AREA HISTORY: Winterstown, 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 WINTERSTOWN – Page 754 About 1830, Townsend Winter, of Steuben County, N. Y., purchased of the heirs of Rev. John Smith, 400 acres of land for $2,000, on which the scattered borough of Winterstown is now built. The land then had become very poor, and Winter, like an ingenious Yankee, turned his attention to clearing off the woodland. The name first given to the town was “Apple Grove,” on account of the abundance of that fruit. He sold off his land in large lots and commenced to build the house now owned and occupied by Daniel Brenneman, who purchased it of him while in course of erection. He last lived in the house now occupied by Henry Landis. In order that he might perpetuate his own name, before moving to Galesburg, Ill., where he died, a few years, ago, he had the name changed to Winterstown, which was retained when a charter of incorporation into a borough was obtained. The survey was made by Wilson Norris. The population in 1880 was 199. It has increased very little since. This borough is in the northern part of the township, distant about twelve miles from York and seven miles from Stewartstown. The first store was kept by Emanuel Klinefelter, now of Shrewsbury. Graham & Snyder do a business in general merchandise in the south end of town, and Daniel S. Mitzel has a similar store in the north end. C. Geesy is proprietor of the hotel. There is but one school building, which was built a few years ago at a cost of $700. The term is five months; State appropriation, $45. The board of school directors for 1885 were Joseph Snyder, president; George N. Joeckle, secretary; Dr. C. Y. Hildebrand, Daniel Hildebrand, Joel Hildebrand and Henry Landis. Chief burgess, Levi Strayer; councilmen, Frank Brenneman, Cornelius Hake, J. W. Brenneman, Charles Kibler and Daniel Brenneman. Justice of the peace, Frank Strayer. The meeting house, in the extreme northern part of the borough, belongs to the German Baptists. (See page 387). Church of the United Brethren in Christ – The first class of this church at Winterstown was organized about 1830. Rev. Frederick Flinchbach then organized the scattered adherents into a congregation that first worshiped in dwelling houses and barns. Successful camp-meetings were held in the vicinity. In the year 1868, Rev. John H. Young held a revival meeting in the barn of John Strayer, which resulted in many additions to the congregation. The following year a church was built. The trustees then were: John Strayer, Granville Jackson, A. E. Fulton and Rev. Peter Carl, minister in charge. The ministers of this circuit since organization have been: Christian S. Crider, Henry Greenblade, J. S. Wentz, Tobias Crider, W. H. Carumer, J. H. Young, A. H. Rice, Samuel Enterline, Isaac Coomes, W. B. Raber, Jesse Cline, L. Kohr, and J. C. Smith. Trustees now are A. F. Strayer, John Brenneman, Elias Grim and J. W. Strayer. Church membership is sixty; Sunday-school has sixty- five pupils. W. H. Snyder is superintendent. Mount Olivet Church – This church of United Brethren in Christ is situated in Hopewell, two and one-half miles east of Shrewsbury. Rev. J. C. Smith, G. W. Lightner and W. H. Craumer were the first clergymen to preach the doctrines of this denomination in the vicinity. Rev. Lewis Kohr organized a class in 1881, and the following year a church was built and dedicated by Rev. L. Peters, presiding elder. The trustees were: Charles Gable, H. C. Rehmeyer and A. F. Strayer. The congregation has forty members and is growing. A Sunday-school, with seventy-five pupils, is held in the church the entire year. Charles Gable is superintendent.