BIO:  Michael D. Smyser, 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/
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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, Jackson Township, Pg 120

MICHAEL D. SMYSER, son of Daniel and Catherine (Weist) Smyser, was born March 27, 
1842, in Jackson Township, where he was reared on his father’s farm.  In 1867 he 
moved to Franklin Township, and after fifteen years residence he returned to 
Jackson Township, and removed to his present home in Spring Grove in the spring 
of 1885, and began business in grain, all kinds of feed, flour, coal, phosphates, 
etc.  Mr. Smyser is the owner of valuable real estate in Spring Grove, having 100 
feet of ground fronting on Main Street, and extending back to Glatfelter’s 
Sideling, on which are erected four buildings on Main Street, two warehouses, 
etc.  In addition to this Mr. Smyser owns a house and lot on Water Street and a 
lot on Main Street, and is building a new warehouse in place of the old one.  
April 15, 1866, Mr. Smyser married Magdaline Menges, daughter of Andrew and 
Caroline (Klinepeter) Menges, of Jackson Township.  This marriage was blessed 
with four children:  Henry Howard, Edith Ellen, Andrew Willard and Ada May.  In 
the late war Mr. Smyser enlisted in Company H, Two Hundredth Regiment 
Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was with the regiment at Butler’s Front, Fort 
Stedman, Petersburg, at the surrender of Petersburg, and also at the surrender of 
Lee’s army.  He was mustered out of service at Alexandria, Va., and honorably 
discharged at Harrisburg at the close of the war.  Our subject’s grandfather was 
Michael Smyser.  His grandmother’s maiden name was Wolf.