AREA HISTORY: Manheim Township, York County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis Copyright 2005. 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 TOWNSHIP OF MANHEIM - Page 691 SOME of the first settlers of the southwestern part of this county, emigrated from the Grand-Duchy of Baden, near the historic old town of Manheim, on the Rhine. Michael Danner, who, quite early in the settlement became a large land- owner in this section, when this township was organized, in 1747, requested that it should be called after his native place. It then included almost the entire area of Manheim, West Manheim, Penn and Heidelberg Townships, in York County, and portions of Union and Conewago Townships, in Adams County. Heidelberg was organized in 1750, but originally included what in the early settlement, was known as “Digges’ Choice,” and was nearly surrounded by Manheim. In 1816 a petition was presented to court, asking that the northern part of Manheim be added to Heidelberg. The signers to this petition were Daniel Dubbs, Andrew Garrett, Peter Overdier, John Thoman, Christopher Wolford, Conrad Sherman, Andrew Robenstein, Charles Warner and Henry Sherman. The court appointed George Spangler, Jacob Smyser and Charles Fisher viewers. Their report was confirmed, and the area of Manheim was reduced to include its present territory and that of West Manheim. In the year 1816 Jacob Albrecht and Valentine Wentz each owned an oil-mill; Daniel Dubs, an oil-mill and hemp-mill; Jacob Snyder, a paper-mill; Adam Schleeder, a fulling and carding-mill; Peter Reider & John B. Wentz, each a tanyard; Conrad Sherman, a tanyard and distillery, and one slave, the only one owned in the township, which then included West Manheim. The township, as at present formed, is bounded on the north by Heidelberg, on the east by Codorus, on the south by Maryland, and on the west by West Manheim. The land is undulating, but in general is quite fertile and productive. The Bachman Valley Railroad crosses the southeastern part of the township, and the Hanover & Baltimore passes along its eastern border. There are two postoffices: Xenia and Black Rock, but no villages within its limits.