AREA HISTORY: Loganville, 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. _______________________________________________ THE BOROUGH OF LOGANVILLE – Page 715 The borough of Loganville is situated along the York & Maryland Line Turnpike near the centre of Springfield Township. On an elevated plane immediately west of the town, the landscape scenery far to the north and the west is fascinating beyond description. The broad and fertile valley, extending from the Susquehanna, southwest as far as the field of vision goes, and north to the South Mountains, unfolds to the view of the observer, a garden of unrivalled loveliness, with the town of York, near the eastern bounds of the circular horizon, and Gettysburg in the western. Robert Wilson, an auctioneer, laid out the town of Loganville in 1820, and named it in honor of Col. Henry Logan, then a leading politician, who resided near Dillsburg, and subsequently represented this county in congress. Robert Wilson, afterward, became court crier at York, to which place he moved. In 1824 he advertised that “Old Bob has lately come to town and can always be found at his stand on East Market Street. He is only man in the county, who has cryed all his life without weeping.” The survey of the plat of ground on which Loganville is built, was made by Robert Richie. The town is built in two sections, between which is a ridge of land. Some jovial personage during its early history, comparing the town thus built to the saddle-bags of our old time physicians, gave it the cant name of “Zwerichsackstettle.” Wilson would not sanction the use of this title after which for some years, the name “Martinsburg” was very generally applied to it, on account of the large number of martin birds, that collected there. Robert Wilson owned a large house, which is not now in existence, in this he kept the first postoffice. In 1830 Samuel Keyser succeeded him, and held the office for many years. Jacob Gipe kept the first store of the town, in the house now owned by Juliann Venus, Frederick Asper soon after opened a store in the house at present owned by W. A. Spate, Paul Burbank conducted the same business in the house of Casper Hildebrand. Frederick Overmiller was one of the early merchants. Susan Hildebrand, now ninety-one years old, and widow of Jacob N. Hildebrand, has a distinct recollection of the origin of the town. Catharine Decker, another resident, is ninety-four years old. In 1830 there were twelve houses, a hotel and a store, in 1840, the number of houses increased to twenty, and the population was ninety. Population in 1880 was 312. Number of taxable inhabitants in 1884 was 102; valuation of real estate for same year, $89,344. Loganville was incorporated, April 2, 1852. The first election officers were: judge, John F. Beck; inspectors, George W. Reever and Jacob Glatfelter; chief burgess, John Beck, Sr.; assistant burgess, Michael Snyder; town council, John Hildebrand, Frederick Venus, Samuel Smith, Daniel Goodling and Adam Krout; constable, Charles Overmiller; school directors, Joseph Hartman, Casper Hildebrand and Henry Kerlinger. There were but three school directors chosen that time for the borough. Of these officers the following are still living: George W. Reever, York, Penn.; Samuel Smith, Glen Rock; Daniel Goodling, Loganville; Adam Krout, Springfield Township; Joseph Hartman, Shrewsbury Borough; Henry Kerlinger, Stewartstown; John F. Beck, Springfield Township. The present chief burgess is Josiah N. Bailey. Deterich Hildebrand and Charles Sprenkle are the justices of the peace. The former has been justice for a number of years in succession. The Loganville cornet band was organized August 20, 1858, and at present numbers twenty members. It has an excellent reputation for fine playing. New silver-plated instruments were purchased in 1885. The band owns a fine hall in which weekly meetings are held. Henry Kerlinger and Henry Decker were instrumental in organizing the band. Deterich Hildebrand is the only original member. The Loganville Mutual Improvement Society, which has existed for many years, is an organization that has accomplished much good. Quite a taste for reading and study has been aroused among young people through its work. Several of the young men who were members, have become successful ministers and physicians. It is also the parent of the York County Educational Society. Dr. George P. Yost, now of Glen Rock, for a number of years enjoyed a lucrative practice at Loganville. He has been succeeded by Dr. George W. Holtzapple. The village schools for 1885, were taught by E. B. Goodling and J. M. Bailey. Emanuel S. Smith, of the prothonotary’s office, resides here as does also W. A. Spate, one of the publishers of the Glen Rock Item to whom we are under many obligations for the history of Loganville.