BIO: William D. HIMES, New Oxford, Adams County, PA
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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania
Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1886
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Part III, History of Adams County, Page 496
WILLIAM D. HIMES, retired merchant, P. O. New Oxford, is a native of Adams
County, Penn., born at New Oxford May 29, 1812. His father, Col. George Himes,
a son of Francis Himes, of Hanover, York County, was born December 16, 1775, and
was married to Helen Catherine Barnitz, whose birth occurred in 1787, and in
1810 removed from Hanover, York County, Penn., to New Oxford, where he purchased
from John Hersh and took charge of a tavern, known as “Butcher Frederick’s
Stand,” the first inn or tavern built in that place, and this he conducted until
1828. In the early muster days he was commissioned a colonel of a regiment of
State militia, and bore the title through life. The wife of Col. Himes was a
daughter of Daniel and Susan (Eichelbarger) Barnitz, the former of whom served
as fife major throughout the Revolutionary war, and whose family was one of note
in York County. The first son born to Col. George Himes was Charles F., who was
graduated from Dickinson College, and read law with Hon. Thaddeus Stevens before
being admitted to the bar. He became one of the first engineer corps that
surveyed the route taken by the old “Tapeworm Railroad,” and was a man of great
promise. His death occurred July 23, 1838. The other children were as follows:
William D., Susan C., (who became the wife of Thomas Himes); Anna M., (married
to Rev. James H. Brown); George B. (married to Elizabeth Eby); Elizabeth C.
(married to John R. Hersh); Helen, the widow of Dr. Joseph W. Hendrix, and
Alexander S. Our subject was schooled in his native town, and learned the
tanner’s trade. May 23, 1836, he married Magdalene, daughter of Christian
Lanius, of York, and to them were born eight children: Edwin (died in infancy),
Charles F., Helen A. (wife of Rev. William H. Keith), James L., Mary E., Sarah
M. (died in childhood), William A. and Harry O. After marriage Mr. Himes
engaged in mercantile business in Lancaster County, where he remained three
years; disposed of his stock and returned to New Oxford and managed his father’s
business, who for many years, in company with John and Charles Hann, had been
extensively engaged in mining enterprises in York County. These were
subsequently purchased and carried on by Himes, Curran & Himes. William D. is
still in possession of the furnace property. In 1858 Mr. Himes engaged in
mercantile business at New Oxford, which he carried on until 1863, when he
retired from active business life. Since 1842 he has been officially connected
with the Bank of Gettysburg, a National Bank since 1866, and in 1884 was chosen
vice-president of that institution. For forty years he has been a director of
the York & Gettysburg Turnpike Company, and for fifteen years president of the
Petersburg & Gettysburg Turnpike Company. He also served as president of the
first and only building and loan association organized in New Oxford, in which
$60,000 were handled without the loss of a penny and without suit to any
stockholder. He was president of the New Oxford Cemetery Association for ten
years. As a business man he has been successful. He is the oldest man now
living in this borough that was born in New Oxford. Mrs. Himes died September
25, 1874. Charles F., Ph. D., son of our subject, is now professor of science
and mathematics in Dickinson College, and was a professor in the female seminary
at Baltimore, Md., and in Troy University, N. Y., after which he went to Europe,
and as a pupil attended the university at Giesen, Germany, for eighteen months.
He is the author of numerous text books, and is authority in photographic
science. He was one of the number recently appointed by the government to
photograph an eclipse of the sun. His wife was Mary E. Murray. James L.,
another son of our subject, was graduated from Dickinson College, studied law
with Erastus Weiser, was admitted to the bar of York County, and died in 1881,
leaving a widow, Bellmina E. (Kline) Himes. Mary E., a daughter of William B.
Himes, was married to Lieut. Freemont M. Hendrix, and after his death became the
wife of J. W. Kilpatrick, professor of natural sciences in Central College,
Fayette, Mo. William A., another son of William D. Himes, was educated in
Dickinson College, from which he graduated; was married in 1877 to Kate W. Gitt;
and is now a dealer in coal and lumber, at New Oxford. Harry O., the youngest
son of our subject was educated in Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y., and is now
professor of music in a female seminary at Ashville, N. C.