AREA HISTORY:  Dillsburg Business, Carroll Township, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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BUSINESS INTERESTS – Page 653

The Dillsburg Bank organized as a private banking institution under the style of 
Miller, Deardorff & Co., began business September 4, 1873.

Andrew G. Miller, then cashier of the Farmers & Mechanics Bank of Shippensburg, 
Penn., and James N. Blair, Esq., a capitalist of Dillsburg, Penn., were the 
projectors of the institution.  When the object of their enterprise became known 
they were joined by Jacob Cover, Joseph Deardorff, William Beitzel, George Wick 
and John N. Logan.  A permanent organization was effected September 4th, 1873 in 
the house of David Sheffer of Dillsburg, which had been secured for the 
business.  Captain William E. Miller (son of A. G. Miller, Esq.), a leading 
hardware merchant of Carlisle, Penn., was elected president, and held the office 
for two years.  Joseph Deardorff, Esq., the leading capitalist of Carroll 
Township, was elected vice-president and John N. Logan, Esq., was elected the 
cashier.  The board of directors consisted of William E. Miller, A. G. Miller, 
Joseph Deardorff, William Beitzel, Jacob Coover, James N. Blair and George Dick.  
The early history of the bank was a very trying one.  Scarcely had the new 
enterprise been started, when the terrible panic of 1873 plunged the whole 
nation into the greatest financial crisis in our country’s history.  And the 
years 1873-78 were such as to severely try the solvency of any financial 
institution.  But the principal stockholders stuck to it with a determined will, 
and in 1878 reorganized it as a National Bank.  Joseph Deardorff, Esq., became 
president in 1875, and upon the death of Geo. Dick, Esq., his son, Edward Dick, 
was elected to his place in the board, while A. G. Blackford Esq., was elected 
to fill the vacancy caused by the retirement of N. G. Miller, Esq., on the 
failure of the Farmers & Mechanics Bank of Shippensburg, Penn., and in 1877 Mr. 
William Beitzel sold out his stock to M. J. Blackford, who upon the retirement 
of Daniel W. Beitzel, Esq., the first teller of the bank from its organization, 
succeeded him as teller.  In September, 1878, a charter was obtained for the 
Dillsburg National Bank, and on November 1, commenced business as a National 
Bank with the following officers:  President, Joseph Deardorff; vice president, 
Jacob Coover; cashier, John N. Logan; teller, M. J. Blackford; directors:  
Joseph Deardorff, Jacob Coover, A. G. Blackford, Andrew Bentz, Henry Bowman, 
William Sadler and Edward Dick.  Paid up capital, $50,000.  With the advent of 
better times came great prosperity, and those of the stockholders who stood by 
the old institution lived to see a flourishing business built up in the new 
bank.  The officer bought the fine business house of T. L. Spahr and removed the 
bank there and conducted the business in that house until 1884, when they bought 
the present building in which the bank is now situated.  In 1880, Mr. M. J. 
Blackford, the teller, was elected to the Pennsylvania Legislature, and George 
W. Cook, Esq., a nephew of Mr. Deardorff, was elected teller.  In 1880 the 
capital stock was increased to $60,000.  The National Bank has been quite a 
success, and the business grew from a small deposit in 1878 of $20,000 to 
$120,000 in 1884.  In the winter of 1884 Mr. Logan’s health failed, and he was 
obliged to tender his resignation as cashier; but it was not accepted by the 
board of directors until August of the same year, when Mr. G. W. Cook was 
elected to succeed him.  When Mr. Logan retired the bank had a capital of 
$60,000.  Surplus and undivided profits of $5,000, a deposit of more than 
$100,000.  The present officers are Joseph Deardroff, president; George W. Cook, 
cashier; John B. Firestone, teller.  Directors:  Joseph Deardorff, M. J. 
Blackford, Andrew Bentz, Henry Bowman, Jacob Coover, Lewis Strayer and William 
Sadler.*

The tannery business was carried on by various parties at an early date and 
there were several distilleries in the vicinity.  Daniel Bailey owned a tannery 
for many years.  The Underwoods manufactured their celebrated whips in Dillsburg 
for a time.  Jacob Heiges was known far and wide as a chair-maker.

General stores were kept by Jacob Lauman, Johnson Moore, Elcock Metzgar & Co., 
Henry Sidel & Son, who are now prominent citizens of Minneapolis, Minn., Lewis 
Spahr once owned a dry goods store.  Calvin Riegle and John Arnold started the 
first hardware store.  Beitzel & Bender, M. Arnold & Son and A. D. Altland now 
own dry goods and grocery stores; J. A. Arnold, hardware; L. H. Watts, drug 
store; Noah Heiges and J. F. Rearick, shoe stores; John A. Smith & Co., stove 
and tin store; J. M. Porter, clothing store; F. Lau, flour and feed store; S. N. 
Bailey & bro., and W. H. Bryson, warehouses; Augustus Hursh and Atticks & Co., 
lumber yards.  There have been a number of coach shops and cabinet-maker shops 
at different times.

The Nelson House, for a long time the site of Sidel’s tavern, was built in 1863.  
The Howard House has long been a hotel stand.

After the completion of the Dillsburg & Mechanicsburg Railroad, the business 
interests of the town began to increase rapidly, and it has since been known as 
an important grain market.


* The Dillsburg Bank item is contributed by J. N. Logan.