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 208
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ADAM KOHLER, son of Jacob and Mary (Sechrist) Kohler, was born in York Township, January 2, 1841. He was educated at the township schools and Cottage Hill College. The early life of Mr. Kohler was spent in school and at schoolteach- ing. He afterward began clerking in a store in Dallastown, where he remained one year, and then went to York and spent about the same length of time at the same vocation. In 1872 he engaged in general merchandising. In 1876 he established his present business, and, in connection, in 1882 began the manufacture of cigars. He is a successful mer- chant and now enjoys an extensive trade. Mr. Kohler was married, in 1370, to Sarah A. Geesey, daughter of Samuel Geesey, of York Township.
They have five children: Lillie M., Alverta B., Claudie E., Howard L. and Mabel G. Mr. and Mrs. Kohler are members of the Lutheran Church.
CHARLES KOHLER was born in York Town- ship, September 5, 1846, son of Jacob and Mary (Sechrist) Kohler, and is of German descent. He engaged as clerk in a general store at Dallastown, and afterward at Windsor, where he remained about ten years. In 1870 he purchased a half inter- est in his brother's store and carriage business, and this partnership continued until 1881, when he bought his brother out, and is now doing a very extensive business. Mr. Kohler was married, in 1872, to Miss Emiline Geesey, daughter of Jonathan Geesey, of York Township. They had one child. Phineas L. Mr. and Mrs. Kohler are members of the Lutheran Church.
LEMUEL S. LAWSON. M. D., son of Thomas and Ellen Lawson (whose maiden name was Stans- bury a native of Carroll County, Md.). The father of Dr. Lawson was born in York County, Penn .; April 2, 1837, dates the birth of our subject in Manheim Township. He was educated at the pub- lic schools of Carroll Township, Md., and at Irving College. After completing his course he taught school for five years and then began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Henry Beltz, of Car- roll County, Md. Dr. Lawson graduated from the Maryland University in 1867, and then located at Klinefeltersville, and commenced the regular prac- tice of his profession. Here he remained only a short time and then went to Dallastown, where he has ever since continued the practice. He was married, in 1870, to Miss Margaret A. McFagen, of Chanceford Township. Mrs. Lawson died in 1872, and five years later Dr. Lawson married Miss Sarah Neff, daughter of Charles Neff of Dallastown. They have one child. Dr. and Mrs. Lawson are members of the United Brethren Church.
SAMUEL H. LEADER, eldest of three children of Charles and Salona (Hildebrand) Leader, was born August 22, 1836, in York Township; he was reared on a farm and received a common school education; taught school three terms in York Township. December 26, 1861, Mr. Leader married Mary Ann Naly, daughter of Henry and Magdeline (Cornbau) Naly, of York Township. To this mar- riage were born Clara E., Henry A., Minnie M., Charles M., Sallie A. and Addie L. Mr. Leader's grandfather's name was Frederick Leader. The Leader family is one of the earliest that settled in York Township.
A. P. NEFF, son of Jonathan and Eliza (Peel- ing) Neff, was born in York Township, York Co., Penn., January 18, 1839, and is the eldest in a family of four children. He was educated at the public schools and at the York County Normal School, at York, Penn. For twenty-seven years he followed school teaching and taught in the town- ships of York, Spring Garden and Hellam. In 1882 he began the manufacture of cigars and the "Perfect Rest" bed spring at Relay, and is now doing an extensive business. He was married, in 1861, to Miss Susan McAllister, daughter of Will- iam McAllister, of Chanceford Township, and Mrs. Neff died in 1877, leaving four children, three of whom are living: Lucinda, Samuel J. and Laura E. Mr. Neff was married in 1879, to Miss Annie B. Snyder, daughter of John A. Snyder, of York Township. They have two children: Eliza and Minnie M. Mr. and Mrs. Neff are members of the United Brethren Church at Dallastown.
JAMES B. PEELING, a native of York Town- ship, York Co., Penn., was born September 5, 1856. son of Josiah Peeling. In early life he learned the millwright's trade, which he followed for eleven years, and then engaged in the restaurant business in New York for one year. In 1883 he removed to
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YORK TOWNSHIP-SUPPLEMENTAL BIOGRAPIIIES.
what is known as the Fair Mount Home, on the York and Chanceford- Road, where he now resides. He was married, in 1878, to Miss Eliza Goodling, of Manchester Township. They have one child, Kir- ben Cleveland.
JACOB SECHRIST was born in York Town- ship, York Co., Penn., November 22, 1845, son of Jacob and Susan (Stabley) Sechrist. He learned the millwright's trade, which he followed for two years. and then engaged in the butchering business in Dallastown; then began the manufacture of cigars, and is now one of the most extensive man- ufacturers in the county. He has 193 acres of farm- ing land, which he cultivates in connection with the cigar business. He was married, in 1869, to Miss Annie Green, daughter of Rev. John R. Green, of Dallastown. Mrs. Sechrist died in 1870, leaving two children: Clara J. (and John. Mr. Sechrist was married, in 1874, to Miss Sarah J. Stein, by whom he has had five children: Annie M., Emma K., Jacob S., Harry S. and Prudence M. Mr. Sechrist has held the office of inspector and constable of the borough for three years.
J. F. SPOTZ, son of Jacob Spotz, was born in York Township, York Co., Penn., April 28, 1836. He first followed farming and then learned the basketmaker's trade, at which he continued for nineteen years. In 1872 he purchased property in Dallastown and commenced the manufacture of cigars and leaf tobacco. He has since resided in Dallastown, and his business has grown to cxten- sive proportions. He has a fine farm, which he manages in connection with his other business. Mr. Spotz was married, in 1861, to Miss Leah Miller, daughter of Henry Miller, of York Township. They have four children: Ida Agnes, Maggie May, Clara Bell and Henry L. Mr. and Mrs. Spotz are members of the United Brethren Church, of Dallas- town.
MOSES SNYDER was born in Windsor Town- ship, York Co., Penn., February 13, 1851, a son of Aaron and Catherine Snyder. He first learned the stone mason's trade, which he followed for five years, and then purchased a farm in Windsor Township, where he remained six years. In 1882 he established a general merchandising business at Snyderstown, in York Township, and is doing an extensive business. Mr. Snyder was married, in 1872, to Miss Catherine Sechrist. daughter of Henry Sechrist, of York Township. Mrs. Snyder died in 1874, leaving one child, Emeline. In 1875 Mr. Sny- der was married to Miss Mary Ann Deitrich, of Chanceford. They have four children: Henry A., Annie M., Barbara and James. Mr. and Mrs. Sny- der are members of the United Brethren Church, of Red Lion, Penn.
AARON STRICKLER, son of Henry and Cas- sandria (Bahn) Strickler, is the eldest of ten children, was born .in 1837 in Spring Garden Township, reared to farming, and followed it all his life, except ten years that he ran a saw-mill. May, 1864, he married Sarah Hartman, daughter of John and Henrietta (Crone) Hartman. Six children have blessed their marriage: William H., Annie, Ida J., Sarah E., John A. (deceased) and Ezra (deceased). Mr. Strickler removed to York Township when sev- enteen years old. Our subject's ancestors were among the very earliest settlers in York Valley. His great-grandfather, Henry Strickler, was born in 1746, where Winfield Howser now lives, at Stony Brook. Christian Strickler, the grandfather of our subject, died in 1840. Our subject's great-grand- mother's maiden name was Landis. His grand- mother's maiden name was Keller.
WASHINGTON D. STRIEBIG, only child of John K. and Harriet (Day) Striebig, was born Sep- tember 19, 1826, at his present home, where he has always lived. He always followed farming; re-
ceived a common school education. December 24, 1857, Mr. Striebig married Delalah (Emmel), daugh- ter of John and Mary (Mull) Emmel, of Spring Garden Township. Seven children were born to them: John, Elenora, George, Eliza, Mary, Edward and Josiah (deceased). The Striebig family is a very old one in York Township. Our subject's great-grandfather, George Striebig, purchased the farm on which our subject now resides, from the Penns, 111 years ago (1774).
SAMUEL WAGNER was born in Spring Garden Township, York Co., Penn., September 29, 1821, and is a son of John and Barbara Wagner. When a child he came with his parents to York Township, and here he has since resided. In 1853 he purchased his present farm, which is located near Longstown, and consists of 140 acres of well-improved land. Mr. Wagner was married, in 1845, to Miss Susanna Heidelbaugh. They have the following children: Sarah Aun, William, Lucinda, Samuel, John, Su- sanna, Annie C., Ella M. and Eli. Mr. Wagner has been assessor of York Township. John H. Wag- ner, a son of Samuel and Susanna (Heidelbaugh) Wagner, was horn November 26, 1853, in York Township. He received a common school educa- tion, and has always followed farming. October 24, 1876, he married Anna Kauffman, daughter of Joseph and Susan (Flory) Kauffman, of Windsor Township. Mrs. Wagner's paternal and maternal ancestors were early settlers of York County.
JOHN C. WEISER, son of John K. and Eliza- beth (Crosbey) Weiser, was born on the farm on which he still resides, June 25, 1831, and is the sec- ond in the family born to bis parents as follows: Benjamin, John C., Alexander, Charles, William H. (deceased), two infants (deceased), Granville and Mary J. At the age of seventeen our subject left the home farm and went to York, and learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for twenty- three years. He then returned to his home, and, in connection with farming, started the nursery and seed business. March 20, 1853, he married Leah J., daughter of Henry and Catharine (Kochenour) Myers, of York. To this marriage have been born William H., Charles F., Emanuel J., Emma C. E. and Carrie E.
SUPPLEMENTAL BIOGRAPHIES.
J. EDWIN SPRENKLE, A. M., M. D., is a native of Hanover, and is a son of Josiah S. and Margaret A. (Buchen) Sprenkle, natives of Penn- sylvania and Maryland. He spent his boyhood at the public schools of Hanover and prepared for col- lege by a four years' course under Prof. Baugher. He entered Franklin and Marshall College at Lan- caster, Penn., in 1877, and graduated therefrom June, 1881, as A. B. He entered Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in October, 1881, and grad- uated therefrom with honors. March 29, 1884. He received the prize for the best original research in Materia Medica Laboratory. Returning at once to Hanover he there began the practice of his chosen profession. He is a member of the Chi Phi frater- nity of his alma mater.
DR. JOHN WIEST, the subject of this sketch, was born in Paradise, now Jackson Township, Feb- ruary 24, 1846, being a direct descendant from one of the oldest families in the county; his great-grand- father, Jacob Wiest, having emigrated from Switzer- land, and having located about nine miles west of York previous to 1740. Dr. Wiest worked on his
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
father's farm until he was fifteen years old, when he entered the York County Academy, and took a classical course at this institution. After teaching school for two successive terms in Jackson Township and one term at the York County Academy, he commenced the study of medicine at the Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia and graduated at the University of Michigan on the 27th of March, 1867. When he was twenty-one years of age he commenced to practice medicine near Spring Grove, York County, and at once acquired a large and lucra- tive practice. In 1878 he went to Philadelphia and took a special course in the treatment of eye dis- eases at Will's Hospital. In 1879 Dr. Wiest moved to York and opened an office for the treat- ment of eye diseases and the adjustment of spec- tacles. His practice in this specialty rapidly in- creased, and at present his reputation as a success- ful eye doctor is known all over the county. His practice in the treatment of eye diseases and adjust- ment of spectacles now extends all over the county and into Adams and Lancaster Counties, and Car- rol County, Md. Dr. Wiest was one of the first directors in the York Hospital and Dispensary As- sociation, and was the originator of the West York Eye, Ear and Throat Dispensary. He is a regular attendant at the Eye, Ear and Throat Dispensary, and gives one hour every day of his time to the poor gratuitously. The Doctor is a member of the
County Medical Society since its organization; a member of the State Medical Society since 1871, and a member of the National Medical Association since 1883. Dr. J. Wiest, at an early age, took an active interest in politics, and an active part since he is a voter. He has frequently been elected dele- gate and committeeman to the county conventions and State conventions. In 1878 he was nominated and elected by the Democrats to the legislature, and was re-elected in 1880. He took an active part in the legislature, served on all the important com- mittees, and introduced and had passed a number of important measures; among them was a law to compel school directors to grant teachers the time to attend the county institute, and one to repeal an act allowing constables, justices of the peace and dis- trict attorneys to draw their fees out of the county in certain cases. The repeal of this law saves the tax payers of York County thousands of dollars annually. Dr. Wiest was a member of the revenue commission in 1881 and advocated the release of property covered by mortgages or judgment from taxation, and advocated the taxation of corporate property for local purposes in the towns and town- ships in which it is located. In 1885 Dr. Wiest was appointed one of the pension examiners of York County under President Cleveland's administration; subsequently he was elected president of York County pension board.
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