AREA HISTORY: Goldsboro, Newberry Township, York County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis Copyright 2006. 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. _______________________________________________ GOLDSBORO – Page 627-630 In the year 1738 Nathan Hussey, an intelligent Quaker, from New Castle County, Del., who, in 1749, became one of the commissioners to lay off York County, obtained a grant for land on which the village of Goldsboro now stands, and a short distance above he opened a ferry across the Susquehanna. In 1743 a road was opened from Walnut Bottom, now in Cumberland County, then in Lancaster County through Fishing Creek Valley, to Hussey’s Ferry. A grist-mill was built at the mouth of the creek as early as 1750. The fishing interests on the islands of the Susquehanna became profitable, and Col. James Burd, of French and Indian war fame, who lived at his mansion, called “Tinian,” located above Middletown, became the owner of the river lands, Nathan Hussey having moved to York, where he became one of the founders of the Friend’s Meeting there, in 1764. The mill, for more than a third of a century, was owned by John Prunk, and was known as the “Red Mill.” Joseph Glancey, who was elected county commissioner in 1804, lived near this place, and erected a mill further up the stream, and, according to tradition, “had the roads run over hill and valley, to suit himself.” There was a continuous road from York to Harrisburg, along the Susquehanna, as early as 1800, but it was not a much traveled route until the turnpike was completed from York Haven to Harrisburg, when it then became a prominent stage route. The exchange stables were at Crull’s tavern, one mile below the site of this borough, and an important stopping place for exchanging horses was at Henry Etter’s tavern, one mile north of the town. This is now known as Free’s Distillery, an important industry begun there in 1856 by the present owners, H. Free & Co. Henry Etter, as early as 1838, secured the establishment of a postoffice at his tavern, which was named Etter’s. When the York & Cumberland Railroad was being constructed, in 1849-50, over the line of the turnpike, the stage line for a year or two left the turnpike route at Etter’s tavern, and extended up the valley to Harrisburg. Before 1848 there were two competing stage lines over the pike from Harrisburg to York. At one time passengers were conveyed from one place to the other for fifty cents each and a good dinner in the bargain. The site of Goldsboro, down to 1850, consisted of three or four houses and the “old Red Mill.” Martin P. Burger conducted a small store east of the turnpike. This collection of houses was humorously called “Martinsville.” When the railway was completed, in 1850, the station was called by its present name, in honor of J.M. Goldsborough, the civil engineer of the road. John Prunk died before the town of Goldsboro was dreamed of, and his property came into possession of his daughter Nancy, who married Joseph McCreary. The old burying ground of the vicinity is located within the present borough limits, immediately west of the Grammar School building. On the old “Kister Homestead,” now owned by Christian Miller, one of the first graveyards of the valley is situated. Henry Etter died in the spring of 1848, and the postoffice was removed to Adam Kister’s Ferry, which was one-half mile north of Middletown Ferry. Adam Kister was a soldier of the Revolution, and complained bitterly of Gen. LaFayette for accepting as a gift a township of land in Louisiana. This was in 1825, on which occasion LaFayette visited York. He claimed that such unusual attentions to the French patriot would only tend to bring America into another war with England. When the railroad was completed and business centered, the postoffice was removed to Goldsboro, but still retains the name Etter’s Postoffice. There is a postoffice in Lackawanna County, this State, named Gouldsboro, after the great financier Jay Gould of New York, who once lived there. John Kister, for many years has been postmaster at Goldsboro; H. C. Shelley at present. Dr. Alexander Small, of York, in 1849, secured the services of Daniel M. Ettinger to make a survey of a plat of ground on which the present town of Goldsboro now stands. The leading highways were named York Avenue, Broadway and Kister Streets. P. A. & S. Small purchased the “Red Mill,” and soon afterward built a large brick mill, and since then this firm have bought at this mill nearly all the grain hauled to market over a large territory of the northern part of the county. The lumber and milling interests caused the village to prosper. It contains several stores, two hotels, two churches and a number of fine homes. A fire destroyed several building a few years ago. Drs. Rynard and Warren practice their profession here. Among persons who have conducted stores here are Frazer & Kister, Ford & Sprenkle, C. F. Rheling, J. Z. Hildebrand, William Willis, John Kister, Henry Shelley, J. K. Waidley, George Good, Ernest Yinger and Mrs. Williams. There are now a number of cigar factories. The large town hall was burned. There are several secret societies and a post of G. A. R. The railroad offices do an extensive business, it being the most important station between York and Harrisburg. Population in 1880 was 378. Number of taxable inhabitants in 1884 was 134; property valuation, $127,236. The Silver Cornet Band is an excellent musical organization. Isaac Frazer, who has been prominently identified with this town since its origin, is owner and controller of the Goldsboro Saw-mill, planing-mill, sash and door factory, and the Atlantic Saw-mill, all of Goldsboro. He was born, May 20, 1820, in Newberry Township, and is the eldest of nine children. His father, John Frazer, and his mother, Pheba (Warren) Frazer, died at the advanced ages of eighty-two and seventy-nine years, respectively. Alexander Frazer, his grandfather, was a native of Lisburn, Cumberland Co., Penn. Our subject received his education in the schools of the vicinity of his home. Early in his boyhood days he turned his attention to mechanical pursuits, assisting his father in the manufacture of coffee-mills and door locks. He remained at home with his father until he was twenty-one years of age, working at this business and receiving nothing but his clothing and board. When he arrived at his majority, with a capital of $400, he began the mercantile business in a small room adjoining his father’s factory, and continued the same until 1852. In 1849, however, he purchased a lot, and erected a building, in which he and his brother-in-law, the late G. Washington Kister, opened a store of general merchandise at Goldsboro. This was about the time of the building of the Northern Central Railroad. In the year 1851, Mr. Frazer, taking advantage of an excellent opportunity, erected a large and commodious warehouse at Goldsboro, on the new railroad, and began buying grain and produce. The next year he sold out his store in the township, and devoted his entire time to his interest in Goldsboro. In the year 1852, he and his father-in-law, Rev. Jacob G. Kister, rented a saw-mill, and in the following year he built the Goldsboro Saw-mill, which is still in operation. As the business enlarged he increased the capacity of the mill, and during the past twenty years has done an immense business. In the year 1873, he leased the Atlantic Saw-mill at Goldsboro from P. A. & S. Small, of York, and operated the same in connection with his other mills until 1881, when it was destroyed by fire. He then leased the ground and rebuilt the mill himself. In the lumber trade he had done an immense business, supplying not only the purchasers of the surrounding country, but shipping large orders continually to towns and cities. His mills have, ever since their erection, furnished employment to most of the inhabitants of Goldsboro. It was mainly through his industry and thrift that the town prospered. Always manifesting a kindly interest in the welfare of his workmen, the relations between him and them have continually been mutual and amicable. In the public improvements of the village of Goldsboro he has ever shown a spirit of commendable enterprise. Endowed by nature with more than ordinary business tact and good judgment, which, combined with indefatigable energy and continued application, have not only rewarded Mr. Frazer for his industry in accumulating means, but elevated him to an important position among the influential business men of our county and State. A devoted Whig in his early life, he has since been an ardent advocate of the principles of the Republican party. He represented this congressional district in the electoral college which re-elected Gen. Grant for president of the United States. To the cause of education he has always given an encouraging word, and lent a helping hand. For many years was a member of the school board of Goldsboro, and at one time supported a private academy in his town. The Board of Trustees of Findley College, located in Findley, Hancock Co., Ohio, have lately elected him president of that body. He was a liberal contributor toward the erection of that promising educational institution, and is now devoting considerable time to the welfare of it. Mr. Frazer’s ancestors were of the rigid Quaker stock, who emigrated from the eastern part of Pennsylvania, about 1735, and located on the fertile soil of the Redland Valley. The old homestead, which has passed from father to son since that time, is now his property, which on account of its historic associations, he values more highly than any of the 425 acres of land in Pennsylvania, or the 560 acres in the State of Iowa, which he now owns. Many years ago he became a communicant member of the Church of God, a Baptist organization, and is now a liberal supporter of that denomination: is chairman of the Board of Publication, a member of the Board of Missions, and an active worker in the interest of his adopted church. Mr. Frazer was married, March 9, 1848, to Miss Susan Kister, daughter of Rev. Jacob G. and Nancy (Bowen) Kister. They have had four children; William, Robert and Cora are deceased. Edgar, the youngest son is now associated with his father in business. Some years ago Mr. Frazer moved with his family to Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County. Recently he purchased a lot of ground, and erected an elegant residence on Third Street, Harrisburg, opposite the State Capital building. In this he now resides, but continues his business at Goldsboro. THE RIVER MEETING HOUSE – A few hundred yards north of the village, for half a century, stood a frame building known far and wide as “the River Meeting House,” used for school purposes, and for religious services, by different denominations. It has long since disappeared; Michael Shelley, Henry Drorbaugh and Jacob Kister were the last trustees of it. In it William Chandlee and Asa Johnson each taught school for a number of years. The building became noted for its great revival meetings, under the auspices of the Church of God. Rev. John Winebrenner, the founder of this denomination, himself preached in it on many occasions, as well as Revs. Maxwell, Mullenix, Kister, Weishampel and other fathers of the church. One of the most noted events of its history occurred in November, 1825, when Lorenzo Dow preached to an immense audience in this building, shortly after his European tour, when the nobility of England paid admission to hear that singular yet wonderful genius. THE BETHEL CHURCH was built about 1860, by the Church of God. There was then an organization and a good membership. Mr. Isaac Frazer contributed largely to its erection. Some of the preachers who have served the circuit to which this church belongs, are Revs. Price, Jones, Keller, Charleton, Owens, Seabrooks, Meixel, Arnold, Carvell, and Fliegle. W. J. Grissinger was pastor in 1885. The Sunday-school, which numbers about 150 pupils and teachers, is superintended by Ross W. Dugan. The school originated in the “River Meeting House,” before 1850, and was then superintended by Samuel Bierbrower and George W. Kister. THE METHODIST CHURCH, built a dozen or more years ago, was first connected with the Duke Street Methodist Episcopal charge, at York. It now belongs to a circuit, and is supplied by the pastor who resides at Lewisberry. SCHOOLS – The schools of Goldsboro have been graded for many years. Two schools are kept up regularly for six months. Jacob Smith of Manchester, has taught the grammar school for several sessions. GOLDSBORO SANDSTONE QUARRY – During the year 1850, or thereabouts, Mr. Symington, of Baltimore, opened a sandstone quarry, about two miles west of Goldsboro. After a little prospecting he found a large vein of the most valuable sandstone, which he quarried and shipped to his native city for building purposes. George Betz came in possession of it in 1858, and worked it properly for a number of years. C. F. Reehling subsequently became the owner, and has since sold large quantities of this valuable building material for public buildings and private residences. A NOTORIOUS PRIZE FIGHT – The usually quiet village of Goldsboro, long known for the great equanimity and peaceful dispositions of the people, was stirred up from center to circumference on a certain Tuesday morning of January, 1867. Four of five years previous to this time, it was nothing uncommon to see train after train of Union soldiers pass through the town on their way “to the front.” Many a worthy son of the North and West stopped at this point, while his train was waiting on the arrival of a northern bound train to pass, and engaged in innocent amusements, but what disturbed the peace and harmony of Goldsboro, on this occasion, was the arrival of several hundred Baltimore and New York roughs, who came to this place to witness the brutal outrage of a prize fight between Samuel Collyer of the former, and John McGlade of the latter city. It was a very disgraceful and demoralizing affair. Collyer came off victorious, after forty-seven rounds, and won the prize of $2,000. The fight lasted one hour. The sheriff of York County appeared on the ground with a small posse, but being greatly outnumbered, could do nothing to prevent the contest. A military company, on their way to the inauguration of governor, was ordered to stop at Goldsboro, but under some misunderstanding, it seems the order was not officially received. It was said at the time that bets to the amount of $200,000 were won on the result of the disgraceful affair. This money was carried away in triumph by the party from Baltimore. HAY RUN – The name of this little stream which drains the southeastern part of Newberry Township, originated early in the history of the settlement there. There are a great many fertile meadows along its banks. Before the introduction of clover and timothy, which grasses were not grown in York County before 1790, these meadows supplied much of the hay to the farmers of that section. Hence the name of the stream. THE LAST INDIAN – Along a small stream called “Oil Mill Run,” about three-fourths miles south of Goldsboro, is the site of the last Indian wigwam of Newberry Township. At this place a half-civilized red man and his family lived as late as 1770, long after his brothers had gone “to the westward.”