AREA HISTORY:  Hanover Manufactures, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2006.  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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MANUFACTURES – Page 589

The rich agricultural lands surrounding Hanover naturally brought about the manufacture of 
farming implements.  The first industry of importance of this kind was wagon-making.  When 
pleasure carriages became common, and there were great demands for them, a number of persons 
were engaged in their manufacture.  Joseph and Samuel Althoff, William and Andrew Soliday, 
George Thomas and others each made them on an extensive scale, before the civil war.  About 
1870 the business rapidly declined, although there are yet a large number made.

Tanning was a profitable industry, at an early day.  Jacob Forney did a large business half a 
century ago.  He was followed by Henry Winebrenner.  Matthias Forney, George Nace, George 
Thomas and Cornelius Young were engaged in this business on a somewhat extensive scale.  
Michael Etzler now owns the only tannery in operation in Hanover.

Conrad Moul, in 1852, began to make the first reapers that were manufactured in York County.  
He started this business at his home, then north of the toll-gate, on Abbottstown Street, and 
afterward built a shop in town.  He obtained the shop-right to make the Hussey reaper and 
mower.  The first year he made four machines and sold three of them; the second year he made a 
few more and disposed of all of them.  In 1854 he exhibited one of his reapers and mowers at 
the York County fair, where it attracted great attention, it being the first and only machine 
of the kind on exhibition.  The following year he began to make them in great numbers, and 
employed many hands to construct them.  He afterward made a few of the “Dorsey,” and a large 
number of the “Ball” and “Johnston” machines.  He prepared all of the wood work in his own 
ships and obtained the castings at the Fitz Foundry, then in full operation.

Daniel Flickinger commenced to make the “Manny” reaper and mower, in 1855, and John and Peter 
Flickiner the next year began the manufacture of the same machine.  They soon after obtained 
the county right to make the “Dorsey” reaper, which was the first machine to successfully use 
the self rake.  The castings were made in their own foundry, in which they also made a great 
many thrashing machines and other agricultural implements.

Mr. Mummau started the first foundry in the vicinity of Hanover, about one mile from town, on 
the York road, and kept it in operation but a short time.

Jacob Fitz, as a young man, began the same business in a shop on his father’s farm, north of 
the village of Jefferson.  In 1838, he moved to Hanover and started a foundry, which afterward 
proved to be one of the most extensive manufacturing enterprises the town has ever had.  He 
made many varieties of agricultural implements.  Nearly all of the first thrashing machines 
used over a large section of country, were made at his establishment on Abbottstown Street.  In 
1848, and for several years later he made as many as 300 thrashers annually and employed from 
thirty to forty workmen.

The large five-story brick grist-mill, near the foundry, was built in 1863, at a cost of 
$30,000.  It then contained four burrs, three for flour and one for chopping.  They were driven 
by a fifty horse-power engine.  This mill was purchased in 1885 by George Klinefelter and 
Charles E. Moul, who refitted it and placed in it improved machinery.  Its capacity is ninety 
barrels of flour per day.

Conrad Moul & Co’s planning-mill, sash factory, etc., on Chestnut Street, employs about thirty 
workmen regularly, and is in continual operation.

The canning of fruits and vegetables is carried on extensively by David E. Winebrenner, who 
employs, during the summer months, from 150 to 200 men, women and children.  This is a valuable 
industry to the town.

The business of manufacturing cigars gives employment to more persons in Hanover now than any 
other industry.  There are several important factories in continual operation.  Among them are 
those of Daniel F. Stair, Jesse Frysinger, Charles Bowman, J. Bair, Harry Trone and L. Paff.

J. S. Young & Co., for a number of years, have made, on a very large scale, flavine and extract 
of quercitron from bark.  Immense quantities of bark are annually consumed at their 
establishment, which consists of about a dozen buildings.  The same firm conducts a similar 
business in Baltimore.

The large flouring-mill of Welsh, Sleeder & Co., built a few years ago, is now manufacturing a 
superior quality of flour, by the new process.  The brand of flour here made has gained an 
enviable reputation, and is meeting with a large sale.