AREA HISTORY:  Gatchellville, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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GATCHELLVILLE – Page 760

This village was named after Joseph Gatchell, who purchased the land on which 
the town is built, when it contained a pine forest.  He started a store which he 
kept for several years.  Matthew H. McCall and M. Hyson now conduct the 
mercantile business.  The town is pleasantly situated and is growing.  About one 
mile distant is the site of “Battalion Grounds” of militia days, on the farm of 
the late Dr. High McDonald.  The old Blue Ball Hotel not far from this village, 
for a long time kept by J. Bullett, was for fifty years the voting place of this 
township.  This historic site is now owned by Felix C. Herbert, a veteran 
Democrat who yet does faithful service for his party at the advanced age of 
eighty-three years.  He was county commissioner when the York Jail was built in 
1855.  Felix by accident voted twice in one day for his chosen candidate for 
president of the United States, before he was twenty-one years old.  It was not 
uncommon in those days to vote “on size” as well as “on age,” and he was large 
of stature.