My previous post told how researchers connected U.S. presidents Barack Obama, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon and William McKinley with their York County, Pa. roots. Below are a couple more presidents and a vice president whose families have been traced back to York County. I didn’t do any original research on
Sarah Bigler Porter and Benjamin Franklin Porter How would you like to pay your medical bills by trading goods or services? That was a fairly common practice with 19th century country doctors and their patients. For example: In 1882 George W. Riale was credited by Brogue physician Benjamin F. Porter
Newspapers were the only media outlet in the 19th century and politics often had the most extensive coverage. Even though some papers in the 19th century claimed to be unbiased in theie coverage, most were not. They were emphatic in their political views, attacking candidates and office holders of opposing
Lewis Miller drawing of Einstein and his cabbages Yesterday’s post told how early York County Democrat Simon Einstein [Anstine] was successfully elected on his own ticket to the Pennsylvania General Assembly when fellow Democrats left him off the official slate. How did he celebrate? With a wagon load of cabbages!
Lewis Miller drawing of Windsor Democrat Simon Einstein Politics and politicians have been at the top of the news throughout the history of our country. York County was no different from any other area, with rampant mudslinging and infighting. Newspapers were usually very partisan and elections hotly contested. Folk artist
It seems that a good many distinguished journalists have had York County ties, either having been born and raised here or gained experience at one of the local papers. One example is York-born journalist Dick Smyser, well known in the newspaper world as an outstanding editor. Dick Smyser was born
With a name like Benjamin Franklin Crumling, perhaps a Mt. Wolf merchant with musical talent was destined to compose patriotic songs. Crumling was born in Hellam Township in 1869. He grew up there, marrying Anna Mary Frey. He was a merchant for more than fifty years, first in Hellam Township,
Another election has just passed, this one with little fanfare. No federal offices were at stake and only judicial ones at the state level. Many county and local officies were not up for election and some of those who were had only one candidate. The flier above for the 1924
Simon Snyder, Pennsylvania Governor 1808-1817 Simon Snyder, who served from 1808 to 1817, was the first of many Pennsylvania Governors to have Pennsylvania German roots. George Leader, Governor from 1955 to 1959, the only York County-born governor, was another. Even though Simon Snyder wasn’t born in York County, biographies of
William Findlay is shown on the left and Joseph Hiester on the right in these images from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Nineteenth century Yorkers took their politics very seriously, as you can see in the rather long ad that Frederick Hoke took out in February 1818 in the