown. He carries a large stock of goods in his line, and manufactures all kinds of furniture to order. His store-room and building is the largest and most attractive house in Dallastown, located in the center of the town, and although he began business within the last year, he is doing a large trade in York and surrounding townships.

PIUS E. GEESEY is a son of Jonathan and Sarah (Flinchbaugh) Geesey, natives of York County, Penn. His father was one of the early day men of York County, and for half a century lived on the farm now owned by the subject of this sketch. Pius E. is the seventh child in a family of nine children, and was born July 5, 1845, on the Geesey homestead, which he purchased at the death of his father and where he now lives, By occupa- tion he is a farmer. In 1873 he married Miss Ma- linda Miller, daughter of Jacob Miller, of Windsor Township. Three children have blessed their union: Jacob Jonathan, Adam M. and Mary Edith. Mr. and Mrs. Geesey are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

ARCHIBALD P. T. GROVE, M. D., a native of Chanceford Township, and son of A. G. and Eliza- beth (Thompson) Grove, was born March 21, 1854. Dr. Grove was educated at the public schools of Chanceford Township, Pleasant Grove and Stew- art's Academies. For three years he taught school, during which time he also began the study of med- icine, but subsequently he prosecuted further this study under the direction of Dr. Curran, of Cross Roads. With him he remained three years, and then entered the College of Physicians and Sur- geons at Baltimore, and graduated from that insti- tution March 6, 1878, and the same month^located at Dallastown, York County, and began the prac- tice of his profession. Here he has since resided. As a practitioner Dr. Grove is most successful, and he enjoys an enviable reputation. He was married in 1879 to Miss Cora E. Shaw, daughter of Z. S. Shaw, of Dallastown. They have one child, viz. : Austin M. Dr. and Mrs. Grove are members of the Harmony Presbyterian Church.

MICHAEL HOSE, SR., is a son of Deitrick and

Receni (Frank) Hose, and was born September 26, 1822, in York Township, where he was reared, and has always resided. He learned the trade of blacksmithing early in life, and has followed it up to the present time. At the breaking out of the Rebellion he enlisted in Company C, Eighty-seventh Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served with this regiment eighteen months, two months being passed in the hospital at Fort McHenry. He subsequently re-enlisted in Company K, Two Hun- dredth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was in service until the close of the war. His regi- ment participated in the battles around Petersburg, Butler's Front, Hatcher's Run, and was a witness of the surrender of Gen. Lee to Gen. Grant at Ap- pomattox Court House. He was mustered out of the service May 30, 1865, at Alexandria, Va. December 3, 1848, Mr. Hose was married to Miss Sarah, daughter of Jacob and Polly (Flinchbaugh) Geesey, of York Township. They have had born to them fifteen children. Three are now living in the county: Amanda, Louisa and Michael, Jr. Mr. Hose is a respected citizen of his township.

MICHAEL HOSE, JR., son of Michael Hose, of York Township, York Co., Penn., was born in that township, November 13, 1854. He first learned the shoe-maker's trade, which he followed about ten years, and then worked at carpentering for eight years. In 1882 he began the manufacture of cigars at Dallastown and is now doing a thriving business in that line. Mr. Hose was united in marriage in 1879, to Miss Mary Adelaide Keesey, daughter of Harrison Keesey, of York Township. They have one child, Emory Michael. Mr. and Mrs. Hose are members of the United Brethern Church.

SAMUEL PIUS ILYES, son of John and Eliza- beth (Hess) Ilyes, was born in 1857, in York Town- ship, on the homestead farm where he has always resided. There were eight children in his father's family: George (deceased), John, Jeremiah (de- ceased), Eliza (deceased), Louisa (deceased), Ellen, Aaron and Samuel. Aaron married Jane Day, daughter of Jesse Day, and John married Mary Hovis, daughter of Isaac Hovis. Our subject's parents are of German extraction, who, by hard labor and strict economy have been enabled to secure a competency. They own a farm of 200 acres of the best land in York Township, well stocked, cultivated and improved. The Ilyes family are members of the Lutheran Church.

HENRY INNERS is a son of George and Leah (Ebard) Inners. His father was a native of York County, Penn., and his mother was born in Adams County, Penn. Jacob Inners, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of Switzerland, came to America some time in the last century, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He took up a large tract of land made a settlement in York County. He was twice married and had several children by each wife. George Inners, the father of our subject, was the third son by the second mar- riage, and was born in York Township in 1804, where he lived until his death in 1876. Our sub- ject, the eldest in a family of eight children, was born December 18, 1840, in York Township, York Co., Penn. At nineteen years of age he began learning the miller's trade. In 1862 he enlisted in Company B, Second District Columbia Volunteers and served nine months. After returning home he resumed his trade at his present location. Mr. In- ners was married in 1865 to Miss Casinda Conway, daughter of Rev. John Conway, formerly of Dal- lastown. Seven children have been born to their union: Clara E., Annie, Rebecca, Minnie, Cora, . George H. and Chauncey P. Mr. Inners is a mem- ber of the Reformed and his wife of the Lutheran Church.

JOHN S. KEECH, second of eight children of

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCIIES.

David and Magdeline (Patton) Keech, was born March 25, 1824, in Lower Oxford Township, Ches- ter Co., Penn. When seven years of age he re- moved with his parents to Lancaster County. He received a common school education. When he was nineteen years of age he came to York Town- ship where he has always resided (except when in charge of the county almshouse). He taught school ten terms in York County and one term in Lancaster County. April, 1869, he was appointed steward of the county almshouse and hospital; he re- mained until 1874, then was appointed again in 1876 and filled the position until 1881, with credit to him- self and entire satisfaction of the people of the county. Was elected county auditor in 1854, and has been justice of the peace for York Township for twenty-two years, filling that office at the pres- ent time. April 4, 1847, he married Mary Ann Weitkamp, daughter of Charles and Louisa (Bier- man) Weitkamp, of Westphalia, Germany. Ten children were born to this union: Charles F., William H., Albert J., Edith M. (deceased), J. Ed- ward, Jerome H., Arthur S., James J., D. Hays and Harry E. Our subject's grandfather, Nathaniel Keech, died in 1841, aged seventy years. His mater- nal grandfather, James Patton, saw hard service as a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Mrs. Keech's father, Carl Weitkamp, died in his seventy-first year. Her mother, Lousia Bierman Weitkamp, is still living with Mrs. Keech, at the advanced age of eighty-three years.

CHARLES H. KEESEY, son of Henry and Elizabeth (Glatfelter) Keesey, was born April 4, 1847, in Springfield Township, York Co., Penn. On attaining his majority he engaged in the nursery business with a Mr. Evans, of York, Penn., and in this business continued three years. In 1869 he engaged as gatekeeper on the York & Chanceford Pike, and followed that occupation five years. In 1876 he leased his present hotel at Dallastown, and engaged in the hotel business. In 1879 he estab- lished a general store in Dallastown, which he runs in connection with the hotel, and is doing a good business. Mr. Keesey was married, in 1869, to Miss Elizabeth C. Hovis, daughter of Jacob Hovis. They have two children: Percy E. and Minnie May. Mr. and Mrs. Keesey are members of the Lutheran Church.

JACOB C. KING, seventh of nine children of John and Magdelena (Conkley) King, was born December 21, 1854, in York Township, on the old King homestead. He went to his trade (carpenter) in his seventeenth year, followed his trade ten years, carrying on the business himself two years. August 29, 1882, Mr. King married Sarah A. Sake- miller, daughter of Frederick and Susan (Dretz) Sakemiller, of York Township. One child has been born to them, John Frederick. John King, our subject's father, was born at the King homestead and died in his sixty-eighth year. Our subject's grandfather, Peter King, first settled on the King farm. He bought the farm (at that time 180 acres) from John and William Penn.

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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 207

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