The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1880-03-20
THE LATE CHRIsToF KoLTER.
Tho Business Career OF an Enterpris-
ing Man,

Tho Shrewsbury correspondent OF the YORK
Gassus furnishes an interesting account Of the
late christof Kol,er, Of that place, who died on
the Sd Of March, in the 10th year Of his age, from
which wc mako somo extracts as follows:
"The dceeaIcd left his homa in Bavaria, Ger
many, for this country In April 1886, with his wife
and two children, Henry and Nina. They land
cd in New York in July following. and immsdi-
ateiy proceeded 10 Baltimore, where he located his
family aud went TO work as n day lAborer on the
Baltimore and Susquchanna railroad, then in
course Of construction. between baltimore and
York-now the y. G. hallway. lie continued on
the works until tho road was completed. iIo be-
came acquainted with the people around shrews-
bury during his continuance on the railroad, and
when the work was completed, he took what
money he had saved, and bought . small proper
~ near Setrs Church, northeast Of this place, TO
which he moved his family. lie remained on this
property for some years, when he exchanged IL
with Michael Seitz for tho property which after
wards became known a. "Kolter's Saw Mill" in
Shrewsbury township. This was his first move
in speculation. lie here commenced manufac-
turing lumber, shingles. &c. and doalngin In wood,
ties and bark. His wife took active part with
him and could be frequently seen driving the OF
team TO this place with wood Everything he
engaged In seemed to yield TO him handsome
profits for his labor. Ills success in wood spccu-
atons attracted the attention cf c. 7. Meyers and
Henry Latimer, then OF the firm Of Meyers 4
Smalls, and a partnership was formed under the
name Of Kolter. Myers La,mer. Under the
new firms name the business increased very rap
idly and large profits were gained. This business
was carried on until the death Of c. +. Meyers, in
1857. when the firm changed 20 kolter Latiiner.
"Thc death OF Mr. Meyers required Mr.. Koltsr
10 take his place In the business at Shrew sbury,
and having lost his wife year or more before the
death of Mr.. Myers. concluded 10 move 10 this
place and in view Of this, purchased and moved
into the Samuel Gan,k property on tho frs; day
Of April, 1858. Previous 90 his taking up his
residence in Shrewsbury he married daughter Of
John Sheifer, deceased, who survives him. Af,er
the crash Of 1857 and iS.,S had passed and things
began 10 improve. the war broke out. cutting OF
the timber and bagk supply from the South. which
with tho building Of the double track on this road.
increased the demand for ties, wood. &c. afford
ing marke, which Mr.. Kolisr was not slow 10
appreciate. and meeting every demand made upon
him, accumulated money very rapidly. lie was
y man Of very limited English education. and de
pended upon his partners for 4 correct keeping Of
the firm accounts. llis success near his home, in
ducod him and his partner lMr. j. '. loshour
afterward becoming one Of thom.) 10 inves; in
wood landB ~ distance. consequently a large
tract Of wood land in Perry county was purchased.
and By good management Of MT. Jacob kOl;eT.
son Of the deceased. large profit. we're made from
this investment. From desperation. Hnl having
increased the number Of member Of the company.
they purchased large property az "ilyher Run.
Clinton CO.. which proved Improbable. and may
safely say about SjO,O0D was lost in said opera.
ton alone. believe up to this time everything
proved profitable. but since then matters took
turn. and the "Mercersburg property" proved un-
productive: the Ieliam township speculation
proved q loss Of $4,000 TO him. and he invested
$4,000 in Shrewsbury Station property. which
he alleged was unjustly withheld from him by his
partner. Finally in the fall Of 1878, Mr.. Lsti-
msr. one OF his partners. made an Assignment.
This was followed by Mr.. r. !. Young. another Of
his partners, confessing judgment in this Court
for $4,000. This act was 20 Mr.. kolter the SO.
verest blow he had yet received. and nearly set
him crazy with trouble. when In turn he was fore
cd TO make an assignment. though claiming II bic
property would sell for near its value he could
pay all his debts and have enough left 20 live upon.
''In the fall Of 1875 he Was elected Commission
or Of York county. and at the January Court fol-
lowing. he entered upon his duties. laboring as
hard A. any man could for the interest of the tax
payers. His intentions were good but his judg.
mcnt was not always sound. attributable mainly
TO his failure 10 comprehend what was necessary.
because of his defective information in the Eng
lsh language.
'.As above referred 60. sbou. the time his term
of oico expired his failure occurred. nni soon al
tcrwaris the death OF Mr. Laiimer took place. 20
that one trouble after another came upon him AMI
a recent examination Of the books and accounts
Of his Affairs, such a. had been kept. soon die.
brough, on great mental depression. ani when the
sales of his property took place at low figures he
commenced 90 show signs of nervous weakness,
and the last sale he attended. the sale Of the Hen
Dirk property. which sold for less than half the
amount he was offered for il at one time. almost
prostrated him.
"Mr. Hotter had more friends and beffiendei
more persons than any other man in this part Of
the county. and he will be sadly missed. The
churches will miss him. His purse was ever open
TO church enterprises and his maine 10 known
among all the churches as a liberal giver TO the
cause Of the Master.
MIR. Koltcr was for many years heavy stock
holder and director Of the Shrewsbury Savings
Institution. lie was identified with all publicen
terprses in this section. and more public spir-
i,el man did no, live in this community. No
property under his control was allowed 20 60
down. but he seemed to take great delight in
making improvements.