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 50

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 50

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Prof. R. K. Buehrle, superintendent of public schools for the city of Lancaster. in a recent lecture on this subject, delivered in that city, among other things said :

"But are not the Pennsylvania Germans behind, intellectually? Are they not rather backward in the educating of their children?

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

The annual report of the superintendent of public instruction may throw some light on this question. There are sixty-six counties, excepting Philadelphia, and omitting Alle- gheny, as containing the two large cities, Pittsburgh and Allegheny, there remain only sixty-five. The value of school property in these counties is $20,566,739, while the Penn- sylvania German counties, Berks, Lancaster, Lehigh, Lebanon, Montgomery, Northamp- ton and York alone report $4,681,844, or al- most 23 per cent. One-eleventh of all the counties report one-fifth of the value, and of these our own Lancaster stands first with $998,163, and Lehigh, little Lehigh, third, with $809, 905, while Chester, arrogating to itself the claim of having the Athens of Pensylva- nia in its borders, reports but $614,517, and is ninth in rank. And lest this should be at- tributed to size, here is Berks with $780,239.

"Of the teachers we have this to say: of the 3,645 permanent certificates issued, 20 per cent belong to these counties, and here again, our own county heads the list with 180, while literary Chester reports but ninety- five. Even in the salaries of female teachers we find that Pennsylvania German Lancaster County pays an average of $37.68, while the so-called Attica of Pennsylvania pays but $35.63; and if she pays her male teachers more, this is easily accounted for by the very small number, only forty-three to Lancaster's 297, and their consequently holding only higher and hence well-paid positions. Among city superintendents we find Landis, Desh, Foose, Nitrauer, Roth, Gotswals, Harpel and Transeau, surely a fair proportion, at least 24 per cent, while the county superintend- ents are, perhaps, 21 per cent of the entire number. The Pennsylvania German Second Normal School District first established its State Normal School, which is still the larg- est in attendance, and so well managed and supported as never to have been in danger of being sold by the sheriff, as were many of the others. Pennsylvania German Lan- caster County, was twelve years ahead of Chester, its neighbor, in this matter of estab- lishing its Normal School; and all the conn- ties composed largely of that element have established and maintained such schools, as witness Millersville and Kutztown, while the fourth and the eleventh, not Pennsylvania German districts, are still waiting."

The Clergy: Among Pennsylvania Ger- man clergymen of greater or less distinction may be named Arndt, Aurand, Apple (Apfel), Berg, Bomberger (Baumberger), Baugher (Bager), Dubs, Deininger, Enders, Fischer, Fastnacht, Geistweit, Glessner,

Göhring, Gottwalt, Harbaugh (Herbach), Hay, Helfenstein, Heiner, Hibschman, Hut. ter, Jacobs, Krauth, Kurtz, Kohler, Keller, Lochman, Mayer, Menges, Miller, Mühlen- berg, Morris (Moritz), Rauch, Rauhauser (late of Franklin County), Reber, Rothrauf, Rothrock, Schmucker, Schneck, Schmidt, Sprecher, Stahr, Stroh, Vanderschlot, Wag- ner, Wedekind and Ziegler.

Militia: In the Revolutionary times, as early as July, 1775, we find George Lewis Löffler acting as clerk of the Committee of Safety at a meeting of the committee and the officers of the militia companies of York County, held at York. The committee and officers divided the county (then includ- ing what is now Adams) into five districts or divisions, and as many battalions, and pro- ceeded to elect field officers. Michael Schwope was chosen one of the majors of the first battalion; Henry Schlagle, lieutenant-colonel of the second, and Gerhard Graef, one of the majors of the fifth battalion. On the 2d of August. following, Michael Schwope com- municated these proceedings at large to the Committee of Safety, at Philadelphia, and urged the speedy forwarding of the respect- ive commissions. On the 14th of September, of the same year, an address was signed and sent by seventeen gentlemen, members of one or other of these battalions, to the same committee on the same subject, setting forth, among other things, that each of the battal- ions then consisted of at least 500 men, and the whole 'number of " Associators," whose names had been received bythe committee, was 3,349. Among the names appended to this address, are those of George Eichelberger, Baltzer Sprugler (Spangler, it doubtless should be), Martin Eichelberger, Michael Schmyser, Nicholas Buttinger (Bittinger), Philip Albright (Albrecht), Daniel Messer- ly, and John Hay.

Under date of York Town, February 3, 1776, we find the following condensed, but patriotie little communication to the State Committee of Safety.

Gentlemen:

The want of Locks and Barrels for making the Public Arms, Brass and other Materials Scarce. the Demand for Rifles great, and the price of Muskets but Small, in the opinion of Gun Smiths, with other Reasons, have mueh Retarded the making of the Pub- lic Arms, at length the greater part of them are got to work ; many Arms in a fair way of being Finished. Labor has been Done and Arms finished to the amount of the Sum sent us by you and upwards ; the whole Money you have sent us we have paid to the workmen, and demands are daily increasing on us. We are very Senceable that from present appli- cations it will be absolutely necessary that a further Sumn be Ready for the workmeu, and hope you will send the sum of £300 or upward to us by Mr.

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THE PENNSYLVANIA GERMANS.

Swoope, (Michael Swope) We shall carefully lay out the same for the Public Service.

We Remain, Gentlemen,

Your Humble Servants,

Henry Tyson,

Jno. Mickle. Commissioners. Michael Hahn.

Directed-To the Committee of Safety in Phila- delphia.

₱ favor of Thomas Hartley, Esq.

If this was the production of either, (or all) of the three commissioners whose names are signed to it, or, of any other Pennsyl- vania German layman, it is, altogether, highly creditable, even in a literary sense. If, however, as is most likely, it was the production of Thomas Hartley, Esq., prob- ably their legal counsellor at the time, it shows that his belles-lettres was unequal to his patriotism.

Among our Pennsylvania German Revolu- tionary soldiers were Ensign Henry Miller, Capt. Hartman Deutsch, Lieut. Philip Entler and Ensign Luke Rause, Maj. Michael Schwope, Ensign Christopher Lauman, Lieut. John Hay; Sergeants Paul Metzgar, Henry Walter and John Schulz; Capt. Michael Hahn, Lieuts. Balthaser Spengler and Michael Bill- myer, and Ensign George M. Spengler, Lieut. Christian Stake, Capt. Rudolph Spengler, Capt. Michael Doudel, Major Lewis Busch, Lieut. Jacob Stake, Col. Henry Schlegel, Capt. Michael Schmeiser, Capt. Gerhardt Graeff, Lient - Kauffinan, Capt. Jacob Dritt, Lieut. - Baymiller, Ensign Jacob Mayer, Lieut. Jacob Holtzinger, Ensign Jacob Barnitz, Lieut. Joseph Welsch, Capt. Bittinger, Sergeant Peter Haak, John Strohman, Christian Strohman, Henry Hoff, Joseph Updegraff (Ob den Graef), Daniel Miller, Henry Schulze, and Capt. Yost Her- bach. It will be observed that those named were nearly all officers, and of about one hun- dred names given in Carter and Glassbrenner's History, thirty-five, at least, were Pennsyl- vania Germans; and of a list of forty-one York County Revolutionary pensioners, given by the same authors, at least twenty were such.

Of ninety seven officers and privates com- posing the company of "York Volunteers" which marched to the defense of Baltimore in the war of 1812, under the command of the gallant Michael H. Spangler. were no less than fifty-two Pennsylvania Germans, and in the brave little band of nine volunteers who went from York and fought their way from Vera Cruz to the city of Mexico, there were seven.

In the War for the Union: In the Eighty- seventh Regiment, Infantry, Pennsylvania Volunteers, organized at York, from Septem-

ber 1 to 25, 1861, and which took part in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Monocacy, Ope- quan, Fisher's Hill, and Cedar Creek: Col. George Hay, who was honorably discharged, May 8, 1863. Lieut .- Col. John W. Schall; Lieut .- Col. James A. Stahle; Maj. Noah G. Ruhl; Adjt. G. C. Stroman; Adjt. W. C. Waldman; Chaplain, D. C. Eberhart; Capt. John Fahs; Lieut. Jacob Hay, Jr .; Lieut. John F. Spangler (who died of wounds), Lieut. William Bierbower; Capt. Lewis Maish; Lieut. John Crull, Lieut. Henry Epley; Capt. Isaac Wagner; Capt. Jonathan S. Keesey; Lieut. C. H. Stallman; Lieut. Henry Waltemeyer (killed June 9, 1864); Capt. James H. Blasser; Capt. Edgar M. Ruhl; Capt. Benjamin D. Dull; Capt. An- drew G. Schull; Capt. J. R. Anamaker; Lieut. George Blasser; Lieut. W. H. Welsh; Lieut. Joseph F. Welsh; Lieut. Henry Seitz; Lieut. Samuel W. Keesey (died of wounds); Lieut. Henry Stine; Capt. Solomon Myers; Capt. Charles J. Fox; Lieut. William F.Frank; Lieut. Alexander Strickler; Lieut. Peter Nickle (killed in battle of Petersburg); Isaac J. Simmons; Capt. V. C. S. Eckert; Capt. Henry Morningstar; R. S. Harman; Capt. Philip Gentzler; Lieut. Daniel P. Dietrich; Lieut. M. S. Slothour (killed in battle at Bunker Hill, Va.), Capt. John Albright; Lieut. Charles F. Haack (killed in battle at Monocacy, July 9, 1864); Lieut. C. P. Stro. man.

One Hundred and Thirtieth Regiment, Infantry, Pennsylvania Volunteers: Col. Henry J. Zinn (Cumberland County, killed in battle of Fredericksburg, Va.), Col. Levi Maish, Capt. H. A. Glessner, Lieut. Henry Reisinger, Lieut. William G. Bossler, Capt. Lewis Small, Capt. David Z. Sipe, Lieut. John P. Frick. These, with one exception, were from York County; their names indi- cate their German descent. Besides these there were hundreds of others, officers and pri- vates, of the same patriotic blood, from other parts of the commonwealth, many of whom fell in battle or died of wounds, or disease contracted in the service of their country; and still others who joined regiments organ- ized at Philadelphia and other parts of the state. Prominent among these was Capt. L. H. Greenewalt, who enlisted as a private in Company B, Twelfth Regiment Pennsylva- nia Cavalry, in December, 1861, and served with the regiment until February, 1863, when he was detached by Gen. Milroy as chief of scouts for the Army of the Shenandoah. In January, 1864, he was, at his own request, relieved of that command, and commissioned

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

and mustered in as captain of Company M, First Maryland, P. H. B. Cavalry, in which he served until the close of the war.

In the Soldiers' National Cemetery at Get- tysburg rest the honored remains of many a brave Pennsylvania German, side by side with thousands from other states and of va- rious nationalities; and doubtless many a heoric German among the hosts of the " un- known." Among the class first named are the following, who fell either as Pennsylva- nia Volunteers or members of the Reserve Corps, viz .: J. J. Finnefrock, Samuel Finne- frock, Corp. J. Gutelius, William H. Har- man, C. Herbster, Franklin Myers, G. Deis- roth, Nelson Reaser, Robert Lesher, W. Lin- inger, John Kunkel, John Weidner, Absa- lom Link, William H. Knichenbecher, Sergt. Wonderfeer, A. Dellinger, Benjamin Hassi- ler. G. W. Stalker, T. P. Swoop, John Reimel, George Seip, Fritz Smittle, Emil Preifer, Corp. W. H. Myers. D. A. Ammer- .man, Peter Hilt, Frederick Heinley, Corp. B. F. Ulrich, Jacob Manch, William S. Stamm, Samuel Kramer, Solomon Shirk, H. M. Kinsel, George Dunkenefield, David Stainbrook (Steinbruch), D. Bomgardner, Sergt. J. Myers, Gid. F. Borger, Gottfried Hamman, First Lieut. Keimpel, John Henei- son, E. Berlin, J. Kleppinger, William Strauss, Jacob Frey, Frederick Schoner, George Herpick, Corp. William Schultz, Jacob Keirsch, John Kramer, Ceorge Moyer. A. J. Bittinger, Samuel Zeckman, Sergt. Robert Sensenmyer, Henry W. Beegel, John Metz, S. N. Warner, I. Beider, Mayer Sorber, Joseph Werst, John Boyer, Jacob Christ, Anton Frank, Jacob Zimmerman, J. Stroble, Wendel Dorn, William Vosberg, A. K. Cool- baugh (Kuhlbach), S. Brookmeyer, John Za- well, Corp. Samuel Fitzinger, H. C. Tafel, and A. F. Strock, (75.)

Among those of whose bravery, fidelity and devotion special mention is made by Adjt. Gen. Russell in his annual report (1866, pp. 7-8, ) are Zentmeyer of the Fifth Reserves, Strauss of the Forty sixth, Brenholtz of the Fiftieth, Schall of the Fifty-first, Culp of the Fifty-seventh, Tochudy of the Sixty-ninth, Koltes of the Seventy-third, Mahler of the Seventy-fifth, Naghel of the Eighty-third, Kohler of the Ninety-eighth, Greenewalt of the One Hundred and Fifth, Ziegle and Forney of the One Hundred and Seventh, Steinbruch of the One Hundred and Ninth, Zinn of the One Hundred and Thirtieth, Snyder of the One Hundred and Thirty-ninth, Rosengarten of the Fifteenth Cavalry, and Knoderer of the One Hundred and Sixty-seventh.

"To this roll of honor," he says, "might

be added the long list of line officers, and the still longer list of patriotic private soldiers, who contributed their lives a sacrifice to sustain the same noble cause. What sub- stantial consideration can be too great, what manifestations of gratitude too liberal, on the part of their surviving countrymen, toward the families of those who fell in their behalf, and died, not only to save their government, but to protect their homes and hearth-stones from the pollution of the ruthless invader ?"

In our neighboring counties, the result of investigation and research is substantially the same. In Adams, originally a part of York (for want of a civil list, or separate local history, a complete analysis of its German Penn. population, etc., cannot be made) the German element never has been so strong as in those connties embracing richer soils. A quiet, honest rural life, freedom from debt, a good farm, or at least a good comfort- able Christian home of his own, have ever been about the sum total of the average Penn- sylvania German's ambition. A glance, how- ever, at a tax list, a panel of jurors, or of her principal county officers, within even the last ten years, indicates a very considerable Ger- man population in Adams county. And, as in York and other eastern, and northeastern counties, it will be found that the names, with the exception of slight modifications in spelling, correspond with those of the original settlers of what was then Lancaster county. Thus we find Achenbach, Buehler, Beitler, Chritzman, Danner, Eichholtz, Fickes, Geyer, Gerloch, Hollinger, Ickes, Kitzmiller, Little, Meyer, Neiman, Oberholtzer, Peiffer, Rauzahn, Schmeiser, Schwob, Spengler, Troxel, Utz, Weldi, Yingling, and Ziegler. The territory now Adams county, though originally settled chiefly by Scotch-Irish, is now, and has for a long time been, the home of many very worthy Pennsylvania German families. Mr. Day in his valuable Historical Collections (1843), says, "The German population now so large in the county, and which threatens soon to outnumber the Scotch-Irish, came in at a much later date-probably about the close of the last century. As late as the year 1790, the inhabitants of all these townships were obliged to go to York postoffice for their letters, twenty-five or thirty miles. In an old York newspaper of that date, there is an ad- verlisement of letters remaining in the office; and it is remarkable that nearly all the names from that region, now Adams county, are Scotch and Irish, the McPhersons, McLellans and all the Macs; the Campbells, Allisons, Wilsons, Morrisons, Worrells etc., etc .- while a German name seldom occurs."

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THE PENNSYLVANIA GERMANS.

Among "facts gathered from aged citizens of the vicinity" he mentions that Capt. Nicholas Bittinger died in Adams County, in 1804, aged seventy-eight. He was one of the first who took up arms in the war of the Revolution. He was taken prisoner fighting at the head of his column, at Fort Washing- ton. He endured a tedious captivity and hard treatment, which induced the com- plaint that terminated his life."

Capt. Nicholas Bittinger was a son of Adam Bedinger, or Beedinger (as the name was originally written), who emigrated from Alsace in the year 1736, and landed with his family at Philadelphia, settled at Lancaster, but afterward removed to York. His son, Nicholas, was also a member of the Commit- tee of Safety for York County in 1775. He then resided on Great Conewago Creek, in Menallen Township. That there were other early German settlers in those parts appears from many old title papers, e. g., a deed from John Schauman to Adam Beetinger (Bittin- ger), dated May 7, 1753, for a tract of land situated on the Carlisle turnpike, three miles northwest of Hanover, York County. On the death of Adam Bittinger, this farm (of 190 acres) became, by proceedings in the Orphan's Court, vested in his eldest son, Nicholas, who also became the owner of nu- merous other plantations in York, and the then adjoining county of Franklin. His remains lie buried in the Lutheran Cemetery at Abbottstown, Adams County. Henry Bit- tinger, a venerable citizen of Hanover, now in his eighty-eighth year, and father of John W. Bittinger, Esq., of the York bar, is a great grandson of Adam, and grandson of the brave Capt. Nicholas Bittinger.

It was through the influence, intelligence, and indomitable energy of learned and de. voted Pennsylvania Germans, that the Theo- logical Seminary and Pennsylvania College were founded, established, and have been so successfully conducted at Gettysburg. From the Lutheran almanac for 1842, Mr. Day gleans among other things that, "By the efforts of the pastor elect and other ministers, and especially the self-denying labors of the Rev. Benjamin Kurtz, who visited Germany, the seminary was established on a firm basis ; that Rev. S. S. Schmucker, was the first pro- fessor ; Rev. E. H. Hazelius, D. D., the second ; that in 1843 the faculty consisted of Rev. S. S. Schmucker, D. D., chairman ; Rev. Charles P. Kranth, D. D., Henry I. Smith, A. M., professor of German, etc. That particular attention was paid to the Ger- man language, and the course of studies was so regulated that a due portion might be pur-

sued in that language by all the students who so desired. That the college had its origin in the wants of the German portion of the community, and especially of the Theologi- cal Seminary. That a preparatory depart- ment was established (in 1827), under the charge of Rev. D. Jacobs, who died in 1831, and was succeeded by Rev. H. L. Baugher (Bager), A. M. That as the number of stu- dents had increased, and the prospect of use- fulness, especially to the German community, was very flattering, Prof. Schmucker invited the citizens of Gettysburg to co-operate in the establishment of a college, which they did ; a charter was procured, and in July, 1832, Pennsylvania College was organized, and, in the following October, went into op- eration, Drs. Schmucker and Hazelius officiat- ing as professors until October, 1834, when Rev. C. P. Krauth, D. D., became its presi- dent. The faculty, in 1843, consisted of Drs. Krauth, Baugher, Revs. M. Jacobs, W. M. Reynolds, H. I. Smith (professor of the German language, etc.), Dr. D. Gilbert, M. L. Stoever and Gottlieb Bassler. Of these, it will be readily seen, five at least were Ger- mans, or of German descent, and being citi- zens, if not natives of Pennsylvania, they justly and fairly come within the designation of Pennsylvania Germans.

For want of a separate local history and a more complete civil list, all that can be here added on the subject is that during the last ten years a large proportion of the county offices have been held by Pennsylvania Ger- mans. At this time they are nearly all so ; Samuel Eaholtz, is sheriff, George R. Smith, prothonotary, J. S. Stonesifer, registrar and recorder ; C. W. Stoner, clerk of courts ; Dr. H. L. Diehl, coroner ; George E. Stock, treas- urer ; associate judges, White and Gulden ; Samuel McSwope, district attorney ; Hartzell, Sheely and Keller, commissioners, and John G. Brinkerhoff, surveyor. At least eight of them are Pennsylvania Germans, exclusive of Mr. McSwope, the very able and learned young district attorney, who though of Ger- man descent (the Mc not being a part of the original name) does not speak, though he partially understands the dialect.

Among many highly respectable, influen- tial, enterprising and intelligent Pennsylva- nia Germans in Adams County are the Fahnestocks, Ruthrauffs, Walters, Sherfys, Stallsmiths, Strickhousers, Schulzes, Stah- lys, Forneys, Kurtzes, Hokes, Schivelys, Musselmans, Brickers, Vandersloots, Schicks, Schrivers, Benners, Weikerts, and others. And these, intermarrying with their Scotch- Irish neighbors, have produced that brave,

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

hardy, patriotic, industrious and intellegent stock of people for which the now historic battlefield county of Adams is so justly cele- brated.

Berks County, from 1779 to and including the year 1885, there were twenty-one repre- sentatives in the National Congress, of whom fourteen (or 70 per cent) were Pennsylvania Germans, namely: Frederick A. Mühlenberg (Continental Congress), Daniel Hiester, Jos- eph Hiester, Mathias Reichert, John H. Hyneman, Daniel Udree, Ludwig Voorman, Henry A. Muhlenberg, George M. Keim, John Ritter, Henry A. Mühlenberg. Jr., William A. Keim, John Schwartz, J. Law- rence Getz, and Daniel Ermentrout, the pres- ent member.

The remaining six were William Adams, William Strong, J. Glancy Jones, Jacob K. McKenty, Sydenham E. Ancona, and Hiester Clymer, none of whose names indicate a de- cidedly German descent, though some were probably familiar with the State dialect. Henry A. Muhlenberg was minister to Aus- tria from 1838 to 1840.

Henry Haller, Bodo Otto, Valentine Eckert, Nicholas Lutz, Joseph Hiester and Charles Schumacher were among the (ten) represent- atives from Berks County in the Provincial Conference, held in Carpenter's Hall, Phila- delphia. Tuesday, June 18, 1776. The other four were Jacob Morgan, Mark Bird, Benja- min Spyker (probably a Pennsylvania Ger- man), and Daniel Hunter.

The conference resolved upon the Provin- cial Convention that met on Monday, July 15, 1776, for the express purpose of "form- ing a government in this province on the authority of the people only:" and, among other things, agreed upon that ever memora- ble Declaration of Independence of the province. Among the (eight) delegates from Berks were Gabriel Hiester, John Lescher, Valentine Eckert and Charles Schumacher. The other four were Jacob Morgan, Benjamin Spyker, Daniel Hunter and Thomas Jones, Jr. But even these were not the earliest bold and patriotic measures in which Pennsylvania Germans took part. As early as the 4th of July, 1774, the "committee of the city and county of Philadelphia, through a sub-com- mittee, headed by that immortal leader and champion of constitutional rights, John Dick- inson, prepared instructions for the Provin- cial Committee when it should meet in that same old keystone cradle of liberty, Car- penter's Hall, in July of that year. Thomas Willing (mayor of the city in 1763) was chairman of the committee. Among the Philadelphia members were the following

Pennsylvania Germans, Adam Hubley, George Schlosser, Christopher Ludwig and Anthony Morris (Morritz), Jr.

From York, James Smith, Joseph Donald- son and Thomas Hartley, no Pennsylvania Ger- mans. But among five from Berks, was brave alt Chrischtopher Schulze. From Northamp- ton there were four, and among them Peter Küchlein and Jacob Arndt. Through the la- bors and resolves of this committee was brought about that First American Congress in Carpenter's Hall, where Washington, the two Adamses, Roger Sherman and many other illustrious Christian men of the time, Episco- palians, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Anabaptists, and others, bowed the knee side by side with the humble Quaker, while the man of God, Rev. Jacob Duche, offered up that fervent, and justly celebrated "First Prayer in Congress" in behalf of the sacred cause of American Independence.

John Lescher was also a member of the committee (of eleven) that on the 28th of September, 1776, reported the "Declaration of Rights." Baltzer Gehr, of Berks, was, in 1783, elected, and also served as one of the Censors provided for by the Constitution (of 28th of September, 1776) "to enquire whether the Constitution was preserved inviolate in every part."

Of the five representatives from Berks County in the first General Assembly under this constitution, at Philadelphia, March 24, 1789, were three Pennsylvania Germans -- Joseph Hiester, Gabriel Hiester and John Ludwig. Of the five delegates who repre- sented Berks County in the convention of 1789 called to amend the constitution (of 1776) were four Pennsylvania Germans: Joseph Hiester, Christopher Lower (Lauer). Paul Groscup (Groszkopf) and Baltzer Gehr. This convention framed the amended consti- tution of 1790, adopted by a popular vote in the fall of that year, and remained the gen- eral, fundamental law of the State until the adoption of the present one in 1873-74. Of the five delgates from Berks County in the State constitutional convention of 1837 two, at least, were Pennsylvania Germans-John Ritter and George M. Keim. Of State officials under the constitution of 1790 (and its sev- eral amendments) six were from Berks County, viz .: Joseph Hiester, Governor, Frederick Smith, attorney-general, appointed by Gov. Andrew Schulze (1823) and commissioned an associate justice of the Supreme Court in 1828. John Banks, State treasurer (1847), William M. Hiester, secretary of State (1858). Will- iam H. Keim, surveyor-general (1860) and Warren J. Woodward, associate justice of

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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 50

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