OBIT:  Vincent O’BOLD, 1902, McSherrystown, Adams County, PA

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VINCENT O’BOLD HAS PASSED AWAY

“IT IS LIVE MEN THAT BUILD A TOWN NOT DEAD MEN.”

That Was The Motto of One of the Richest Men in Adams County Who Started Life as a Farmer.

Vincent O’Bold died at his home in McSherrystown last Saturday night, from a complication of 
diseases, aged 72 years, 9 months and 16 days.  In the section in which he lived he was one of 
the best known business men.  He was regarded as one of Adams county’s most prominent and 
successful farmers.

His remains were interred in the cemetery at Conowago chapel yesterday morning after a Requiem 
High Mass at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Rev. Father P. P. Hemler being celebrant, Rev. Father 
James Clark deacon, and Rev. Father Peter Crane subdeacon.

His Sturdy, Active Life.

Vincent O’Bold was born March 11th, 1827, in Conowago township, Adams Co., eldest child of 
Sebastian O’Bold and Anna Dellone, his wife.  He was an only son and of his four sisters, only 
one is living, Mrs. Gabriella Smith, of Hanover.  The founder of the family in this country, 
Sebastian O’Bold, (from whom also descended the Drexells, the well-known Philadelphia bankers) 
came from Germany in 1751, settling at Goschenhoppen, in Montgomery county, then moving to 
Lancaster county, and finally in 1786 to Conowago, where at the time of his death he owned three 
fine farms.  Of his four children, Anthony, the oldest, was the father of Ignatius, in turn the 
father of the subject of this sketch.

Vincent married Miss Louise, daughter of John Smith, of an old Conowago family; they had four 
children:  Ignatius, a student at New Windsor College, who died in September, 1873, aged 23 
years; Mary, who died at the age of 25 years; Rebecca, who died in March, 1873, aged 19 years; 
and Annie, who was called away in her 18th year.  Consumption claimed them all as its victims.  
His wife died about 22 years ago.

He was active, energetic, of iron constitution, capable of long continued effort, patient and 
untiring, and accumulated a large fortune.  While yet a youth he was started by learning from 
his uncle, Jacob Dellone, that his father’s farm would have to be sold on account of financial 
difficulties.  The news made a man of him and he went to work to save the farm.  He borrowed 
$1000 from an uncle, Michael Dellone, of East Berlin, and started to earn money.  He toiled 
early and late, established the first milk route in McSherrystown and Hanover.  He often got up 
before day, worked in the field or killed calf to peddle the meat on his trip, went over his 
milk route and hurried back to his work on the farm.  One winter he taught school.  He also 
peddled fish in season.  He cleared $1000 the first year, and in a few years married and with 
$1000 received from his wife paid off the balance of the debts and took the home farm.  

Made Money in Cattle.

He went into the cattle business and for over twenty years rode through the mountains of 
Virginia, sleeping in shanties and mills, often carrying $5000 in cash on his person.  He bought 
big droves and cleared as much as a $1000 on a single trip.  During the civil war he arranged to 
find recruits to fill the quota of his township when drafts were ordered, and handled large sums 
of ready cash.  He was in many dangerous places while a drover and had also exciting adventures 
in Harrisburg and with the Army of the Potomac down on the Rapidan, while in search of 
volunteers to take his bounty money; but his ???ness, shrewdness, determination and bold address 
carried him safely through without mishap.

Owned 600 Acres.

Having learned how to make and save money, Mr. O’Bold pushed his way with enterprise, shrewdness 
and untiring energy.  He bought more farms and owned at one time 600 acres of the finest land in 
the section, and two mills, for one of which, formerly owned by his uncle, Jacob Dellone, be 
paid at public sale $17,300.

He became interested in the First National Bank of Hanover from its foundation and in 1866 was 
elected a Director, serving in that capacity until his death and from 1888 to 1899 as its 
President.  He was the largest stockholder at the time of his death.

He was active in the building of the Hanover and York Railroad, a Director in the company and 
one of the largest stockholders at the time of its sale to the Pennsylvania Railroad.  He was 
one of the promoters of the McSherrystown and Hanover Turnpike Co., and its heaviest 
stockholder; one of the builders and owners of the Hanover Silk Mills; one of the founders and 
heavily interested in the Hanover Foundry and Machine Company, which succeeded it on its 
failure.  He was also one of the founders and heaviest stockholders in the Hanover Milling and 
Manufacturing Co.  He was also interested in the present American Machine and Foundry Co.  He 
bought, enlarged and improved the Central Hotel, at Hanover, and built the Hotel O’Bold, on the 
Centre Square, of that place.  Thus he was a most enterprising and valuable citizen and the 
enterprises that have made Hanover and McSherrystown grow owe much to his financial assistance 
in the past twenty years.

Not only with his money, however, did he assist, but with his personal work and encouraging 
words.  He was accustomed to say:  “It is live men that build a town, not dead men.”

In politics, Mr. O’Bold was a Republican.

It is understood that Mr. O’Bold died without a will.  The home farm of 215 acres, at the edge 
of McSherrystown, he deeded to the Sisters of St. Josephs, some time ago, and also a farm near 
Irishtown to his nephews, Henry, George, Al. and John Smith. 

Gettysburg Compiler - Wednesday, December 31, 1902