BIO: Henry M. Bortner, York County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/york/ _______________________________________________ History of York County, Pennsylvania. John Gibson, Historical Editor. Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886. _______________________________________________ Part II, Biographical Sketches, Codorus Township, Pg 93 HENRY M. BORNTER, son of Michael and Catherine (Marckel) Bortner, of Codorus and Shrewsbury Townships, respectively, was born January 3, 1821, in Codorus Township, and is the second son in a family of eight children, viz.: Jared M., Henry M., Jonas M., Noah M., Sarah, wife of Solomon Wherly; Liddie, widow of Henry Bahn; Cassie Ann, wife of Peter S. Smith; and Catherine, wife of Adam S. Smith. June 14, 1846, our subject married Henrietta Dubs, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Rohrbach) Dubs, of Codorus Township. Thirteen children have been born to them: Albert D., Louisa J.; Henry D., deceased; Henrietta D.; Leminda, deceased; John D.; Sarah, deceased; Josiah D., Amanda D., George D., Edgar D., Laura D. and Alice E. Our subject was reared on his father’s farm, and received the advantages of the common schools of his township. He followed weaving for seven years, having learned it from his mother, and then went to learn the trade of miller, June 8, 1844, with Jacob Bortner, ex-commissioner of York County; Ephraim Fair was his miller. After working there four years, our subject bought the mill property of Michael Krout, at what is now Seitzville. He operated this mill four years, then bought Abraham Thoman’s mill in Shrewsbury Township, now Honeytown, where he followed milling twelve years, and then moved to his present mill, and after three years’ stay here rented a farm and followed farming five years, when he relinquished that occupation to accept the office of treasurer of York County, having served the full term to the entire satisfaction of the people. In 1875 he removed to the mill property, where he now lives, at Pierceville. He still runs the mill to its full capacity. Our subject’s father, John Michael Bortner, died October 21, 1870, in his ninetieth year. His mother died October 9, 1838, in her fortieth year. Subject’s paternal grandparents were Ludwig Bortner and Ablona (Florschner) Bortner, and were among the pioneer settlers of Codorus Township. Mr. Bortner is a member of Fishel’s (Lutheran) Church; has been assessor of his township ten consecutive terms, also school director for nine years, and is one of the leading and most respected citizen of Codorus Township.