PETER WIEST

Peter Wiest, who founded the large establishment, which bears his name, Wiest Department Store, began the mercantile business in a humble way in the borough of Dover in 1841. In his youth he displayed business acumen and prospered with the store he conducted in his native village. Thinking a larger town could afford him better opportunities; he packed up his goods and prepared to move them to York. This occurred in midwinter of 1843. During the night after he had boxed up his goods, snow fell to the depth of twenty inches and a fire broke out in Dover, burning several buildings and all the goods and merchandise owned by Peter Wiest. He was then left without anything except his reputation for energy and capacity for business. He was undaunted by his misfortune so he moved to York and opened a small store on West Market Street. Here he soon built up an extensive trade, not only among his friends and neighbors in the town, but any customers from the country west and northwest of York, came to buy his goods. By close application to business he built up a large trade and became one of the leading dry goods merchants of York.

In 1869, during the high water of the Codorus Creek, his store was flooded and he suffered considerable loss, but the severest trial during the successful career of Mr. Wiest was the flood of 1884, when, owing to great rainfall, the Codorus Creek passed through York like a mighty torrent. The water rose to the height of seven and one half feet in Peter Wiests store, then situated at 218 West Market Street. He lost heavily as the result of this flood, but continued to do a large business during the remainder of his life. In 1868 he took his eldest son, Edward F Wiest, into the business; in 1871, his second son, George L Wiest, and 1883, Harry S Wiest. Peter Wiest died in 1885. In 1887 Edward F Wiest organized the firm of P Wiest’s Sons, taking in his two brothers as partners. In 1889 the firm of P Wiest’s Sons purchased the Albright property, on the south side of West Market Street, near Centre Square, immediately tore it down and erected on the site a large and commodious store building 32 x 150 feet. The store was removed to this building in 1890. In 1895 the Ebert property, 33 feet front, was purchased and in 1901 the firm erected on this site an additional building which greatly enlarged the facilities for carrying on an extensive business. P Wiest’s Sons own and occupy a building with 65 feet front, 225 feet deep and four stories high. They conduct one of the largest mercantile establishments in central and southern Pennsylvania. They have nineteen different departments to their store, and have regularly employed about 125 persons. Wiest’s store is widely known and has enjoyed a very large patronage. 

Peter Wiest, the founder of this extensive business, was born in Jackson Township in 1817. His grandfather John Wiest, came to America from the Palatinate along the Rhine River in Germany in 1757 and landed in Philadelphia.  Soon afterward he migrated westward and took up a tract of land within the present area of Jackson Township. He was cultivating this farm in 1775 when he entered the military service in a company commanded by Captain Jacob Ament, and served as a soldier during the American Revolution. After the war he returned to his home and at his death, his son John Wiest, succeeded as the owner of the paternal estate. It was on this farm that Peter Wiest grew to manhood, and at the age of twenty-five, went to Dover and embarked in the mercantile business in which he and his sons have prospered.

Peter Wiest was married to Catharine Lenhart, daughter of William Lenhart, descendant of a family prominent and influential in Dover Township. They had six children. Two of the sons, Charles and William, died in their youth. The other three sons are partners in the business. Miss Emma Wiest, their only daughter, resides in York. The Mother died in February 1898 at the age of seventy-six years.