292
COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
for nearly five ye ars; and on Ju n e i, 1894, he was again appointed to (hat position, serving until Feb. 15, 1899. S a m u e l Y o r k s came from New Jersey and in ty8o settled in what is now Montour county, where he owned a large tract o f land. He servcfl with distinction in the w*ar o f 18 12. T w o sons survived the father, William Y orks, who became a resident of Cooper township, and Samuel Y orks, a resident o f Danville. William Y o rk s was a man o f considerable influence in the county. H e was county com missioner for one term and fo r thirty years was justice of the peace o f Coojicr township. H e died in 1877, sur'ivcd by four children: C. E . Yortcs, now residing in Columbia county; M iss Ida Y orks, who resides on the homestead: M rs. Fanny Gallaher, now de ceased, and Dr. John Y orks, a prominent dentist o f Philadelphia. Samuel Y orks, J r ., w as a leading ^ i r it in (he oiganization of the First National Bank o f Danville. H e was on the first board o f direc tors and became the first president. 11c died in 1878, leaving to survive him : Mrs. Louise Ceartiart, w ife o f B. R . G earh art; Mrs. Annie Johnson; M rs. M argaret Grove, w ife o f R. M. G ro v e; C . H. Y orks, and S . Augustus Yorks. J ohn Rn<H)r.s came to Danville in 1824. He bought (he "PcnnsyU*ania House,” now the "Riverv'icw Hotel,” in 1829. T his house was formerly called the "F a n n e rs’ Hotel,” and for a long time was the favorite stopping-placc of the fanners and others while attending court. John Rhodes died in 1852, leaving two sons to sun*ivc him : R. K . Rhodes, attorney, and J . Clark Rhcxlcs, fo r many years a mer chant in the store adjoining the hotel p r ^ erty. T lie lattcr’s widow still sur'ives, living in (he homestead on West Market street. J a m e s M c C o r m k k was born in what is now Montour county, June 26, 1818. He was the son o f W illiam A . and M argaret (Sh aw ) McCormick. T he father. William A. M c Cormick, was bom in Ireland o f Scotch par ents, and came to Pennsylvania when a mere la<l. T lie mother was o f Scotch- 1risli origin, and lK)th she and her husband were Prcshy^ terians. Jam es M cConnick was reared in Montour county, receiving his c<lucation in (he common schools of the county, l i e early engagcil in merchandi.fting and in connection wilh that ran a stage line front Danville until the railroads were built. Subsequently he conducte< an omnibus tine. In 1848 he mar 1
ried Agnes M. Franciscus. Three children were born to these ]>arents: William J ., de ceased; MantRret McCormick, and Katherine McCormick. Jam es McCormick ser'ed (wo terms in the l.cRislaiure o f Pennsylvania, 1877 lo 1878 and 1883 to 1884. H e died Dec. 19, 1891. J o s e p h C o r k p x i s o s was bom in Holland and upon coming to this country settled in the Slate o f New Jersey, but soon after moved to Danville, w'hcre Jtc established the first blacksmith shop and follower! that line o f business the remainder o f his life. He left surviving him the following children: Joseph, W illiam, Jacob, Isaac, Cornelius, Jam es, M assey, Nlary Y orks and Anna Best. The son Isaac Comelison at an early day learned the trade o f wagonmaking and carried on his business on Mill street. H e dic<] at the age o f forty-three years. H e marric<l .Abigail Pancoast, a daughter o f Mordccai and M ary (M ears) Pancoast, who w'crc strict adherents o f (he Quaker faith. Mrs. Comelison died at the age o f twenty-four, leaving two chil dren. M ary E . (w ife o f D. R k e ) and Abigail A . T he son Joseph Comelison in 1830 erected a building in which he conducte<l a fine hotel. T his establishment became known throughout that section as the "W hite Sw an H otel," and a vcr>* appropriate sign was hung over the door, an artistically-painte<l white swan. He continued i s the proprietor o f this cstablislimcnt until 1852, when his son Jacob sticccedc<l him as proprietor. Jacob ntarricd .Abigail A. Comelison, and they continued the hotel busi ness wilh success until die <lea(h o f Jacob in i8 6 j. The building w as large und substan* tial. In 1872 it w as purchaseil by .Adam Gerringer, who erected the present structure known as the "C ity Hotel.” Mrs. Abigail A. Comelison afterw ards married George F . Geisinger, who w as liorn in Ilingham, M ass., in (8 21, and was a son o f Commodore David (•eisingcr. A fuller account of George F. Geisinger and his w ife, .Abigail .A., will be found in Liter chapters. Many names not included in this list o f old families will be found in subsequent chapters, under other heads. M any hav'c no mention iKcause of the difficuUy in procuring statistics and l>ccausc of the lack o f fam ily records. Let us hope (he present generation may prove worthy of the heritage handed down ani may be as true to God and loyal to countr>* as many of these noble families of the past.
