AREA HISTORY:  Historical and Industrial Notes, Windsor Township, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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HISTORICAL AND INDUSTRIAL NOTES – Page 728

Before the division of Windsor the voting place for the general election was at David Leber’s 
tannery, and the spring election at George Overdorff’s mill, now owned by William Fishel.

Windsor was a great hunting ground for deer many years ago, especially the lower part of it.  
Leber’s tannery is located at the extreme lower end of the town along the “head of Kreutz 
Creek.”  Henry Leber, father of Nathaniel Leber, purchased the property in 1824, of John 
Kauffelt, who for many years before conducted the same business.  Charles A. Leber is now the 
proprietor.  There are two other tanneries in this township in operation, one owned by Daniel 
Stine and the other by D. W. Gehly.  Amos Hengst has for a number of years conducted a store of 
general merchandise near the center of Windsor.

Spring Vale Postoffice was established in 1877.  Noah Goodling was the first postmaster; John 
Seitz succeeded.

One of the few woolen factories of this county now in existence is owned by Daniel L. Gehly of 
Windsor; as a fulling-mill it has been run since 1780, or possibly earlier.  Large quantities 
of the “linsey-woolsey” of olden times was manufactured here before cloths, flannels, 
cassimeres and casinets were common in this country.  John C. Gehly, a son of the owner, is the 
present proprietor.  The woolen factory department was started in 1851.  A large business is 
now carried on at this place.  Stocking yarn, flannels, blankets, cloths, satinets and carpets 
are made in considerable quantities. 

Jacob Wallick, who enlisted as a soldier in 1814, now eighty-eight years old, lives in Windsor.  
He belonged to Capt. Hare’s company, which formed at York, and marched toward Baltimore in 
September, 1814, when the British threatened that city.  When his company, together with many 
others, had gone as far south as Shrewsbury, news was brought to them that the English had 
retreated; hence, they returned to York and were soon afterward discharged.  Wm. Wallick is a 
pensioner.  His health, during the summer of 1885, was very good and he was strong and 
vigorous.  He shot, during his younger days, twenty-six deer in Windsor.  He is the father of 
nine children, has lived fifty-one years where he now lives, and on the day of our visit to him 
was on his way to the woods to shoot squirrels.  He voted for James Monroe for president of the 
United States, and afterward voted three times for Andrew Jackson for the same office.  He is 
one of the three soldiers of the war of 1812 now living in York County.  The other two are 
William Cowan, aged ninety-five, of Lower Chanceford, and Robert Ramsay, aged ninety-three, of 
Delta.