BIO:  David SMALL, York County, PA

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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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Part II, Biographical Sketches, York Borough, Pg 44

DAVID SMALL was born in York, May 3, 1812, and was the son of Peter Small, a 
prominent citizen and master-builder, who died when David Small was twelve years 
of age, leaving five children:  Daniel, John, David, Margaret (who became the 
first wife of Henry Welsh, Esq.;) and a half-sister named Sarah, intermarried 
with Lewis Templein, now living in Ohio, and the sole survivor of the family.  
At the tender age in which we find him at his father’s death, he was taken by 
Mr. Welsh, his brother-in-law, and initiated into the mysteries of printing in 
the office of the York Gazette then published by Kind & Welsh (“next door below 
the German Reformed Church, Main Street”) the latter becoming a partner in its 
publication in May, 1824.  After the manner of the enterprising news boys of the 
present day, he was not slow to take advantage of opportunities as they 
presented themselves at that early date, and took pride in relating how he had 
taken part in contributing his professional skill to the demands of the citizens 
on the occasion of the visit of Gen. LaFayette to York, in 1825, of which he had 
a distinct recollection to the last.  Mr. Welsh, in 1829, disposed of his share 
of the Gazette to George A. Barnitz, Esq., and subsequently became proprietor of 
the Pennsylvania Reporter, at Harrisburg, and was elected State printer.  Mr. 
Small left York with Mr. Welsh and became foreman of the State printing.  Owing 
to bad health, however, he was compelled to leave Harrisburg, and on the 1st of 
April, 1836, became part owner of the Gazette, with Hon. Adam J. Glossbrenner, 
continuing uninterruptedly in the proprietorship until his death, nearly half a 
century.  In his salutatory to the readers of the Gazette, on assuming his share 
in the proprietorship, he tersely concluded:  “The undersigned will not trouble 
the reader with a long string of promises-believing in the old adage that ‘large 
promisers are generally small performers.’  He would much rather be judged by 
his acts than by his promises to act,” and this peculiar announcement at the 
beginning of his business career will be recognized as characteristic of his 
whole life.  Before Mr. Small left Harrisburg, he became united in marriage with 
Miss Adeline Sprigman, daughter of Solomon Sprigman, bookbinder, of that city, 
the ceremony having been performed by Rev. A. H. Lochman, D. D., of York, then a 
resident of Harrisburg.  In his wedded life he was assisted with good counsel 
and the encouragement and comfort of a helpmeet in every emergency, rearing a 
family of three boys, whose conduct in life has caused their parents but little 
jar in the family circle.  In 1839 Mr. Small became postmaster at York for the 
unexpired term of Daniel Small, his brother, under President Van Buren, and was 
succeeded by George Upp, Jr., under President Tyler, in 1841.  Mr. Small was 
tendered a continuance of the postmastership under Mr. Tyler, but having 
contributed nothing to the elevation of that gentleman to the presidency, 
declining to become a supporter and beneficiary of his administration.  In 1845, 
however, he was appointed to the same position by President Polk, again by 
President Pierce, and was continued by Mr. Buchanan.  The appointment of editors 
as postmasters has been tabooed, generally, by the government in the early days, 
but in the person of Mr. Small the custom was broken, and under the persuasive 
eloquence of prominent Pennsylvania politicians, the Hon. Amos Randall, 
postmaster general under President Polk, mad the way clear for many prominent 
and intelligent officials, who have sprung from the editorial staff, with great 
benefit to the service, and without detriment to the interests of professional 
brethren, who, it was feared, would suffer in the prompt dispatch of the mails, 
by narrow-minded competitors.  In 1861 he was elected director of the poor, and 
served four terms successively.  In 1862 he was elected chief burgess of York, 
and continued for nine successive terms, and in 1876 he was a presidential 
elector on the Tilden ticket.  He was a director of the York National Bank about 
thirty years, and of the Farmers’ Insurance Company about ten years.  As a 
printer Mr. Small stood well in his profession.  He was practical, and in his 
early days one of the fast compositors of southern Pennsylvania.  As an employer 
he was kind, not exacting, dignified, but approachable, and solicitous for his 
employes, and always commanded their respect and good-will.  His standing in the 
Democratic party in York County, while in health, was at the fore-front, and 
while not a brilliant leader, was a wide counsellor, and much of the grand 
Democratic majority in the county is owing to his wisdom and tact; and, although 
prominent in politics, he never permitted himself to be named before a county 
convention for office except for director of the poor, in which he was solely 
governed by a desire to contribute to the welare of the unfortunate class who 
come within the ministration of that office, and it is to his credit that his 
memory is still retained in gratitude by many of those who participated in the 
humane treatment experienced in the days of his directorship.  Mr. Small died 
August 8, 1885, and, as a mark of respect to the deceased, Chief Burgess Heiges 
issued the following proclamation:

 “By the death of David Small on Saturday last, York has lost one of its most 
prominent and honored citizens.  In view of his long and useful public career in 
various positions of trust and responsibility in this community, and on account 
of his exemplary private life, and because of his having so acceptably filled 
the office of Chief Burgess of York for nine consecutive years, I have directed 
the borough flag to be suspended at half mast until after the funeral of David 
Small, Tuesday afternoon, August 11, 1885, and I recommend a suspension of 
business, as far as possible, from 3½ to 4½ p.m. of said day, and especially on 
the part of all offices and employes of the borough; and I further direct that 
the bells on the engine houses be tolled between the above mentioned hours as 
tokens of respect for the memory of the deceased.

                                  “George W. Heiges,
                                       “Chief Burgess.
“York, Penn., August 10, 1885.”

The funeral of Mr. Small took place on Tuesday afternoon, the services 
commencing at his late residence at 3½ o’clock, Rev. J. O. Miller, of Trinity 
Reformed Church, officiating.  The remains were interred in the family lot at 
Prospect Hill Cemetery, attended by a large concourse of relatives and friends.  
In accordance with an expressed desire in life, the employes of the York Gazette 
printing office acted as pall-bearers.  Thus closes the career of a useful man 
who has left his impress for good upon the community, and leaves one land-mark 
less to connect the past with the present; leaves a void in the family and 
social circle, and many regrets among those who knew him best and had cause to 
remember his many kindnesses in word and deed; and to whom it will be gratifying 
to know that his end was peace, and his departure without a struggle, entering 
into a rest he longed for, as the rest which endureth forever.  [The above 
sketch is comprised of extracts from an obituary notice in the York Gazette of 
Tuesday, August 11, 1885.]