YorksPast

Part of the USA Today Network
Posted by Stephen H. Smith All Posts, Family Histories, Maps, Pennsylvania, Roads, Springettsbury Township, York County

1860 Buildings 61-70 in West Region of Springettsbury Township

Dr. George Conn—Nineteenth Century Cancer Doctor of Pleasureville

Pleasureville Region in what is now Springettsbury Township; from Shearer’s 1860 Map of York County, PA & Penn Pilot Aerial Photo, from September 18, 1937, of Same Area (Annotations by S. H. Smith, 2017)

At the top of this illustration, using Shearer’s 1860 Map of York County, I’ve pointed out, and marked, ten 1860 buildings in the Pleasureville region within what is now Springettsbury Township. At the bottom of the above illustration is a 1937 aerial photo of the same region.

This is the 23rd post in a series where I match 1860 dwellings, identified on Shearer’s 1860 Map of York County, to the families resided in them; utilizing the 1860 United States Census. This was the most challenging set of ten dwellings I have yet encountered; since only two of the ten were labeled on the map. Other sources initially added to the confusion, but ultimately the puzzle came together.

Zooming-in on the Aerial View of Pleasureville

I’ve zoomed in on the 1937 aerial photo to provide better detail in locating the 1860 properties (w61) through (w70).

Enlarged View of Penn Pilot Aerial Photo, from September 18, 1937, in Pleasureville region within Springettsbury Township (Annotations by S. H. Smith, 2017)

I’m working my way around Springettsbury Township until all buildings from 1860 are visited. See the post: Springettsbury Township building tally during 1860,  for my specification of the four regions. With this post, I’ve completed an examination of the property owners for all 1860 buildings in the North, East and South regions of Springettsbury Township. Two more posts will complete this series; they will focus on the Pleasureville area in the West region.

Shearer’s 1860 Map of York County  contains the owner/occupant of most buildings; for example (w70) is __ Miller. Additional information on __ Miller can be found by consulting the 1860 Census of the United States, in conjunction with other sources; where one discovers this is Elizabeth Miller, a 72-year-old, widow farmer, with $2,400 in real estate holdings.

The results after consulting 1860 Spring Garden Township census records are shown below. Spring Garden Township 1860 Census records must be used because Springettsbury Township was formed from the northeast part of that township on April 20, 1891. The order of visitation, of the census taker, often provides assistance on who are neighbors and the tabulation of “value of real estate” separates the landowners from the renters or tenants:

It is suspected that some or all of the 1860 structures are contained within eight of the buildings at these addresses:

  • [w61] – 2436 North Sherman Street
  • [w62] – 2417 Pleasant View Drive
  • [w64] – 2461 Pleasant View Drive
  • [w65] – 2481 Pleasant View Drive
  • [w66] – 2491 Pleasant View Drive
  • [w68] – 2452 Pleasant View Drive
  • [w69] – 2462 Pleasant View Drive
  • [w70] – 2510 North Sherman Street

[w64] Residence of Dr. George Conn

Dr. George Conn was a prominent Nineteenth Century cancer doctor who practiced in Pleasureville. He initially resided at location [w64] and by 1876, he had moved into the home at location [w65]. John Gibson’s 1886 History of York County, PA contains a biographical sketch for Dr. Conn on page 187; quoting:

DR. GEORGE CONN, seventh of eleven children, of Henry and Mary (Shrum) Conn, was born August 25, 1819, in Manchester Township. He was reared on a farm and educated in Spring Garden Township. November 8, 1849, Dr. Conn married Maria Shepp, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Slagle) Shepp, of Manchester Township. Three children blessed this union: Annie Mary, wife of John Sipe; Susanna, wife of Albert J. Bower, and Alexander (deceased). When our subject was twenty-eight years of age he began the successful treatment of cancer; his success in the treatment of this loathsome disease was so marked and exceptional that he made it his life work. Many persons in York and adjoining counties in the enjoyment of health to-day can testify to Dr. Conn’s success in their cases after having failed to get relief from eminent physicians in the large cities. Dr. Conn resides in the village of Pleasureville, about three miles from York, in Spring Garden Township. His post office address is Box 509, York, Penn.

Dr. George Conn was still living in Pleasureville at the time of the 1900 United States Census. At that time he was a widower, his wife having died on August 31, 1893.

The 1860 Census Taker obviously recorded the wrong line when he re-wrote the final census ledger; i.e. that George Kern was a 34-year old Laborer. There is overwhelming surrounding documentation this is actually George Conn the 40-year old Physician. A follow-up post will be written; providing the string of evidence.

Links to other posts in this series include:

Reading the Headlines: A Quick Index to All YorksPast Posts

Related Posts

Details about Mahlon Haines’ Churchill Downs near Hallam

Davies Drive a short-cut to The First Post

History Night Event and the Hotel Paddock

YouTube Videos of Springettsbury History Night Events

Yorkshire History Walk on September 23rd